Australia suspends extradition treaty with Hong Kong News
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Australia suspends extradition treaty with Hong Kong

Australia announced in a statement released Thursday that it is suspending its extradition treaty with Hong Kong due to concerns over Hong Kong’s new security laws.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison stated:

The Australian Government remains deeply concerned about China’s imposition of a broad national security law on Hong Kong. The National Security Law erodes the democratic principles that have underpinned Hong Kong’s society and the One Country, Two Systems framework. It constitutes a fundamental change of circumstances in respect to our Extradition Agreement with Hong Kong.

Additionally, the Australian government issued a travel advisory.  They cite the new national security law as a reason for concern, advising, “You could break the law without intending to.” Further,  “You may be at increased risk of detention on vaguely defined national security grounds.”

The government also warns that the potentially arbitrary detention could result in life in prison.

The Australian statement comes a month after UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged to welcome 3 million Hong Kong residents upon enactment of the new security laws.

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