Thousands of Hong Kong residents took to the streets on Sunday to protest against a proposed amendment to the rules for extraditing suspects, reports the South China Morning Post Sunday. Critics fear that China can use that arrangement to prosecute political activists.

The organisers say that an estimated 130,000 demonstrators took part in the event.

The protesters made their dissatisfaction clear with a protest march towards the parliament of the metropolis. Parliament has yet to give its opinion on the proposal.

The plan revolves around extraditing suspects to countries with which no extradition treaty has been concluded, such as China or Taiwan.
Hong Kong’s highest executive may soon demand that people sought by such countries be arrested in the special administrative region. After that, the judge may also rule on the matter, the newspaper reports.

The authorities in the former British colony, which has autonomous status within China, had already adjusted the extradition plan to accommodate critics.

After the possible introduction of the law, suspects cannot be extradited due to all kinds of economic crimes.