Fri Jul 25 06:08:07 UTC 2025: **UK Moves to Reinstate Extradition Treaty with Hong Kong, Sparking Controversy**
London – The UK government is seeking to restore its extradition agreement with Hong Kong, suspended five years ago over concerns about Beijing’s national security laws. The Home Office submitted an application to Parliament on July 17th, signaling a potential shift in policy towards the former British colony.
Security Minister Dan Jarvis defended the move in a letter to Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, stating it was “in our national interest to have effective extradition relationships to prevent criminals from evading justice and the UK becoming a haven for criminals.” The plan also includes restoring extradition frameworks with Chile and Zimbabwe, with cases for Hong Kong and Zimbabwe considered on a “case-by-case basis.”
The decision is already facing strong opposition, particularly due to Hong Kong’s deteriorating political freedoms since China implemented controversial national security legislation in 2020 and subsequent laws, known as Article 23, in 2024. These laws criminalize a wide range of activities under the guise of national security.
Conservative MP Alicia Kearns, who shared the Home Office letter on X, condemned the potential reinstatement as “morally indefensible.” She argued that it would “risk legitimizing a regime that imprisons critics, silences democracy activists, and uses extradition as a tool of persecution.” Kearns further asserted that the Chinese Communist Party had transformed Hong Kong into a surveillance state.
However, Ronny Tong, a Hong Kong barrister and member of the city’s executive council, dismissed concerns as “unfounded,” arguing that extradition would only apply to non-political criminal cases. He expressed confidence in the independence and integrity of Hong Kong’s judges.
Since 2020, Hong Kong’s national security laws have led to the arrest of 326 people. The government has also issued international bounties for activists abroad and cancelled their passports, raising concerns about the reach of Hong Kong authorities.
Hong Kong returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997 with a guarantee of special rights and freedoms until 2047 under the Sino-British Joint Declaration. The UK’s move comes amid increasing scrutiny of China’s human rights record and its erosion of democratic institutions in Hong Kong. The decision on the extradition treaty will likely face intense debate in Parliament.
First Piper 