Hong Kong Should Consult Widely on Extradition Bill: UN Rights Boss

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet attends a meeting at the chancellery in Caracas, Venezuela on June 20, 2019. (Manaure Quintero/Reuters)

GENEVA—United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet urged authorities in Hong Kong on June 24 to “consult broadly” before passing or amending an extradition bill that triggered weeks of protests, or any other legislation.

Widespread demonstrations against the bill has plunged the Chinese-ruled city into crisis, posing the greatest popular challenge to Chinese leader Xi Jinping since he took power in 2012.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam suspended the bill, which would allow criminal suspects in the former British colony to be extradited to mainland China for trial, but some activists are calling on her to axe it altogether.

Bachelet commended the authorities’ decision to delay passage of the bill in response to what she called a ’massive display of civic activism by a large proportion of the population.’

“I encourage the authorities to consult broadly before passing or amending this, or any other, legislation,” Bachelet told the U.N. Human Rights Council which opened a three-week session in Geneva.

Bachelet also said that she continues to raise issues related to Xinjiang and other matters with China and that discussions include “unfettered access” to the western region.

U.N. experts and activists say some one million ethnic Uyghurs and other Muslims are held in detention centers in Xinjiang. China has been condemned internationally for setting up the detention complexes, which it describes as “education training centers” helping to stamp out extremism and give people new skills.

China, a member of the 47-member forum, is keen to head off criticism of its record at the session, diplomats and activists say. Erkin Tuniyaz, vice-governor of Xinjiang and an ethnic Uyghur, is expected to address the Council this week, they add.

By Stephanie Nebehay