December 19

(Clearwisdom.net) CANBERRA - Australia urged Hong Kong to continue to assure basic freedoms on Thursday, as the former British colony considered a proposed anti-subversion law.

The proposed legislation, Article 23, is a provision in Hong Kong's constitution that requires the government to enact a law against treason, sedition, secession from and subversion against the Chinese mainland government.

But human rights and legal groups, who fear the measure is being adopted at Beijing's behest, say it could be used against anyone who criticizes China.

A spokeswoman from Australia's foreign office said Canberra had raised its concerns with Hong Kong officials, pressing for a full and open consultation period on the proposed law.

"We look to the Hong Kong government to ensure the basic freedoms that are so important to Hong Kong's ongoing success as an international business center with an attractive way of life," a spokeswoman from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told Reuters.

As criticism of the proposed law mounts, up to 70 supporters of the spiritual movement Falun Gong staged a street protest in Sydney on Thursday, saying the measure could seriously undermine the "basic civil liberties that Hong Kong has traditionally enjoyed".

While Falun Gong is banned in China, the movement can operate freely in Hong Kong, which guarantees freedom of religion.

"The Hong Kong government could basically use this law to arrest anyone in Hong Kong who is doing something that Beijing doesn't like," Falun Gong spokesman Tony Dai told Reuters.

"They could arrest Falun Gong practitioners at any time."