Australia suspends extradition agreement with Hong Kong over security law

Sydney - The foreign ministry urged its nationals to "reconsider your need to remain in Hong Kong" if they have concerns about the new laws.

Australia on Thursday suspended its extradition agreement with Hong Kong in response to China's imposition of a new national security law in the territory.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the decision to suspend the extradition pact was taken because the security law "constitutes a fundamental change of circumstances" in Hong Kong.

In an updated travel warning certain to anger Beijing, Australia's foreign ministry urged its nationals to "reconsider your need to remain in Hong Kong" if they have concerns about the new laws.

Earlier this week, the foreign ministry upgraded its travel warning for China, saying Australians faced possible "arbitrary detention" when travelling to the country.

China's embassy in Canberra blasted that warning as "completely ridiculous and disinformation".

In Thursday's notice, the ministry said the new national security law imposed on Hong Kong could be "interpreted broadly" and possibly lead to Australians being transferred to mainland China for prosecution.

While noting that the full extent of the law and how it will be applied "is not yet clear", it said Australians "may be at increased risk of detention on vaguely defined national security grounds".

"You could break the law without intending to," it added.