Proposed changes to Extradition Act 2003 trigger opposition and fear that Hong Kong activists seeking refuge in Britain could be sent back to city
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.”
