HK extraditions of fugitives on the decline

Hong Kong may be deliberately obstructing the return of foreign fugitives, speculates the South China Morning Post (SCMP), which revealed in a recent article that there is a drop in extraditions to and from the neighboring SAR.

Citing official data, the SCMP noted that between 1997 and 2002, some 31 fugitives were caught in Hong Kong and returned to other jurisdictions, while 12 fugitives from Hong Kong were returned in the same period.

However, over the course of a nine- year period between 2008 and 2017, only 23 fugitives were returned and 11 received, leading the SCMP to assert that there has been “a definitive drop.”

The newspaper also noted that the number of new agreements between Hong Kong and other jurisdictions on the transfer of wanted individuals is on the decline. For Macau, no formal extradition agreements permit the transfer of individuals at present.

The revelation comes amid speculation that the two special administrative regions of China are becoming less transparent in the dealings with foreign fugitives and relying on more informal agreements with other jurisdictions.

It also suggests that the two SARs are relegating their obligation to surrender fugitives in favor of caving into political pressure from Beijing.

The recent case of wanted Malaysian businessman Jho Low – who resided briefly in both Hong Kong and Macau before allegedly entering the mainland – is a prime example, but not the only one.

A host of other recent cases suggest growing interference from Beijing, including the disappearance of five controversial booksellers who went missing in Hong Kong in 2015, as well as Hong Iat – a Macau resident who is thought to have been delivered to mainland authorities from Hong Kong last year on the orders of Beijing.

In June this year, Hong Kong’s Chief Executive denied that the city has ever handed a fugitive over to mainland China, saying that the matter of Hong Kong immigration is handled autonomously by the city.