CANBERRA (AP)–Australia and New Zealand urged Hong Kong Thursday to
avoid
curbing civil liberties with a planned anti-subversion law that prompted
a
mass protest in the territory this week.
An estimated 500,000 people marched in Hong Kong Tuesday to protest the
legislation, which they feel will crush their freedoms. The bill, which
provides life sentences for many crimes against the state, is expected
to be
enacted into law next week.
“We urge (the government) to make every effort to ensure that civil
liberties are not lessened by the proposed legislation,” said a
statement
from Chris Gallus, assistant minister to Australian Foreign Minister
Alexander Downer.
Gallus said one of the law’s provisions, which allows the banning of
groups
linked to organizations outlawed by mainland China, could weaken civil
liberties and the independence of Hong Kong’s legal system – and
jeopardize
Hong Kong’s commitment to its “one country, two systems” policy.
Hong Kong returned from British to Chinese rule in 1997, but retained
many
Western-style freedoms nonexistent in China under a policy dubbed “one
country, two systems.”
Gallus said it was possible to amend the bill to retain Hong Kong’s
existing
rights while protecting national security.
New Zealand urged Hong Kong’s Legislative Council to amend the law so it
protects freedom of expression and of the press.
Phil Goff, New Zealand’s foreign minister, said the legislature should
change parts of the bill that might enable the territory’s government to
ban
groups such as the Falun Gong meditation movement, which is outlawed in
mainland China…
“This would alleviate fears…that the freedom of association and
expression
may be at risk,” Goff said.
The march in Hong Kong Tuesday overshadowed the sixth anniversary of the
handover of the territory from former colonial power Britain to China.
Posting date: 4/July/2003
Original article date: 3/July/2003
Category: Media Report
