Interviews with MEPs about Article 23

Mr. Graham Watson:

“At this moment, civil rights is not just a concern in Hong Kong, it is a global concern. We would not like to see these same freedoms undermined in Hong Kong, which is a valuable commercial and political partner in the Far East. What we need to do is to express those concerns to the Hong Kong government to ensure that this unique law is not used to suppress people’s rights. And I think that if we are serious about maintaining the “one country, two systems” principle, then we need to see evidence that the Hong Kong government is not using these laws in a way that would, for example, restrict religious freedoms.”

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Mr. Roger Helmer:
“We do have a motion going through parliament today actually, here in Strasbourg on this very question that has been proposed by an Irish MEP, Mr. Cushnahan. I think that this reflects widespread concerns in the European Parliament that these measures about to be introduced may well be used in a repressive way in the future.

It seems to me that we end up depending on the goodwill of the Beijing government to continue to interpret this liberally in Hong Kong and to continue the “one country, two systems”. If they do that, all will be well. If however, they don’t then I think that Hong Kong people have real grounds for concern. As I have said, we have already heard from some commercial organizations in Hong Kong about their concerns. I would certainly call on the government of the PRC to take note of this resolution. The world should be looking to promote human rights and we hope very much that the proposed Article 23 will not be used in a repressive way and we also hope that the PRC government will have a change of heart and start to allow a variety of opinions in the PRC.”

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Mr. John Cushnahan:
“What I am concerned about, and that has certainly been the state of fuel not only in the parliament but also in the European Union, is that whatever happens in Hong Kong must not in any way undermine the economy of Hong Kong under the “one country, two systems” policy and we will certainly look at these new proposals in that particular light.”