To set minds at ease, limit retroactive effect of controversial extradition bill and cover only serious crimes, Hong Kong’s sole NPCSC delegate says
- Tam Yiu-chung also supports skipping bills committee scrutiny in the legislature, and taking the matter to the full council
- He says while some countries have clauses in their deals with the mainland to protect their citizens, this will be ‘too complicated’ for the city
Hong Kong’s sole delegate to China’s top legislative body has suggested that a controversial extradition bill be amended to only cover serious crimes, while having a limited retroactive effect to allay public anxiety.
Tam Yiu-chung, the city’s only representative to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, said on Monday that the government could consider applying the law only to crimes punishable by a minimum of five or seven years of imprisonment, instead of the proposed threshold of three years.
He added that a retroactive period in line with the maximum jail term could be set.
“If it puts people at ease, I think [the amendment] is one of the options that can be considered,” Tam said on a radio programme.
If it puts people at ease, I think [the amendment] is one of the options that can be considered
The contentious bill, if passed, would allow the case-by-case transfer of fugitives to jurisdictions with which Hong Kong does not have an extradition deal, including mainland China, Taiwan and Macau.
