Speech by European Friends of Falun Gong at Article 23 Press Conference in London

Today we are gathered together in support of the ‘Global Coalition against Article 23’ of the Basic Law of Hong Kong, by which the government there intends to drastically reduce the freedom and autonomy of the people whom they claim to represent.

Under the proposed legislation, certain kinds of popular organisation would be proscribed, making it illegal to be part of an organisation which is banned in mainland China. This pertains in particular of course to practitioners of Falun Gong, which would become an illegal organisation if the draft legislation were to be adopted on July 9th in its present form.

We urge Hong Kong’s leaders to stand up to the pressure being exerted on them by the government in Beijing, and to pursue full democracy at all costs. Hong Kong’s special status, since the 1997 handover by Britain, depends entirely on the local authorities’ protection of human and civil rights and the preservation of the territory’s autonomy. The introduction of Article 23 in its present form would undoubtedly mean an erosion of those rights.

We know how many people are against the introduction of Article 23. 26,000 people have signed a petition against it in the last few weeks alone. Article 23 must be stopped in its present form. We must help maintain the ‘One country-two systems’ principle, which China agreed to in 1997. Hong Kong’s citizens must be given the chance of freedom of belief and expression, which we in the west take for granted, but which should be extended to all citizens of the world.

Vice-Chairman
European Friends of Falun Gong
28th June 2003