Latest news with #AliciaKearns
Al Jazeera
5 days ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
UK moves to reinstate extradition deal with Hong Kong despite concerns
The United Kingdom government is moving to reinstate extradition cooperation with Hong Kong that was suspended five years ago due to concerns about the city's Chinese national security laws. The Home Office applied to Parliament to make the changes on July 17, followed by a letter to Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp the next day. 'It is in our national interest to have effective extradition relationships to prevent criminals from evading justice and the UK becoming a haven for criminals,' the July 18 letter from Security Minister Dan Jarvis said. The Home Office also plans to restore an extradition framework with Chile and Zimbabwe, according to the letter, which was shared on X by Conservative MP Alicia Kearns. Cases for Hong Kong and Zimbabwe would both be considered on a 'case-by-case basis,' Jarvis said. Hong Kong, a former British colony, is a particular sticking point for the UK due to their historical relationship and the sharp decline in political freedoms in Hong Kong since China imposed controversial national security legislation in 2020. In 2024, legislators in Hong Kong approved a new national security law - referred to as Article 23 – that gave the government new powers to crack down on all forms of dissent on the grounds of alleged treason, espionage, sedition and external interference in Hong Kong's internal affairs. At the time, Hong Kong's government said Article 23 was needed to prevent a recurrence of the protests of 2019, and that its provisions would only affect 'an extremely small minority' of disloyal residents. The UK, Canada, Australia, France, Germany and the United States all suspended their extradition agreements in 2020 with the Chinese city due to concerns about how the laws would be used. 'In my view, reinstating extradition with Hong Kong is morally indefensible. The Chinese Communist Party has turned Hong Kong into a surveillance state where freedom of expression, rule of law, and basic civil liberties are systematically dismantled,' Kearns wrote on X. 'This move risks legitimizing a regime that imprisons critics, silences democracy activists, and uses extradition as a tool of persecution,' she said. Here is the letter from the Home Office. In my view, reinstating extradition with Hong Kong is morally indefensible. The Chinese Communist Party has turned Hong Kong into a surveillance state where freedom of expression, rule of law, and basic civil liberties are… — Alicia Kearns MP (@aliciakearns) July 24, 2025 Ronny Tong, a Hong Kong barrister and member of the city's executive council, told Al Jazeera that concerns about a potential extradition deal were overblown. 'Extradition is in relation to non-political criminal cases, so any fear that it'd be used to transfer persons with political crimes, eg, national security cases, is totally unfounded and only shows ignorance of the procedure,' he said. 'Furthermore, it is up to judges of the transferring state to ensure the procedure will not be abused.' He said the city was 'more than ready to restart the arrangement, as we have full confidence our judges are totally independent and of highest integrity'. Hong Kong's 2020 national security law criminalised secession, subversion, terrorism and foreign interference, and was supplemented in 2024 to include treason, sedition, theft of state secrets, espionage, sabotage, and external interference. Hong Kong's government has said the laws are necessary to protect the city from political sabotage and foreign influence, following months of pro-democracy demonstrations in 2019. Security Minister Chris Tang said in June that 326 people have been arrested under Hong Kong's national security laws since 2020. The government has also used international bounties to expand its reach to Hong Kong activists abroad, or cancelled their passports while they were overseas. The moves have been seen as largely symbolic, but also chilling for a city that was once considered the freest place in Asia. On Friday, Hong Kong issued a new list of bounties for 19 activists involved with a pro-Hong Kong democracy NGO in Canada. Hong Kong returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997 as a 'special administrative region' and was promised special rights and freedoms until 2047, under the Sino-British Joint Declaration.
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
UK plans to restart extraditions to Hong Kong, sparking fears among activists
The UK government is planning to reintroduce extradition cooperation with Hong Kong on a 'case-by-case basis', triggering fears that activists seeking refuge in Britain could be sent back to the city. The plan was revealed on Thursday by the UK's Shadow National Security and Safeguarding Minister Alicia Kearns, who shared on X a letter from Security Minister Dan Jarvis to Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, in which Jarvis communicated the planned changes to the Extradition Act 2003. Jarvis said the amendments, which were introduced in the House of Commons on July 17, would remove Hong Kong from the Act, so that the UK government could work with the former British colony on a 'case-by-case ad hoc basis'. 'The safety and security of our citizens is our top priority,' Jarvis wrote. 'Ensuring that territories are correctly designated under the Act will ensure that the UK can accept extradition requests in a lawful and timely way to ensure the public is not put at risk.' The extradition arrangement between the UK and Hong Kong was suspended in 2020 after the Beijing-imposed national security law took effect in the city. It followed months-long protests in the city in 2019 against a planned extradition bill by the local government. In his letter, Jarvis explained that as there was no international arrangement with Hong Kong allowing extradition, the UK could not validate an extradition request from the city, 'even if there were strong operational grounds to do so'.
The Sun
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Labour accused of paving way for China to extradite political opponents from UK amid £100k bounty scandal
LABOUR has been accused of plotting to restore an extradition deal which could let China deport its political opponents from the UK. Bounties of £100,000 are being offered to those who deliver Hong Kong pro-democracy campaigners to the Chinese Embassy in London. 3 And Tories say proposed tweaks to the 2003 Extradition Act could see Chinese dissidents legally hauled back into the grip of the regime. Alicia Kearns, Shadow Minister for Home Affairs, who raised the alarm, said in a letter: 'Why has the Government introduced cooperation with Hong Kong, and by extension, the Chinese Communist Party authorities? 'Has freedom and the rule of law been returned to Hong Kong - or have you decided these issues are no longer saleable alongside the 'reset' in relations between the UK and China? 'You will be aware of the repression faced by Hong Kong democracy activists living in the UK, including the recent campaign of bounties. 'What guarantees can you give that no Hong Konger, CCP critic or anyone targeted by the CCP will be extradited under the new arrangement? 'We would be grateful for some clarity on why extraditions are being relaunched.' Iain Duncan Smith said: 'This would be an absolutely dreadful kowtow to the Chinese. 'I don't know how much more this government can do to show what an absolutely pathetic supplicant it has become. 'They do not seem to understand that China is the single biggest threat to freedom in the world today. 'They are, yet again, bending the knee to a regime hell bent on destroying democracy.' Labour's Security Minister Dan Jarvis denied the move. China beams LASER at German military plane 'endangering personnel' on mission in WW3 flashpoint Red Sea 3
South Wales Guardian
5 days ago
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Ministers urged to explain plans which could re-establish Hong Kong extraditions
The move could put at risk dissident Hongkongers who have fled to the UK to avoid recrimination by the Chinese government, a senior Conservative warned. Shadow Home Office minister Alicia Kearns urged the Government to ensure 'protections will be put in place to ensure no Hongkonger, CCP (Chinese Community Party) critic or anyone targeted by the CCP will be extradited under the new arrangement'. The UK's extradition treaty with Hong Kong was suspended by the then-Tory government after a new national security law was imposed on the territory by China in 2020. The treaty meant Hong Kong could request that someone living in the UK suspected of a crime at home could be handed over to face justice, and vice versa. Fears that the law could lead to human rights abuses were behind the UK's reasoning to put the agreement on ice. Ministers have now introduced a law change in the Commons which would tweak how Hong Kong is designated under the 2003 Extradition Act. The statutory instrument introduced in the Commons on July 17 would effectively establish a 'case-by-case' extradition route with Hong Kong, as well as Zimbabwe. It also changes how Chile is classified under the Act because the South American country has signed an international extradition treaty. In a letter to shadow home secretary Chris Philp seen by the PA news agency, security minister Dan Jarvis suggested the change was needed as no extradition to Hong Kong can currently be made 'even if there were strong operational grounds to do so'. Mr Jarvis added: 'The way to resolve this situation is to de-designate Hong Kong and Zimbabwe from the Act so that we can co-operate with them on the case-by-case ad hoc basis available for non-treaty partners. 'The safety and security of our citizens is our top priority. 'Ensuring that territories are correctly designated under the Act will ensure that the UK can accept extradition requests in a lawful and timely way to ensure the public is not put at risk.' Writing in response to Mr Jarvis, shadow minister Ms Kearns questioned why the Government had taken the step, as she said the situation in Hong Kong had 'worsened' in the years since the national security law was introduced. She pointed to the case of Jimmy Lai, the 77-year-old British national and proprietor of the Apple Daily newspaper, who is facing detention by the Chinese government, as well as other critics of Beijing. 'Has the Government assessed political freedom and the rule of law have been returned to Hong Kong, or have you decided these issues are no longer saleable alongside the 'reset' in relations between the UK and China?' Ms Kearns asked in her letter. Government plans to reintroduce extradition cooperation with Hong Kong are highly concerning. Why does the Government deem this reasonable when freedom of expression, political freedom and the rule of law in Hong Kong have been crushed by The National Security Law and the… — Alicia Kearns MP (@aliciakearns) July 24, 2025 In a post on social media, she added: 'I urge the Government to give urgent reassurances on how this system will be safely managed and what protections will be put in place to ensure no Hong Konger, CCP critic or anyone targeted by the CCP will be extradited under the new arrangement.' The Hong Kong national security law criminalises anything considered to be secessionist from China, and has led to a crackdown on critics of Beijing. Some 150,000 Hongkongers have moved to the UK under a special visa scheme launched in early 2021, after the law was introduced. Since coming to power, Labour has sought to reset relations with China with the aim of boosting trade, after the Conservatives took an increasingly hawkish attitude towards the country while they were in office. In a statement, security minister Mr Jarvis said it was 'entirely incorrect to say the UK has restored extradition co-operation with Hong Kong'. He added: 'The 1997 treaty remains suspended and this legislation simply completes the severing of ties between the British and Hong Kong extradition systems. This amendment is in order to give legal effect to the suspension of the extradition treaty with Hong Kong.' The Government is 'unwavering in its commitment to upholding human rights, the rule of law, and the safety of all individuals in the UK, including the many Hong Kongers who have made this country their home', Mr Jarvis said.
North Wales Chronicle
5 days ago
- Politics
- North Wales Chronicle
Ministers urged to explain plans which could re-establish Hong Kong extraditions
The move could put at risk dissident Hongkongers who have fled to the UK to avoid recrimination by the Chinese government, a senior Conservative warned. Shadow Home Office minister Alicia Kearns urged the Government to ensure 'protections will be put in place to ensure no Hongkonger, CCP (Chinese Community Party) critic or anyone targeted by the CCP will be extradited under the new arrangement'. The UK's extradition treaty with Hong Kong was suspended by the then-Tory government after a new national security law was imposed on the territory by China in 2020. The treaty meant Hong Kong could request that someone living in the UK suspected of a crime at home could be handed over to face justice, and vice versa. Fears that the law could lead to human rights abuses were behind the UK's reasoning to put the agreement on ice. Ministers have now introduced a law change in the Commons which would tweak how Hong Kong is designated under the 2003 Extradition Act. The statutory instrument introduced in the Commons on July 17 would effectively establish a 'case-by-case' extradition route with Hong Kong, as well as Zimbabwe. It also changes how Chile is classified under the Act because the South American country has signed an international extradition treaty. In a letter to shadow home secretary Chris Philp seen by the PA news agency, security minister Dan Jarvis suggested the change was needed as no extradition to Hong Kong can currently be made 'even if there were strong operational grounds to do so'. Mr Jarvis added: 'The way to resolve this situation is to de-designate Hong Kong and Zimbabwe from the Act so that we can co-operate with them on the case-by-case ad hoc basis available for non-treaty partners. 'The safety and security of our citizens is our top priority. 'Ensuring that territories are correctly designated under the Act will ensure that the UK can accept extradition requests in a lawful and timely way to ensure the public is not put at risk.' Writing in response to Mr Jarvis, shadow minister Ms Kearns questioned why the Government had taken the step, as she said the situation in Hong Kong had 'worsened' in the years since the national security law was introduced. She pointed to the case of Jimmy Lai, the 77-year-old British national and proprietor of the Apple Daily newspaper, who is facing detention by the Chinese government, as well as other critics of Beijing. 'Has the Government assessed political freedom and the rule of law have been returned to Hong Kong, or have you decided these issues are no longer saleable alongside the 'reset' in relations between the UK and China?' Ms Kearns asked in her letter. Government plans to reintroduce extradition cooperation with Hong Kong are highly concerning. Why does the Government deem this reasonable when freedom of expression, political freedom and the rule of law in Hong Kong have been crushed by The National Security Law and the… — Alicia Kearns MP (@aliciakearns) July 24, 2025 In a post on social media, she added: 'I urge the Government to give urgent reassurances on how this system will be safely managed and what protections will be put in place to ensure no Hong Konger, CCP critic or anyone targeted by the CCP will be extradited under the new arrangement.' The Hong Kong national security law criminalises anything considered to be secessionist from China, and has led to a crackdown on critics of Beijing. Some 150,000 Hongkongers have moved to the UK under a special visa scheme launched in early 2021, after the law was introduced. Since coming to power, Labour has sought to reset relations with China with the aim of boosting trade, after the Conservatives took an increasingly hawkish attitude towards the country while they were in office. In a statement, security minister Mr Jarvis said it was 'entirely incorrect to say the UK has restored extradition co-operation with Hong Kong'. He added: 'The 1997 treaty remains suspended and this legislation simply completes the severing of ties between the British and Hong Kong extradition systems. This amendment is in order to give legal effect to the suspension of the extradition treaty with Hong Kong.' The Government is 'unwavering in its commitment to upholding human rights, the rule of law, and the safety of all individuals in the UK, including the many Hong Kongers who have made this country their home', Mr Jarvis said.
