Thursday, 14-Nov-2002 6:20AM Story from AFP

BRUSSELS, Nov 14 (AFP) - Hong Kong democracy campaigner Martin Lee on Thursday won the backing of European liberals for his campaign against a new subversion law planned for the former British territory.

The controversial legislation -- which opponents say is being pushed through at China's behest -- is due to be enacted after a three-month consultation exercise ends on December 24.

Lee told Liberal Democrat members of the European Parliament that the Hong Kong administration of Tung Chee-hwa "want to give this to us as an unwelcome Christmas present".

"Life will never be the same again if these laws are enacted," the Democratic Party chairman said.

"We were promised that our freedoms would remain intact, but these proposals would undermine them."

Hong Kong's government insists that five years after reverting to Chinese rule, the territory must now meet constitutional obligations and implement laws to protect national security.

But human-rights and pro-democracy groups fear that China could use the new law to suppress freedoms including those of media, speech and religion, as well as to ban groups it considers a threat.

European Liberal Democrat leader Graham Watson gave Lee his group's support, arguing the subversion law undermined the "one country, two systems" formula which is meant to guarantee Hong Kong's autonomy from Chinese rule.

"The European Liberal Democrats will press for an urgent debate on the floor of this house at the earliest possible opportunity," he said at the parliament.

"Liberal Democrats in Europe and Asia will work hard to prevent the Singapore-isation of China. Economic freedom and political freedom must go hand in hand," he added.

"The People's Republic of China should walk softly where Hong Kong, Taiwan and Tibet are concerned, for they tread on the power of the human spirit."

http://www.ptd.net/webnews/wed/cj/Qhongkong-subversion-eu.RfQF_CNE.html