(Clearwisdom.net) The Epoch Times reported in Ottawa on December 11, 2002 that December 10, 2002 was the 55th International Human Rights Day since the adoption of Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 and Canada's Ministry of Foreign Affairs sponsored an activity in honor of the occasion. Secretary of State for Asia-pacific Relations MP David Kilgour hosted the activity. Several human rights organizations including Amnesty International were invited to give speeches.
The human rights issue was brought up in speeches given by Mr. Kilgour and Canadian Amnesty International. Reporters raised questions to Mr. Kilgour about Hong Kong's legislation of Article 23 that has recently aroused many debates and oppositions.
Mr. Kilgour said that Canada is a member country of "Johannesburg Principles," and has its own position concerning Hong Kong's Article 23. Mr. Kilgour thought that Article 23 should not be made a law, and hoped that it would not be enacted. Canada's Ministry of Foreign Affairs will submit a proposal about Article 23 before the end of consultation period on December 24.
Moreover, Mr. Kilgour also said that Canada, as a country that respects human rights, has repeatedly brought up the human rights issue with China. He also personally raised questions about the Falun Gong issue to the officials concerned in his several visits to China.
