HONG KONG - The Hong Kong government should release details of its proposed anti-subversion laws to the public at the earliest opportunity, US consul general James Keith said Thursday.
In remarks at the Foreign Correspondents Club here, Keith said it was up to the Hong Kong government and public to decide what mechanism to use, but stressed the need for adequate time to debate the text of the controversial security laws.
"There are some concerns about the fundamental issues that have been raised. Unfortunately, it's hard to go into any more detail than that because there isn't much more detail upon which to comment," Keith said.
"Ideally, we would not be talking about a consultation document but about the law itself. We cannot evaluate (it) until the law is presented."
The government has dismissed the need for formal public consultation, known as a white bill, but various Hong Kong sectors and the international community have urged such a mechanism as the implications of the proposed bill have become clearer.
Keith said the US interest, as a member of the international community, was to get "into the public hands at the earliest opportunity the law itself."
"It will give the public, and members of the legislative committee, the chance to discuss, debate and deliberate."
Under Article 23 of the Basic Law, the mini-constitution adopted after the 1997 handover of the territory to China, Hong Kong is obliged to pass laws banning treason, sedition, subversion and theft of state secrets.
Many Hong Kong residents have expressed concern that the proposed new laws could curtail freedoms in the territory. Human rights and press groups have also condemned the bill.
Tens of thousands of demonstrators flooded the streets in downtown Hong Kong Sunday to protest the proposed law.
Australia has also urged Hong Kong to continue to assure basic freedoms and pressed for a full consultation period on the proposed security laws.
A spokeswoman from Australia's foreign office said Canberra had raised its concerns with officials here, local radio reported Thursday.
Australia was looking to the government to ensure fundamental freedoms critical to the city's ongoing success as an international business centre with an attractive way of life, she added.
The government is expected to enact the legislation after the three-month consultation exercise ends on December 24.
http://www.ptd.net/webnews/wed/cc/Qhongkong-subversion.RxIw_CDJ.html
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