List of Hong Kong surrender of fugitive offenders agreements

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Hong Kong has entered into several surrender of fugitive offenders agreements with foreign states. The term surrender of fugitive offenders agreement is used in place of extradition treaty to signify Hong Kong's non-sovereign status. [1] As a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China since July 1997, Hong Kong is authorised by the Central Government of China to enter into such agreements, according to Article 96 of the Basic Law. [2] The legality of one such agreement was challenged in the US state of Connecticut, but the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled that the agreement entered into between Hong Kong and the US should be regarded as a 'treaty' under US law. [3]

Contents

Article 2(1)(a) of Fugitive Offenders Ordinance (Cap. 503) allows the Hong Kong government to conclude arrangements of surrender of fugitive offenders with 'a place outside Hong Kong (other than any other part of the People's Republic of China)'. In 2019, the Carrie Lam administration proposed an amendment bill to enable Hong Kong to enter into 'special surrender arrangements' with 'a place outside Hong Kong', including other parts of the People's Republic of China. [4] Oppositions to the bill evolved to a series of wide-range protests and the bill was withdrawn.

On 30 June 2020, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress in Beijing enacted a national security law to be imposed in Hong Kong. Several countries have since suspended the agreements with Hong Kong. In response, China and Hong Kong (on the central government's instruction) announced the suspension of Hong Kong's extradition treaties with Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Germany and the United States, as well as the shelving of a pending treaty with France, [5] [6] [7] [8] along with the suspension of some bilateral mutual legal assistance agreements.

List of Hong Kong surrender of fugitive offenders agreements

CountryDate signedEntered into forceOrderTextStatus Extradition treaty with China
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 15 November 199329 June 1997Fugitive Offenders (Australia) Order Cap. 503C Schedule 1 SuspendedNo
19 March 20077 May 2008Fugitive Offenders (Australia) (Amendment) Order 2007 Cap. 503C Schedule 2
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 7 September 199313 June 1997Fugitive Offenders (Canada) Order Cap. 503B Schedule SuspendedNo
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 4 March 201313 February 2015Fugitive Offenders (Czech Republic) Order Cap. 503AI Schedule In forceNo
List of the Offences for which Surrender May be Granted List provided under Article 3(2)
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 20 May 200515 August 2013Fugitive Offenders (Finland) Order Cap. 503W Schedule SuspendedNo
Flag of France.svg  France 4 May 2017Fugitive Offenders (France) Order Cap. 503AJ Schedule Suspended [lower-alpha 1] Yes
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 26 May 200611 April 2009Fugitive Offenders (Germany) Order Cap. 503X Schedule SuspendedNo
Flag of India.svg  India 28 June 199714 November 1997Fugitive Offenders (India) Order Cap. 503P Schedule In forceNo
Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 5 May 199713 July 2001Fugitive Offenders (Indonesia) Order Cap. 503O Schedule In forceYes
Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 5 October 200714 January 2009Fugitive Offenders (Ireland) Order Cap. 503AF Schedule SuspendedNo
Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 26 June 200611 February 2007Fugitive Offenders (Republic of Korea) Order Cap. 503Y Schedule In forceYes
Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia 11 January 199516 June 2001Fugitive Offenders (Malaysia) Order Cap. 503D Schedule 1 In forceNo
17 October 20061 November 2007Fugitive Offenders (Malaysia) (Amendment) Order 2007 Cap. 503D Schedule 2
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 2 November 199220 June 1997Fugitive Offenders (Netherlands) Order Cap. 503A Schedule 1 SuspendedNo
17 February 201521 May 2016Fugitive Offenders (Netherlands) (Amendment) Order 2016 Cap. 503A Schedule 2
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 3 April 199823 October 1998Fugitive Offenders (New Zealand) Order Cap. 503S Schedule SuspendedNo
Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 13 January 199520 June 1997Fugitive Offenders (Philippines) Order Cap. 503E Schedule In forceNo
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 24 May 20017 November 2004Fugitive Offenders (Portugal) Order Cap. 503U Schedule In forceNo
Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 11 November 199711 June 1998Fugitive Offenders (Singapore) Order Cap. 503Q Schedule In forceNo
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 20 February 20092 December 2011Fugitive Offenders (South Africa) Order Cap. 503AH Schedule In forceYes
Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka 3 September 199919 April 2003Fugitive Offenders (Sri Lanka) Order Cap. 503V Schedule In forcePending
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5 November 199719 March 1998Fugitive Offenders (United Kingdom) Order Cap. 503R Schedule SuspendedNo
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 20 December 1996 21 January 1998Fugitive Offenders (United States of America) Order Cap. 503F Schedule SuspendedNo

See also

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Transnational crimes are crimes that have actual or potential effect across national borders and crimes that are intrastate but offend fundamental values of the international community. The term is commonly used in the law enforcement and academic communities. Transnational organized crime (TOC) refers specifically to transnational crime carried out by crime organizations.

Double criminality, or dual criminality, is a requirement in the extradition law and international prisoner transfers of many countries. It states that a suspect can be extradited from one country to stand trial for breaking a second country's law only if a similar law exists in the extraditing country, and that any crime in any sentencing country must also be a crime in any other country to receive any internationally transferred prisoners.

Extradition law in Australia permits the formal process by which a fugitive found outside a jurisdiction is surrendered to the jurisdiction where an alleged offence has taken place for trial or punishment. This may include a process done within the country or one between Australia and another country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hong Kong–United States relations</span> Bilateral relations

Hong Kong–United States relations are bilateral relations between Hong Kong and the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australia–Hong Kong relations</span> Bilateral relations

Australia–Hong Kong relations are distinct to Australia-China relations. Hong Kong has the status of a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, and maintains its own international relations including those with Australia, as it is empowered to do under the Hong Kong Basic Law. Australia supports the Sino-British Joint Declaration, Hong Kong's mini-constitution, the Basic Law, and in accordance with China's policy of observing "one country, two systems". On the other hand, mainland China has stated that Hong Kong is within China's internal affairs.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">6th Legislative Council of Hong Kong</span> 2016–2020 Legislative Council of Hong Kong

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lam government</span> Former administration of Hong Kong

The administration of Carrie Lam as Chief Executive of Hong Kong, or Lam administration, officially referred to as "The 5th term Chief Executive of Hong Kong" relates to the period of governance of Hong Kong headed by Chief Executive Carrie Lam, between 1 July 2017 and 30 June 2022.

Events in the year 2019 in Hong Kong.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Hong Kong extradition bill</span> 2019 bill proposed by Hong Kongs government

The Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2019 was a proposed bill regarding extradition to amend the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance in relation to special surrender arrangements and the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Ordinance so that arrangements for mutual legal assistance can be made between Hong Kong and any place outside Hong Kong. The bill was proposed by the Hong Kong government in February 2019 to establish a mechanism for transfers of fugitives not only for Taiwan, but also for Mainland China and Macau, which are currently excluded in the existing laws.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019–2020 Hong Kong protests</span> Anti-government demonstrations and other civil disobediences in Hong Kong

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murder of Poon Hiu-wing</span> 2018 murder in Taipei, Taiwan

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Hong Kong national security law</span> Chinas 2020 national law on national security in Hong Kong

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Executive Order 13936</span> Executive order to normalize United States–Hong Kong relations

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of reactions to the 2020 Hong Kong national security law (November 2020)</span> November events of the 2019-2020 pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong National Security Law is a piece of national security legislation passed on 30 June 2020 which was a major factor, besides the COVID-19 pandemic and its accompanying gathering regulations, in essentially ending the anti-extradition bill protests. The law established the crimes of secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign organisations. Implementation of the law entitles authorities to surveil, detain, search and extradite persons suspected under its provisions to Mainland China.

References

  1. Never in force; ratification of agreement halted
  1. A Brief Guide To Issues Arising From The Fugitive Offenders And Mutual Legal Assistance In Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2019 (“The Bill”), Hong Kong Bar Association
  2. "LCQ17: Surrender of fugitive offenders agreements". Government of Hong Kong. 20 June 2018. Article 96 of the Basic Law, "[w]ith the assistance or authorisation of the Central People's Government, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region may make appropriate arrangements with foreign states for reciprocal juridical assistance"
  3. Research Study on the Agreement between Hong Kong and the Mainland concerning Surrender of Fugitive Offenders: The Issue of Re-extradition, Legislative Council of Hong Kong
  4. Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2019, Legislative Council of Hong Kong
  5. "China halts Hong Kong extradition treaties with Canada, Australia, UK". Agence France-Presse . 28 July 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2020 via Hong Kong Free Press.
  6. "Beijing suspends Hong Kong extradition treaty with New Zealand". Agence France-Presse . 3 August 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2020 via Hong Kong Free Press.
  7. Kwan, Rhoda (13 August 2020). "Security law: Hong Kong suspends extradition treaty with Germany, shelves agreement with France in reciprocal move". Hong Kong Free Press . Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  8. Yew, Lun Tian (13 August 2020). "Hong Kong will suspend some legal cooperation with U.S., China says". Hong Kong Free Press . Retrieved 13 August 2020.