Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters

Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2019

Overview

• Strengthen international co-operation in criminal justice

• HK’s Legislation

– Fugitive Offenders Ordinance (FOO) (Cap.503)

– Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Ordinance (MLAO) (Cap.525)

International Co-operation

• FOO Agreements : 20 countries

– Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom, United States of America

• MLAO Agreements: 32 countries

– Argentina , Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel , Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Ukraine, United States of America

Fugitive Requests

• HK received 204 requests (218 fugitives) in 1997–2018, 109 fugitives surrendered

No. of offenders surrendered

⚫ USA 68

⚫ Australia 10

⚫ UK 8

⚫ Canada 7

⚫ Republic of Korea 4

⚫ Singapore 4

⚫ Netherlands 3

⚫ Philippines 2

⚫ India 1

⚫ New Zealand 1

⚫ Romania 1

Total no. 109

Examples of Offences Involved No. of Cases

⚫ Drug-related 38

⚫ Offences against Properties e.g.

robbery, deception, etc.

32

⚫ Money Laundering 13

⚫ Homicide 12

⚫ Forgery 12

⚫ Sexual Offences 9

⚫ Computer crime 8

⚫ Assault / wounding 5

⚫ Immigration offences 3

⚫ Corruption 2

⚫ Firearms 2

Legal Safeguards• Double criminality

• No political offence

• No prosecuting for race, religion, nationality or political opinions

• No prejudice in trial or punishment by reason of race, religion, nationality or political opinions

• No double jeopardy

• No prosecution for additional offences

• No re-surrender to a third country

• No death penalty

Executive & Judicial Scrutiny

Procedural Safeguards

• Legal representation

• Legal aid

• Habeas corpus (up to CFA)

• Torture claim (up to CFA)

• Right to apply for discharge by court

• Appeal (up to CFA)

• Judicial review (up to CFA)

Executive & Judicial Scrutiny

46 Extraditable Offences

• Homicide

• Sexual offences

• Offences against properties

• Offences against children and women

• Corruption

• Perjury

• Computer crimes

• Hijacking

• Vice, drug and gambling-related

• Firearms and explosives

• Offences committed by company officers, directors and promoters.

• Bankruptcy

• Taxation

• Pollution

• Piracy

• Trade description

• Money laundering

• Offences under multilateral international conventions

Examples

Punishable with imprisonment over 12 months

Long-term agreement(or Case-based arrangement)

Current Extradition Procedure

Executive Scrutiny

Chief Executive’s authority to proceed

Committal hearing in court

Chief Executive issues surrender order

Why Amend?

• Taiwan murder case presents two practical problems

➢ Geographical restrictions

➢ Impracticable operating procedures

• FOO– Differentiate case-based arrangement

from long-term agreement• lift the geographical restriction

• Chief Executive’s certificate to facilitate procedure in lieu of impracticable subsidiary legislation procedure

• Cover 37 of 46 items of offences punishable for more than 3 years

Amendment Bill – Key Proposals

Case-based agreement & CE’s certificate

Proposed Extradition Procedure

Executive Scrutiny

Chief Executive’s authority to proceed

Committal hearing in court

Chief Executive issues surrender order

Rule of Law Global Ranking

Country / Jurisdiction Global Ranking

China 82

Hong Kong 16

Extradition Agreement

Countries with HK

Global Ranking

Malaysia 51

New Zealand 8

Philippines 90

Portugal 22

Republic of Korea 18

Singapore 13

South Africa 47

Sri Lanka 63

UK 12

USA 20

Extradition Agreement

Countries with HK

Global Ranking

Australia 11

Canada 9

Czech Republic 19

Finland 3

France 17

Germany 6

Holland 5

India 68

Indonesia 62

Ireland N.A.

Source: World Justice Project Rule of Law Index 2019, available at: https://worldjusticeproject.org/our-work/research-and-data/wjp-rule-law-index-2019

Rule of Law Global RankingExtradition Agreement

Countries with UK

Global Ranking

Bangladesh 112

Belize 86

Bolivia 119

Ecuador 87

El Salvador 84

Guatemala 96

Kenya 101

Liberia 97

Moldova 83

Nicaragua 114

Nigeria 106

Philippines 90

Russia 88

Sierra Leone 98

Tanzania 91

Togo 100

Turkey 109

Uganda 113

Zambia 92

Zimbabwe 116

Extradition Agreement

Countries with US

Global Ranking

Belize 86

Bolivia 119

Congo 124

Dominican Republic 95

Ecuador 87

Egypt 121

El Salvador 84

Guatemala 96

Honduras 115

Kenya 101

Liberia 97

Mexico 99

Nicaragua 114

Nigeria 106

Pakistan 117

Philippines 90

Sierra Leone 98

Tanzania 91

Togo 100

Turkey 109

Venezuela 126

Zambia 92

Zimbabwe 116

Extradition Agreement

Countries with Canada

Global Ranking

Bolivia 119

Ecuador 87

El Salvador 84

Guatemala 96

Liberia 97

Mexico 99

Nicaragua 114

Philippines 90

Source: World Justice Project Rule of Law Index 2019, available at: https://worldjusticeproject.org/our-work/research-and-data/wjp-rule-law-index-2019

Court of Final Appeal (CFA)

• Court of Final Appeal

➢ Chief Justice, 3 Permanent Judges and 18 Non-Permanent Judges

• 18 Non-Permanent Judges

➢ Local (4), UK (9), Australia (4), Canada (1)

Judicial Independence of HK

• World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report

➢ No. 8 (global ranking)

➢ No. 1 (Asian ranking)

Source: World Economic Forum The Global Competitiveness Report 2018, available at: http://www3.weforum.org/docs/GCR2018/05FullReport/TheGlobalCompetitivenessReport2018.pdf

Conclusion

• Solving Taiwan case and addressing two practical problems

• Targeting fugitive offenders of serious offences, not innocent public

• For long-term interest of Hong Kong’s law and order, level playing field for business

• Not for any particular jurisdiction

• No hidden agenda

Conclusion

• Will not affect long-term surrender agreements

• Executive and judicial scrutiny with full legal, procedural and human rights safeguards

• Strong judicial independence

• Subject to further restrictions to surrender

• Key policy goal to pursue long-term surrender arrangements

Thank you