(AFDI) – Yesterday, 21st of August 2003, the Australian Senate passed a motion expressing concern about Hong Kong’s proposed Article 23 legislation. The motion was raised by Senator Stott Despoja and was unanimously passed in the senate.
“The concessions proposed by Mr. Tung Chee-Hwa [to Article 23 legislation] following the mass demonstration against Article 23, included the abolition of the clause which would have allowed Hong Kong to ban groups such as Falun Gong which are outlawed on the mainland. We would expect Mr. Tung not to renege on this promise under pressure from the mainland.” said Falun Dafa Information spokesperson Dr. Michael Pearson-Smith.
“Now that our senators have made this step in the right direction, we hope that they will also openly condemn the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in mainland China, as well as that of Australian citizens who have felt its brutality first hand. Trade benefits should not obscure the Chinese government attempts at genocide.” Dr. Pearson-Smith continued.
According to some commentators the push for Article 23 reportedly originated with former president Jiang Zemin who is eager to see Falun Gong outlawed in the Territory, but brought the concerns of people from all circles and all over the world.
When the motion was discussed on 19 August 2003, the Chinese embassy contacted the senators, advising that “The Article 23 in Hong Kong has nothing to do with the Australian senators”. The Australian Government has previously expressed its support for the Sino-British Joint Declaration.
Background to Article 23 legislation
Drawing up Hong Kong’s new constitution after the handover, the Chinese government insisted the Hong Kong government pass laws banning sedition, subversion, and theft of state secrets. In late 2002, the Hong Kong government, headed by Beijing-appointed Tung Chee-Hwa, put forward a proposal that went far beyond what HK was obliged to do, to be passed in July 2003.
A diverse range of groups quickly began voicing their concerns. From the Hong Kong Bar Association to Falun Gong practitioners, journalists, business people, Christians, democracy activists and everyday citizens concerned about their individual freedoms; Article 23 received widespread opposition.
This opposition reached a climax on 1 July 2003, when on the anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover, an estimated 500,000 people filled the streets of Hong Kong in the biggest protest since the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.
Posting date: 22/Aug/2003
Original article date: 22/Aug/2003
Category: Australian News
