AP: Hong Kong marks five years under China amid fears it will lose more freedoms

Tung Chee-hwa will be sworn in to a second term Monday, the fifth anniversary of Hong Kong's 1997 handover from Britain to China. This time, the former shipping tycoon has streamlined his administration to wield more power by placing political appointees into top posts formerly held by career civil servants.

Now some pro-democracy lawmakers and rights activists worry Tung will be less tolerant of political dissent, despite guarantees of free expression through Hong Kong's arrangement with China, called "one country, two systems."
The principle was designed to allow for an autonomous Hong Kong for 50 years following its 1997 return to China. Hong Kong residents enjoy Western-style civil liberties, but some fear these could be eroded under Chinese rule. Critics predict Hong Kong will soon enact an anti-subversion law, which is required under the territory's mini-constitution, although the government pointedly didn't do it during Tung's first term as chief executive.

Tung's foes say the anti-subversion law will stifle commentary, but Hong Kong Secretary for Justice Elsie Leung sought this week to calm those concerns by saying groups branded as subversive by Beijing, such as Falun Gong or several pro-democracy groups, won't be targeted.Critics aren't convinced.

"You will need to be very courageous to criticize the government after it is passed," said pro-democracy lawmaker Margaret Ng. "People like me are being cornered, sidelined, ignored, put out in the cold." Local rights activists point to two criminal cases as evidence Hong Kong is clamping down on voices Beijing doesn't want to hear.

Sixteen followers of the Falun Gong meditation [group] -- including four Swiss -- are on trial for public obstruction during a protest outside the Chinese government liaison office here in March.

It's the first time Hong Kong has prosecuted members of Falun Gong, which alleges officials filed trumped-up charges to stifle the message of the meditation [group] [..].

Falun Gong is free to practice in Hong Kong, though spokeswoman Sophie Xiao said 30 followers were recently barred entry -- apparently to ensure they can't protest during an expected visit to the anniversary ceremonies by Chinese President Jiang Zemin.

Hong Kong also filed charges against three local pro-democracy activists for staging a protest without police permission in February. Critics call it a tactic of blatant intimidation, but Hong Kong officials say free speech is as strong as ever.

"You see every day in Hong Kong all sorts of groups demonstrating and making their views known," said Tung's spokesman, Stephen Lam. "Provided the organizers work within the law, freedom of speech is fully respected."

At the Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor, director Law Yuk-kai said Tung has been reluctant to stand up for the territory's freedoms, always eager to please Beijing "at the expense of the autonomy of Hong Kong." Tung was chosen by a committee of special interest representatives and not ordinary voters, and although Hong Kong can theoretically achieve democracy at the end of his second term, few think it will happen. Chinese Vice-Premier Qian Qichen cast further doubts on the prospect when he told a newspaper this week that Hong Kong should keep its electoral methods intact because its position in China "determines that it cannot copy the political system of another country."
Outraged opposition lawmakers charged Qian was improperly meddling in a matter that should be left to Hong Kong.