HONG KONG: Democratic rights under threat

BY EVA CHENG

Despite mass protests last December, the Hong Kong government is pressing ahead with plans to pass a draconian new law which will seriously curb freedom of speech and association.

In September — using the pretext of combating subversion, sedition, the unauthorised leaking of "state secrets" and outlawing "unlawful" links with foreign political organisations — the government moved to legislate article 23 of Hong Kong's "mini-constitution" (the Special Administration Region Basic Law) into law.

The government gave the public three months to air their views on the planned legislation. In response, more than 100,000 submissions poured in, predominantly in opposition. In med-December, there was a protest involving 60,000 people demanding that the public be consulted on the draft legislation.

On February 12, the government announced that the first two stages of a three-stage legislative process would take place on February 26. Hong Kong's legislators must make a final decision on the law by July or even earlier.

In a statement on February 13, the Hong Kong Bar Association urged the government not to rush on the passage of the bill. On February 17, barrister Ronny Tong warned that many key concerns had not been addressed and new draconian provisions had been added.

Tong listed two new concerns: that the appeal mechanism for political organisations which have been "proscribed" (blacklisted) may involve a secret trial; and the time limits beyond which legal action cannot be launched are proposed to be removed.

The Civil Human Rights Front has called a candlelight vigil against Article 23 for February 25.

From Green Left Weekly, February 26, 2003.

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From GLW issue 527