“International Chamber of Commerce – Hong Kong calls on government to halt extradition bill, saying global companies might ­reconsider locating offices in the city”, 8 May 2019

A prominent business group has urged the government to ­abandon its controversial ­extradition bill, saying the amendments to the fugitive law would force businesses to ­reconsider if they should locate their regional offices in the city.

The International Chamber of Commerce – Hong Kong (ICCHK) made the comment a day after Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor ruled out making any changes to the bill, which has stalled in the Legislative Council amid filibustering by pan-democrats and opposition from the city’s business sector and human rights groups.

In a letter to lawmakers… the ICCHK complained that the government’s public consultation period was too short for an issue that so deeply affects life and work in the city.

… The ICCHK is made up of leading companies and professionals as well as chambers of commerce and business groups. The ICCHK does not reveal the total number of its members, but its aim is to promote the city’s business interests in the global community…

 “Business and overseas investment are attracted to and stay in Hong Kong because they have confidence in its rule of law and an independent judiciary,” the chamber said in its letter to lawmakers.

 “But the proposed changes will lead people to reconsider whether to choose Hong Kong as their base of operations or the regional headquarters because there is the risk of their being handed over to another jurisdiction that does not provide the protection they enjoy in Hong Kong.”…

… the chamber called for the government to stop the legislative process of the bill until proper consultation was conducted…

“Given the gross inadequacies of the proposed amendments, enactment of the bill would mean more people in Hong Kong would be at risk of losing freedom, property and even their lives in the future – than merely passing judgment on the convicted in the Taiwan case,” the chamber said…

A spokesman for the Hong Kong government said the proposed amendments were meant to protect the law-abiding general public in Hong Kong…