China News Service, Hong Kong, August 20. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government stated on the 20th that in accordance with the instructions of the Central People’s Government, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has issued a notice to the US Consulate General in Hong Kong on the 20th to suspend the implementation of the "Hong Kong Government and the Government of the United States of America Regarding the Transfer of Fugitive Offenders" Agreement between the Hong Kong Government and the Government of the United States of America on Criminal Judicial Assistance.

  A spokesperson for the SAR government stated that the United States unilaterally suspended the surrender of fugitives agreement signed with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region under the pretext of Hong Kong’s National Security Law. This is not only a double-standard political operation, but also gross interference in China’s internal affairs and a serious violation of international law and basic norms of international relations. The SAR government strongly opposes this.

  "The politicization of judicial cooperation by the United States has seriously damaged the basis for judicial cooperation between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the United States." The spokesman said.

  The spokesperson said that even though the "Agreement between the Hong Kong Government and the Government of the United States of America on the Surrender of Fugitive Offenders" and the "Agreement between the Government of Hong Kong and the Government of the United States of America on Criminal Judicial Assistance" are suspended, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has a complete mutual legal assistance and cooperation mechanism for the surrender of fugitives. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will, as always, uphold the principle of mutual assistance and mutual benefit, and carry out law enforcement cooperation with other members of the international community in accordance with the law. (Finish)