Sunday, June 16, 2019
Changes to Hong Kong's extradition law could hurt the autonomy that has made it one of Asia's main financial hubs.
The government is seeking to allow extraditions to mainland China, saying it makes sure Hong Kong remains a "safe city for residents and business".
The proposed changes led to widespread protests in Hong Kong this week and sparked some of the worst violence seen there in decades.
Many worry that Hong Kong's status as a global financial centre is at risk.
"The passage of the proposed legislation would undermine Hong Kong's status both as a hub for multinational firm operations and as a global financial centre," said Nicholas Lardy, a senior fellow at the Washington-based think tank Peterson Institute for International Economics.