Pompeo, meeting Hong Kong democrat, airs concerns on extraditionsBy The Manila TimesHONG KONG: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday voiced concern over Hong Kong’s plans to allow extraditions to the Chinese mainland as he met with the city’s pre-eminent pro-democracy leader. The top US diplomat discussed the controversial extradition bill during talks in Washington with a delegation headed by Martin Lee, a founder of Hong Kong’s opposition Democratic Party. Pompeo “expressed concern about the Hong Kong government’s proposed amendments to the Fugitive Ordinance law, which threaten Hong Kong’s rule of law,” State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement after the meeting. “He also expressed support for Hong Kong’s longstanding protections of human rights, fundamental freedoms and democratic values, which are guaranteed under the Basic Law,” she said. Historically Hong Kong has balked at mainland extraditions because of the opacity of China’s criminal justice system and its liberal use of the death penalty.

Source: Manila Times May 17, 2019 04:07 UTC