South China Morning Post
Page 3
Senior SAR officials have been questioned by New Zealand’s minister of
justice about the impact proposed anti-subversion laws may have on
foreign
nationals living in Hong Kong, as international awareness of the issue
grows.
Phil Goff, who spoke to the South China Morning Post during a flying
visit
to the territory last week, said his country would keep a close watch on
how
the government dealt with the laws, particularly a proposal which would
make
permanent residents with foreign nationality liable for crimes such as
treason and secession, even if committed outside Hong Kong.
“New Zealand will follow with interest how that proceeds and how that
may
impact upon a New Zealander who, for example, may make a comment in New
Zealand that could come within that category,” he added.
But Mr Goff, who is also Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, said he
had
been reassured by the officials he met during his trip. “All the
examples we
put to the people we’ve been speaking with, they have suggested would
not
come within the ambit of the crimes committed under the new
legislation,” he
said.
These examples also included questions Mr Goff asked concerning whether
the
Falun Gong would be banned under the new laws, and if calling for an
independent Taiwan would be a crime. He said he had been assured neither
would occur.
Four ministers were called on to put the government’s case to Mr Goff,
an
apparent indication of how much importance the administration now places
on
the views of the international community. Chief Secretary Donald Tsang
Yam-kuen, Secretary for Security Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, Secretary for
Justice Elsie Leung Oi-sie, and Secretary for Constitutional Affairs
Stephen
Lam Sui-lung all assured him he need not worry about the proposed laws
on
treason, sedition, subversion, and secession threatening fundamental
freedoms.
Mr Goff said he had also discussed the proposed laws, currently the
subject
of a consultation exercise which ends on December 24, with New Zealand
businessmen in Hong Kong.
“They felt it was important that there was confidence by the
international
community at the end of the day that the legislation was not in breach
of
`one country, two systems’. But I would not describe their reaction as
such
that they felt the administration was trying to undermine that
principle.”
He felt confident the laws would not restrict basic rights, because the
officials he met had assured him this would not be the case. “Each of
the
people we have met have reiterated the point that it is critical to Hong
Kong’s future that there is international confidence in the rule of law
and
respect for human rights,” Mr Goff said.
The debate over the proposals under Article 23 of the Basic Law, which
has
been raging since the government released its consultation paper in
September, is beginning to generate more interest overseas. Democratic
Party
chairman Martin Lee Chu-ming visited the US last month to raise
awareness of
the issue and is now in Europe highlighting concerns. US President
George W.
Bush spoke of the importance of preserving the rights of Hong Kong
citizens
last month, after meeting President Jiang Zemin, a comment analysts
believe
was a reference to concerns about Article 23.
Last week, the government published a legal opinion by a leading British
human rights lawyer, Queen’s Counsel David Pannick, in defence of its
proposals, and Solicitor-General Robert Allcock has been sent to the
United
States to put the government’s case.
SCMP (South China Morning Post) is a prominent Hong Kong-based English-language newspaper.
Posting date: 19/Nov/2002
Original article date: 19/Nov/2002
Category: Media Reports
