All you need to know about China’s Extradition Law Saga

An estimated One Million people have taken to the streets to protest against allowing extraditions from Hong Kong to mainland China in what can be termed the largest demonstration since China’s independence in 1997.

What this simply means is that those who commit crimes in Hong Kong will no longer be punished under the existing laws of the former British colony existing but will now face the ‘flawed’ judicial system in mainland China excluding tax evasion and some commercial offences.

Despite all the ruckus, Hong Kong’s leader, Carrie Lam has failed to shift his stance on the issue and has argued that the system will solve the ‘loopholes’ preventing the city from being a safe haven for criminals. The amendment law may most likely be passed by July.

The implication of the new changes means that though the courts will have the final say on whether to extradite cases, and that religious and political crimes will not be extradited, many believe that subjects will face undue torture and unfair trials, also that human rights lawyers, activists, journalists and social workers and therefore safety of such individuals cannot be guaranteed.

The extradition issue gained steam after a man from Hong Kong murdered his pregnant girlfriend during a holiday in Taiwan sometime in February last year and Taiwanese officials were unable to bring the culprit to book due to a lack of extradition agreement with Taiwan.