“Madam Speaker! In September the government of Hong Kong put forward a suggestion for a new law that threatens freedom of speech, freedom of the press and freedom of belief in the region. This law, the so called Article 23, aims at “protecting Hong Kong from foreign and domestic threats”, but means at the same time that the legislation of Hong Kong is to be harmonised with that of Mainland China. Accordingly, organisations and movements that are forbidden in Communist China may also be forbidden in Hong Kong. The Falun Gong movement, as well as Christian Churches that are not approved of by the Chinese government, would have the same legal status in Hong Kong as it has had in China since 1999.
The law would increase the powers of the authorities to control and accordingly censor everything that is printed in newspapers, other media, and published material. Accordingly, such material that is considered detrimental to the region, and to China as a whole, would be censored and ownership would be punishable. The voting is planned to take place in Hong Kong on Christmas Eve. Honour the festivity of Christmas by withdrawing Article 23!”
Chinese version available at http://www.yuanmingeurope.net/articles/200212/15706.html
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