July 3, 2003
(Clearwisdom.net) HONG KONG -- The government here faced growing pressure
to withdraw parts of a planned antisubversion bill, with even some of Chief
Executive Tung Chee Hwa's staunchest supporters urging him to make concessions
as public anger
grows.
Pro-China lawmakers and political commentators called for Mr. Tung to listen to
the city's residents after Tuesday's street protest, which organizers said drew
500,000 people. Protest organizers say they are planning more demonstrations.
The legislation -- the so-called Article 23 antisubversion law, which defines
and lays out tough penalties for violations of China's national security,
including treason, subversion, sedition and the theft of state secrets -- is
expected to be enacted Wednesday.
A top pro-Beijing lawmaker Thursday asked the Hong Kong government to water down
the bill.
"Since people still have existing doubts and this has caused such a great
controversy, can the government consider responding to people's worries?"
asked Jasper Tsang, chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of
Hong Kong.
Mr. Tsang, whose party typically supports Hong Kong's government on legislative
matters, said he thinks the bill is fine as written, but that the government
should do something to address people's concerns. He suggested one part that
could be changed was a provision that would let Hong Kong outlaw local groups
that are subordinate to groups that have been banned in mainland China on
national security grounds.
Critics say that measure might be used against Falun Gong, the meditation
[group] outlawed in China but allowed to practice, and protest, in Hong Kong.
Other key pro-government blocs in the legislature also are reviewing their
positions after Tuesday's demonstration.
"Today, even if the government wanted to pass a free lunch bill they would
have difficulty," said David Chu of the pro-government Hong Kong
Progressive Alliance. "After seeing what happened on July 1, I think
everyone in Hong Kong is reviewing their positions," he told a radio
phone-in show.
Lawmakers were scheduled to meet Friday to discuss urging Mr. Tung to respond to
the march. Opposition Democratic Party leader Yeung Sum called it the only way
Mr. Tung can "avert a political crisis." Mr. Tung has so far just
issued a short news release that critics attacked as inconsequential. Mr. Tung's
Executive Council met to discuss the matter Thursday but didn't release details
of the talks.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong Police Chief Tsang Yam-pui warned protesters not to
interfere with the Legislative Council, after opposition lawmaker Lee Cheuk-yan
called on people to surround the building next Wednesday.
"If we're talking about surrounding and blocking the legislature, that
impedes the operation of the legislature. It's illegal. Citizens should not do
it and should not encourage other people to do it," he said. Mr. Lee
accused the police chief of trying to keep down the number of protesters.
Also Thursday, Australia and New Zealand voiced concerns about the proposed law
and called on Hong Kong to ensure that civil liberties aren't jeopardized. The
U.S., the European Union and Britain have voiced similar concerns.
[...]
Category: Falun Dafa in the Media
