China’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday that Hong Kong’s government would suspend agreements on mutual assistance for criminal matters, including extradition, with Britain, Canada and Australia.
READ MORE: Hong Kong ‘very disappointed’ over Canada’s suspension of extradition treaty, officials say
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a daily briefing that the three countries’ decision to suspend extradition agreements with Hong Kong over a new security law for the city constituted a gross interference in China’s internal affairs.
This comes weeks after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada was suspending its extradition treaty with Hong Kong due to the new national security law. Canada’s foreign minister called the legislation “a significant step back” for liberty.
Under the terms of the national new law, anything Beijing deems as secession, subversion, terrorism or collusion with foreign forces will be punishable by life in prison. It also sets up Chinese law enforcement in Hong Kong and allows for anyone detained there to be extradited to the mainland.