The Tate brothers, Andrew and Tristan, cannot be arrested or extradited from Hong Kong without official requests from Romania or the United Kingdom, local lawmakers stated, in the context of the controversial visit of the two influencers to the city.
The statements come after their presence in Hong Kong over the weekend sparked intense reactions online and in the public space.
"Police cannot act" without official requests
Deputy Joe Chan Cho-kwong, a former police officer, explained that local authorities cannot intervene without formal procedures.
"There are, however, mechanisms, as they could contact the Hong Kong police through Interpol. If the UK and Romania do not do this, the Hong Kong police cannot do anything," he said.
In turn, Deputy Johnny Ng Kit-chong emphasized that the lack of extradition treaties does not turn the city into a refuge for fugitives but reflects the existing legal framework.
"We cannot say that Hong Kong is a refuge for fugitives [...] Hong Kong respects the rule of law, and we should act in accordance with our legislation. The obligation does not fall on Hong Kong," he stated.
No extradition treaties with Romania and the UK
Hong Kong currently does not have an extradition treaty with Romania, and the agreement with the UK was suspended in 2020 after Beijing imposed the national security law.
British authorities later proposed the resumption of cooperation "on a case-by-case basis," but there is currently no functional mechanism in place.
A police spokesperson specified that there is international collaboration through information exchange channels, but did not confirm the existence of any requests related to the Tate brothers.
Criticism towards British and Romanian authorities
Nick Chan Hiu-fung, a lawmaker from the legal sector, criticized the lack of firm international actions.
"If they consider the accusations against the Tate brothers so serious, they could have issued an Interpol red notice. But, for certain reasons, they did not," he stated.
An Interpol red notice allows for the location and provisional arrest of a person for extradition, but the final decision rests with local authorities.
"Business" visit
The Tate brothers were spotted in popular areas of Hong Kong, including Lan Kwai Fong, where they were surrounded by admirers and onlookers.
A source close to the family stated that they "have always wanted to visit Hong Kong" and could also have business interests in the city.
In a social media post, Andrew Tate mocked the extradition procedures.
"If England does not extradite me soon, I will have to fly there myself, and I think taxpayers should pay for my plane ticket if the government wants to talk to me so badly," he wrote.
Criminal cases in Romania and the UK
Andrew and Tristan Tate are under criminal investigation in Romania for rape, human trafficking, and the establishment of an organized criminal group, a case in which they were arrested in 2022 and brought to trial in 2023.
In the UK, authorities issued a European arrest warrant in 2024, and in 2025, charges were authorized for rape, human trafficking, controlling prostitution, and causing grievous bodily harm.
The Tate brothers have consistently denied all allegations.
After the travel restrictions were lifted in Romania last year, the two visited several countries, including the US and Dubai.
Recent posts show that the Tate brothers were also in Dubai during the rocket and drone attacks launched by Iran in the context of the regional conflict. Andrew Tate then mocked those leaving the city, calling them "cowards."