Canada Suspends Extradition Treaty With Hong Kong

The Canadian government is taking action because of the security law China has introduced in Hong Kong.

 

Canadian Foreign Minister says an extradition treaty with the Asian metropolis will be suspended and export restrictions will apply.

Minister François-Philippe Champagne says that the controversial legislation came about through a “mysterious process”.

Parliament, the legal system and residents of Hong Kong were sidelined, the minister said. He also argues that by introducing the legislation in this way, China has ignored agreements on Hong Kong’s special status.

The metropolis has been part of China since 1997 but enjoys more freedoms than other parts of the people’s republic.

Champagne says that that special status underpinned Hong Kong’s ability to become an essential international metropolis. Without that status, Canada said he was “compelled to review existing arrangements”.

“Canada will immediately cease exporting sensitive goods to Hong Kong,” said Champagne.

The same policy will now apply to the metropolis as to the rest of China. The minister also stated that Canada would no longer allow exports of “sensitive military equipment” to Hong Kong.