Latest news with #DanJarvis
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Labour is accused of betraying critics of China in UK who fled to Britain by opening door to extraditions
Labour was last night accused of betraying opponents of China who have fled to Britain by opening the door to extraditions to Hong Kong. Critics fear a legal change quietly announced by the Government will end the five-year ban on people being sent from the UK to face justice in the former colony. Security Minister Dan Jarvis said he wanted to 'enable co-operation' with Hong Kong once more, after the Tories suspended the extradition treaty in response to a security crackdown by Beijing amid fears that dissidents could be sent on to China. He wrote in a letter to the Conservatives that secondary legislation was needed, removing Hong Kong from its designation in the 2003 Extradition Act, so the UK can co-operate with it on a 'case-by-case ad hoc basis'. Currently a request cannot be allowed 'even if there were strong operational grounds to do so', Mr Jarvis wrote. Shadow National Security Minister Alicia Kearns said it was an 'extraordinary betrayal of Hong Kongers', more than 150,000 of whom have come to the UK on British National (Overseas) Visas since 2021. It comes as Labour is expected to approve plans for a Chinese 'mega-embassy' in London despite security fears, and as Sir Keir Starmer prepares to make his first visit to the communist superpower later this year. Critics fear a legal change quietly announced by the Government will end the five-year ban on people being sent from the UK to face justice in the former colony (pictured left: Security minister Dan Jarvis, pictured right: Shadow Security Minister Alicia Kearns) Ms Kearns said: 'This would allow the Chinese Communist Party to demand the extradition of dissidents for any number of falsified charges. 'I fear this is a grubby, shameful backhander – alongside a new embassy – for quick bucks to bail out Labour's failed economic strategy. Under no circumstances should the Government reinstate extradition as the rule of law has been severely eroded in Hong Kong.' And Mark Sabah of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation said: 'This is an awful decision by the Government. The question now is what else has Labour promised the CCP in order to secure the trade deal they covet so much?' Chloe Cheung, who fled Hong Kong in 2020 when she was 15 years old and had a £100,000 bounty issued by the CCP-controlled Hong Kong government for any information that could lead to her capture, told the Mail: 'If the Government follows through with this I would feel completely betrayed by Labour. 'I am really, really scared. If I were extradited I would be sent straight to prison under the National Security Law.' But last night the Home Office insisted the Extradition Act 2003 (Amendments to Designations) Order 2025, which will be voted on by Parliament after the summer, merely reflected in law the existing suspension of the extradition treaty with Hong Kong –and that co-operation was not resuming. Security Minister Mr Jarvis said: 'It is entirely incorrect to say the UK has restored extradition co-operation with Hong Kong. 'The 1997 treaty remains suspended and this legislation simply completes the severing of ties between the British and Hong Kong extradition systems. 'This amendment is in order to give legal effect to the suspension of the extradition treaty.'
Telegraph
5 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Labour opens door to extraditing Hong Kongers
Labour has opened the door to extraditing Hong Kongers for the first time in more than five years. The Home Office has said it is amending legislation to 'enable cooperation' between the UK and Hong Kong on matters of extradition. The previous Tory government suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong in 2020 after China imposed its tough national security law in response to widespread political protests. The move by Labour has been branded an ' act of betrayal ' of the some 150,000 Hong Kongers who came to Britain under a special visa scheme launched in early 2021. But Dan Jarvis, the national security minister, vowed that the Government 'will never allow a situation where Hong Kongers or any other nationality is extradited for politically motivated purposes'. The Hong Kong national security law criminalises anything considered to be secessionist from China, and has led to a crackdown on critics of Beijing. It has also allowed cases, in certain circumstances, to be tried in mainland China. Mr Jarvis announced that Chile, Zimbabwe and Hong Kong were being redesignated 'to enable cooperation under the Extradition Act 2003'. In a letter to Chris Philp, the Tory shadow home secretary, he wrote: 'It is in our national interest to have effective extradition relationships to prevent criminals from evading justice and the UK becoming a haven for fugitives.' He suggested that changes needed to be made as no extradition to Hong Kong can currently be agreed 'even if there were strong operational grounds to do so'. Mr Jarvis added: 'The way to resolve this situation is to de-designate Hong Kong and Zimbabwe from the Act so that we can co-operate with them on the case-by-case ad hoc basis available for non-treaty partners.' The Government has insisted the move would not lead to a restoration of extradition co-operation with Hong Kong, but was a necessary legal step to allow the 'severing of ties'. But including Hong Kong in the Extradition Act will provide a pathway to extradition of Hong Kongers for the first time since the previous treaty was suspended. All extradition requests received by Britain are considered by the UK courts, and if judged to be politically motivated the request would be deemed incompatible with human rights laws. It comes as the Government has sought to develop closer links with Beijing, which Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, has said will be 'crucial' for economic growth. Mrs Reeves visited China in January, reviving economic meetings with Beijing that had not taken place since 2019. The Government is also considering giving the green light to a new Chinese 'super-embassy' in central London. Sir Iain Duncan Smith, a former Tory leader, said that the proposals showed 'this government has lost it completely when it comes to China '. He told The Telegraph: 'This is another act of betrayal by the present British Labour Government, and I have many friends in the Labour Party who will be as appalled as I am about this idea. I don't know what they think they're doing. Chasing stupid money from China is never going to work.' Lord Sumption, a British judge, resigned from Hong Kong's highest court last year, warning that the rule of law there was 'profoundly compromised'. Alicia Kearns, the shadow national security minister, said: 'Reinstating extradition with Hong Kong is morally indefensible. The Chinese Communist Party has turned Hong Kong into a surveillance state where freedom of expression, rule of law, and basic civil liberties are systematically dismantled. 'This move risks legitimising a regime that imprisons critics, silences democracy activists, and uses extradition as a tool of persecution. 'The Government must immediately abandon this proposal and guarantee that no Hong Konger will ever be sent to face justice in a system that has no justice to offer.' Mr Jarvis said: 'It is entirely incorrect to say the UK has restored extradition co-operation with Hong Kong. The 1997 treaty remains suspended and this legislation simply completes the severing of ties between the British and Hong Kong extradition systems. This amendment is in order to give legal effect to the suspension of the extradition treaty with Hong Kong. 'This government is unwavering in its commitment to upholding human rights, the rule of law, and the safety of all individuals in the UK, including the many Hong Kongers who have made this country their home.' Mr Jarvis added: 'The UK is proud to have welcomed around 160,000 Hong Kongers since our British National (Overseas) route was opened in 2021. These communities are making a much-valued contribution across our country.'
South Wales Argus
5 days ago
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Ministers urged to explain plans which could re-establish Hong Kong extraditions
The move could put at risk dissident Hongkongers who have fled to the UK to avoid recrimination by the Chinese government, a senior Conservative warned. Shadow Home Office minister Alicia Kearns urged the Government to ensure 'protections will be put in place to ensure no Hongkonger, CCP (Chinese Community Party) critic or anyone targeted by the CCP will be extradited under the new arrangement'. The UK's extradition treaty with Hong Kong was suspended by the then-Tory government after a new national security law was imposed on the territory by China in 2020. The treaty meant Hong Kong could request that someone living in the UK suspected of a crime at home could be handed over to face justice, and vice versa. Fears that the law could lead to human rights abuses were behind the UK's reasoning to put the agreement on ice. Ministers have now introduced a law change in the Commons which would tweak how Hong Kong is designated under the 2003 Extradition Act. The statutory instrument introduced in the Commons on July 17 would effectively establish a 'case-by-case' extradition route with Hong Kong, as well as Zimbabwe. It also changes how Chile is classified under the Act because the South American country has signed an international extradition treaty. Security minister Dan Jarvis leaves the Cabinet Office on Whitehall, central London, following a Cobra meeting (James Manning/PA) In a letter to shadow home secretary Chris Philp seen by the PA news agency, security minister Dan Jarvis suggested the change was needed as no extradition to Hong Kong can currently be made 'even if there were strong operational grounds to do so'. Mr Jarvis added: 'The way to resolve this situation is to de-designate Hong Kong and Zimbabwe from the Act so that we can co-operate with them on the case-by-case ad hoc basis available for non-treaty partners. 'The safety and security of our citizens is our top priority. 'Ensuring that territories are correctly designated under the Act will ensure that the UK can accept extradition requests in a lawful and timely way to ensure the public is not put at risk.' Writing in response to Mr Jarvis, shadow minister Ms Kearns questioned why the Government had taken the step, as she said the situation in Hong Kong had 'worsened' in the years since the national security law was introduced. She pointed to the case of Jimmy Lai, the 77-year-old British national and proprietor of the Apple Daily newspaper, who is facing detention by the Chinese government, as well as other critics of Beijing. 'Has the Government assessed political freedom and the rule of law have been returned to Hong Kong, or have you decided these issues are no longer saleable alongside the 'reset' in relations between the UK and China?' Ms Kearns asked in her letter. Government plans to reintroduce extradition cooperation with Hong Kong are highly concerning. Why does the Government deem this reasonable when freedom of expression, political freedom and the rule of law in Hong Kong have been crushed by The National Security Law and the… — Alicia Kearns MP (@aliciakearns) July 24, 2025 In a post on social media, she added: 'I urge the Government to give urgent reassurances on how this system will be safely managed and what protections will be put in place to ensure no Hong Konger, CCP critic or anyone targeted by the CCP will be extradited under the new arrangement.' The Hong Kong national security law criminalises anything considered to be secessionist from China, and has led to a crackdown on critics of Beijing. Some 150,000 Hongkongers have moved to the UK under a special visa scheme launched in early 2021, after the law was introduced. Since coming to power, Labour has sought to reset relations with China with the aim of boosting trade, after the Conservatives took an increasingly hawkish attitude towards the country while they were in office. In a statement, security minister Mr Jarvis said it was 'entirely incorrect to say the UK has restored extradition co-operation with Hong Kong'. He added: 'The 1997 treaty remains suspended and this legislation simply completes the severing of ties between the British and Hong Kong extradition systems. This amendment is in order to give legal effect to the suspension of the extradition treaty with Hong Kong.' The Government is 'unwavering in its commitment to upholding human rights, the rule of law, and the safety of all individuals in the UK, including the many Hong Kongers who have made this country their home', Mr Jarvis said.
Glasgow Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Ministers urged to explain plans which could re-establish Hong Kong extraditions
The move could put at risk dissident Hongkongers who have fled to the UK to avoid recrimination by the Chinese government, a senior Conservative warned. Shadow Home Office minister Alicia Kearns urged the Government to ensure 'protections will be put in place to ensure no Hongkonger, CCP (Chinese Community Party) critic or anyone targeted by the CCP will be extradited under the new arrangement'. The UK's extradition treaty with Hong Kong was suspended by the then-Tory government after a new national security law was imposed on the territory by China in 2020. The treaty meant Hong Kong could request that someone living in the UK suspected of a crime at home could be handed over to face justice, and vice versa. Fears that the law could lead to human rights abuses were behind the UK's reasoning to put the agreement on ice. Ministers have now introduced a law change in the Commons which would tweak how Hong Kong is designated under the 2003 Extradition Act. The statutory instrument introduced in the Commons on July 17 would effectively establish a 'case-by-case' extradition route with Hong Kong, as well as Zimbabwe. It also changes how Chile is classified under the Act because the South American country has signed an international extradition treaty. Security minister Dan Jarvis leaves the Cabinet Office on Whitehall, central London, following a Cobra meeting (James Manning/PA) In a letter to shadow home secretary Chris Philp seen by the PA news agency, security minister Dan Jarvis suggested the change was needed as no extradition to Hong Kong can currently be made 'even if there were strong operational grounds to do so'. Mr Jarvis added: 'The way to resolve this situation is to de-designate Hong Kong and Zimbabwe from the Act so that we can co-operate with them on the case-by-case ad hoc basis available for non-treaty partners. 'The safety and security of our citizens is our top priority. 'Ensuring that territories are correctly designated under the Act will ensure that the UK can accept extradition requests in a lawful and timely way to ensure the public is not put at risk.' Writing in response to Mr Jarvis, shadow minister Ms Kearns questioned why the Government had taken the step, as she said the situation in Hong Kong had 'worsened' in the years since the national security law was introduced. She pointed to the case of Jimmy Lai, the 77-year-old British national and proprietor of the Apple Daily newspaper, who is facing detention by the Chinese government, as well as other critics of Beijing. 'Has the Government assessed political freedom and the rule of law have been returned to Hong Kong, or have you decided these issues are no longer saleable alongside the 'reset' in relations between the UK and China?' Ms Kearns asked in her letter. Government plans to reintroduce extradition cooperation with Hong Kong are highly concerning. Why does the Government deem this reasonable when freedom of expression, political freedom and the rule of law in Hong Kong have been crushed by The National Security Law and the… — Alicia Kearns MP (@aliciakearns) July 24, 2025 In a post on social media, she added: 'I urge the Government to give urgent reassurances on how this system will be safely managed and what protections will be put in place to ensure no Hong Konger, CCP critic or anyone targeted by the CCP will be extradited under the new arrangement.' The Hong Kong national security law criminalises anything considered to be secessionist from China, and has led to a crackdown on critics of Beijing. Some 150,000 Hongkongers have moved to the UK under a special visa scheme launched in early 2021, after the law was introduced. Since coming to power, Labour has sought to reset relations with China with the aim of boosting trade, after the Conservatives took an increasingly hawkish attitude towards the country while they were in office. In a statement, security minister Mr Jarvis said it was 'entirely incorrect to say the UK has restored extradition co-operation with Hong Kong'. He added: 'The 1997 treaty remains suspended and this legislation simply completes the severing of ties between the British and Hong Kong extradition systems. This amendment is in order to give legal effect to the suspension of the extradition treaty with Hong Kong.' The Government is 'unwavering in its commitment to upholding human rights, the rule of law, and the safety of all individuals in the UK, including the many Hong Kongers who have made this country their home', Mr Jarvis said.
The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Ministers urged to explain plans which could re-establish Hong Kong extraditions
Shadow Home Office minister Alicia Kearns urged the Government to ensure 'protections will be put in place to ensure no Hongkonger, CCP (Chinese Community Party) critic or anyone targeted by the CCP will be extradited under the new arrangement'. The UK's extradition treaty with Hong Kong was suspended by the then-Tory government after a new national security law was imposed on the territory by China in 2020. The treaty meant Hong Kong could request that someone living in the UK suspected of a crime at home could be handed over to face justice, and vice versa. Fears that the law could lead to human rights abuses were behind the UK's reasoning to put the agreement on ice. Ministers have now introduced a law change in the Commons which would tweak how Hong Kong is designated under the 2003 Extradition Act. The statutory instrument introduced in the Commons on July 17 would effectively establish a 'case-by-case' extradition route with Hong Kong, as well as Zimbabwe. It also changes how Chile is classified under the Act because the South American country has signed an international extradition treaty. Security minister Dan Jarvis leaves the Cabinet Office on Whitehall, central London, following a Cobra meeting (James Manning/PA) In a letter to shadow home secretary Chris Philp seen by the PA news agency, security minister Dan Jarvis suggested the change was needed as no extradition to Hong Kong can currently be made 'even if there were strong operational grounds to do so'. Mr Jarvis added: 'The way to resolve this situation is to de-designate Hong Kong and Zimbabwe from the Act so that we can co-operate with them on the case-by-case ad hoc basis available for non-treaty partners. 'The safety and security of our citizens is our top priority. 'Ensuring that territories are correctly designated under the Act will ensure that the UK can accept extradition requests in a lawful and timely way to ensure the public is not put at risk.' Writing in response to Mr Jarvis, shadow minister Ms Kearns questioned why the Government had taken the step, as she said the situation in Hong Kong had 'worsened' in the years since the national security law was introduced. She pointed to the case of Jimmy Lai, the 77-year-old British national and proprietor of the Apple Daily newspaper, who is facing detention by the Chinese government, as well as other critics of Beijing. 'Has the Government assessed political freedom and the rule of law have been returned to Hong Kong, or have you decided these issues are no longer saleable alongside the 'reset' in relations between the UK and China?' Ms Kearns asked in her letter. Government plans to reintroduce extradition cooperation with Hong Kong are highly concerning. Why does the Government deem this reasonable when freedom of expression, political freedom and the rule of law in Hong Kong have been crushed by The National Security Law and the… — Alicia Kearns MP (@aliciakearns) July 24, 2025 In a post on social media, she added: 'I urge the Government to give urgent reassurances on how this system will be safely managed and what protections will be put in place to ensure no Hong Konger, CCP critic or anyone targeted by the CCP will be extradited under the new arrangement.' The Hong Kong national security law criminalises anything considered to be secessionist from China, and has led to a crackdown on critics of Beijing. Some 150,000 Hongkongers have moved to the UK under a special visa scheme launched in early 2021, after the law was introduced. Since coming to power, Labour has sought to reset relations with China with the aim of boosting trade, after the Conservatives took an increasingly hawkish attitude towards the country while they were in office. In a statement, security minister Mr Jarvis said it was 'entirely incorrect to say the UK has restored extradition co-operation with Hong Kong'. He added: 'The 1997 treaty remains suspended and this legislation simply completes the severing of ties between the British and Hong Kong extradition systems. This amendment is in order to give legal effect to the suspension of the extradition treaty with Hong Kong.' The Government is 'unwavering in its commitment to upholding human rights, the rule of law, and the safety of all individuals in the UK, including the many Hong Kongers who have made this country their home', Mr Jarvis said.
