The extradition process enables governments to bring fugitives abroad to justice, but it can be fraught with political tension, even when a treaty is in place. Extradition treaties help governments bring criminals who have fled their country to justice.

The Qing dynasty ceded Hong Kong to the British Empire in 1842 through the treaty of Nanjing, ending the First Opium War. Hong Kong then became a British crown colony. The Handover of Hong Kong on July 1, 1997, returned Hong Kong to Chinese rule, and it adopted the Hong Kong Basic Law.

The cultural and economic differences are widely considered as a primary cause of the conflict between Hong Kong and mainland China. The differences between Hong Kong people and mainlanders, such as language, as well as the significant growth in number of mainland visitors, have caused tension.

For example, when then suspected serial killer Charles Ng fled from the United States to Canada, which had banned capital punishment in 1976, Canada hesitated to extradite him to the United States, where he could be sentenced to death.

The following countries have been known to refuse U.S. extradition requests, despite having treaties: Bolivia, Ecuador, Iceland, Nicaragua, Switzerland, Venezuela and Zimbabwe….Countries with No U.S. Extradition Treaty.

Mexico, like many European countries and Canada, will not extradite a felon unless the government has a guarantee that individual will not face the death penalty upon return to the United States. Mexico will extradite if the maximum penalty is a life sentence, however.

Canada is able to extradite persons to stand trial, for imposition of a sentence or to serve a sentence, at the request of a foreign state or entity that is an extradition partner under Canada’s Extradition Act.