Canada Suspends Extradition Treaty With Hong Kong, Slams “Secretive” New Law

In massive new fallout two days after China’s new Hong Kong national security law went into effect, Canada announced Friday it will suspend its extradition treaty with Hong Kong. This effectively opens the door for Hong Kong democracy activists, who might potentially find themselves “wanted” by pro-Beijing authorities and accused of crimes, to seek out Canada as a safe-haven. No longer will Canada agree to extradite ‘criminals’ back to Hong Kong.

As we’ve noted, this week the exodus of young anti-Beijing activists has already begun over fears they could be charged on “terrorism and subversion” just for leading protests with now banned slogans and ‘revolutionary’ signs.

But the drastic Canada move – also coming at a time of rapidly worsening US-China and UK-China relations – has further implications touching on trade and military ties, as Reuters reports of the latest government statements: 

In a statement, Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne also said Ottawa would not permit the export of sensitive military items to Hong Kong, which is home to around 300,000 Canadians.

…Champagne condemned the “secretive” way the legislation had been enacted and said Canada had been forced to reassess existing arrangements.

This includes “closed trials” and lack of independent review or appeal, with the potential for life in prison for certain egregious crimes deemed motivated by terrorism or separatism. In his statement Champagne announced: “Canada will treat exports of sensitive goods to Hong Kong in the same way as those destined for China. Canada will not permit the export of sensitive military items to Hong Kong.”

“Canada is also suspending the Canada-Hong Kong extradition treaty,” he added. And on the day the law went into effect, Wednesday, Canada took this action:

Canada updates travel advisory for Hong Kong after China enacts security law https://t.co/dOHzo1MYYZ pic.twitter.com/fEyivk7KIy

— Globalnews.ca (@globalnews) July 1, 2020

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested in a briefing to reporter that more punitive measures are likely to follow, possibly related to immigration and additional travel restrictions.

Recall too that all of this comes on the heals of the 2018 drama involving Canada’s detention of Huawei chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, at United States request.