China suspends Hong Kong extradition, judicial assistance treaties with New Zealand
Containers sit stacked at the Kwai Tsing Container Terminal in Hong Kong in February. Photo: CNN. Sketched by the Pan Pacific Agency.
BEIJING, Aug 4, 2020, Xinhua. China has decided to suspend extradition and judicial assistance treaties between its Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and New Zealand, according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Monday (Aug 3), Xinhua reported.
Spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the announcement at a press conference in Beijing.
New Zealand, under the pretext of China’s passage of the law on safeguarding national security in the HKSAR, has unilaterally suspended its agreement with the HKSAR on fugitives transfer, Wang said, noting that the move of New Zealand politicized its judicial cooperation with Hong Kong, grossly interfered in China’s internal affairs, and seriously violated international law and basic norms governing international relations.
New Zealand’s move also seriously damaged the foundation for the HKSAR to carry out judicial cooperation with New Zealand and deviated from the purpose of judicial cooperation to uphold justice and the rule of law, Wang said, noting China firmly opposes it.
Therefore, the Chinese side has decided to suspend the HKSAR’s fugitives transfer agreement and agreement on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters with New Zealand, Wang said.
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