Beijing – For a few weeks now heated debates have raged in Hong Kong. ‘Finally,’ said several observers whose formerly pulsing city had appeared resigned lately. Now, however, Hong Kong has been positioned at a cross roads in her juvenile existence as part of China. Hong Kong’s government took five years since the takeover in 1997 to give credence to apprehension on the part of citizens’ rights, a time line the people had feared. Now the time is here: Hong Kong will get an anti-subversion law. “The last nail in the casket to bury political freedoms,” as Martin Lee calls it. He is chairman of the Democratic Party. [...]
Even celebrations of joyous occasions have become rare and are not free of gloom. The Conservative Heritage Foundation in Hong Kong last week commented on the “freest market place in the world,” declaring for the ninth time, “if this new law encumbers the free dissemination of information, the city can kiss her status as Top Spot good-bye.” […]
Laws against high treason and subversion are not the order of the day in democratic nations. Hong Kong could have opted to bring about a law package that would both satisfy the demands of Article 23 and at the same time leave most citizens’ rights largely unaffected. Tung’s government, though, proceeds at a pace and in a manner that only fuels a sense of alarm, foreboding and mistrust. Last September, his government introduced a draft of this law “for discussion,” that did not specify the exact measures to be taken against future lawbreakers. At the same time, government officials admitted to having discussed this matter with Beijing to ascertain that they followed established policies. Beijing has exerted pressure for a long time already.
Critics fear that Hong Kong will ramrod through a law that will make it possible to suppress Falun Gong as well as muzzle the press. People such as Frank Lu are considered in danger. He is the one who informs the rest of the world about workers’ unrest and human rights abuses in China.
In China, journalists ended up in jail for publishing such inane “state secrets” as unpublished economic data. In the future, it could be possible that in Hong Kong one could be accused of a crime merely for possessing unauthorized “state secrets.” Questions tumble on top of questions: Will it be a crime of inciting to riot, to publicly declare sympathy for Taiwan? When questioned on such matters, government representatives reply with evasive answers.
The Heart of Success
By February [2003], this law will be presented to members of the parliament and summer is planned as the time for ratification. Only a small number of Hong Kong’s parliamentary members are elected officials. The majority of them are appointed Beijing sympathizers from the business sector and lobbying circles. They will ratify anything the government presents them with. “This is what Tung envisions as the law’s ruling mandate,” said Law Yuk-kai, chairperson for Human Rights Monitor, Hong Kong’s largest human rights organization. “ He [Tung] thinks up a law and then ramrods it through.”
At risk here are Hong Kong’s reputation and future. Anson Chan pointed that out. Until her resignation 1-1/2 years ago, she was Number Two behind Tung, and vastly more popular than the government chief. She had written that a free society and an independent and respected justice system are “at the heart of Hong Kong’s prior and future success.” She had appealed to Tung to be as “transparent and responsible as possible” with the formulation of Article 23. “I can think of no other laws that would have such incisive consequences, not only for our freedom, rights and our lifestyle, but also for our survival as a huge financial and service sector centrum.”
[…]
Justice Secretary Elsie Leung also gave her curious comprehension of democracy. She accused democrat Martin Lee in his absence, at that time on a consultation trip to Europe, of inviting people from abroad to interfere in Hong Kong matters. “It is precisely this interference from abroad that would benefit Hong Kong now,” says human rights advocate Law Yuk-kai. “China listens to the international community’s opinions. Those people who would like to see a change in China ought to redirect their energies and help to ensure a free Hong Kong. That would be a better contribution for a better China.”
(Original text in German)
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