#US halts extradition treaty with Hong Kong over national security law

The Trump administration has suspended an extradition treaty and ended a reciprocal tax agreement with Hong Kong in retaliation over China’s harsh response to pro-democracy protesters in the semiautonomous former British colony, the State Department said.

The agreements, ended Wednesday, “covered the surrender of fugitive offenders, the transfer of sentenced persons, and reciprocal tax exemptions on income derived from the international operation of ships,” State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement.

“These steps underscore our deep concern regarding Beijing’s decision to impose the National Security Law, which has crushed the freedoms of the people of Hong Kong,” it continued.

Ortagus accused the Chinese Communist Party of taking “drastic steps to erode the high degree of autonomy that Beijing promised to the United Kingdom and the people of Hong Kong.”

Britain turned over Hong Kong, which it had controlled for 156 years, to China in 1997 with the understanding it would allow a degree of autonomy under the “one country, two systems” plan.

“President Trump has made clear that the United States will, therefore, treat Hong Kong as ‘one country, one system’ and take action against individuals who have crushed the freedoms of the people of Hong Kong,” Ortagus said.

China began imposing a draconian security law in June that makes “subversion” or “collusion with foreign forces” punishable by life in prison, allows more governmental control over schools, social organizations and the media, and gives law enforcement agencies broad powers.

China called on the US to stop its “wrong moves” against Hong Kong, and Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian claimed the situation was a domestic matter.

The government in Hong Kong said it “strongly objects” to the Trump administration ending the agreements and vowed to take their complaints to the World Trade Organization.

A number of other countries – including Australia, the United Kingdom and Germany – have also halted extradition pacts with Hong Kong over the national security law.

The Trump administration has also slapped financial sanctions against Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam and other city officials for curbing people’s freedom.