“We urge the Australian side to immediately stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs under any pretext or in any way.”
Hong Kong police last week made the first arrests under the new security laws when pro-independence protesters took to the streets.
The Turnbull government abandoned an extradition treaty with China in 2017 after unease over the country’s history of human rights abuses.
Don Rothwell, professor of international law at the Australian National University, said when combined with extradition treaties, Hong Kong’s new national security laws could have far-reaching effect.
I think there are two dimensions with the new national security legislation: the first is the activities of anyone in Australia could become subject to the extradition arrangement, he said. Secondly, theres a prospect those persons could face onward extradition to China.
He said such a move would be contrary to the provisions of the existing Australia-Hong-Kong agreement, but given the way China has started to interpret these instruments, Australia would be rightly concerned about China not adhering to them in good faith.
The Prime Minister said the laws undermined the “One Country, Two Systems framework” and constituted a fundamental change of circumstances in respect to our extradition agreement with Hong Kong.
So, Australia today has taken steps to suspend our extradition agreement. We have formally notified Hong Kong and advised the Chinese government, he said.
The decision follows Canadas move last week to pause its extradition treaty.
Labor’s foreign affairs spokesperson Penny Wong (right), and Home Affairs spokesperson Kristina Keneally. Alex Ellinghausen
Professor Rothwell said increasingly “the Morrison government is indicating it is not going to bullied by Chinas statements or Chinas actions”.
Labor foreign affairs spokesperson Senator Penny Wong said the move was better late than never.
What the government announced today is consistent with what Kristina Keneally and I have been calling for over a month, Senator Wong said.
We are in a new phase of our relationship with China. It is a very important trading partner, a very important nation in terms of the region and the world.
There are issues on which we have different views, and it is important Australia is very clear about the differences we have.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on Wednesday updated its travel advice to China to include a warning that foreigners had been detained because they are “endangering national security”.
“Australians may also be at risk of arbitrary detention,” the travel advice said.
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