Canadian MP Svend J Robinson Writes to the Minister of
Foreign Affairs, Calling for the Canadian Government to Oppose Article
23
December 12, 2002
Honourable Bill Graham, PC, MP
Minister of Foreign Affairs
418-N Centre Block
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6
Dear Bill,
I have recently been contacted by a number of Falun Gong
practitioners and other concerned Canadians regarding the proposed enactment
of “Article 23,” also known as the “anti-subversion” law, in Hong Kong.
As noted by Amnesty International and others, the proposed legislation,
if passed into law, would seriously compromise the human rights and civil
liberties enjoyed by the people of Hong Kong.
The Government of Hong Kong, in its proposals for legislation
under Article 23, appears to be moving away from international human rights
law, and threatening groups who would exercise their fundamental rights
to freedom of thought, conscience, religion, and peaceful association
with possible imprisonment.
As you are aware, when Hong Kong was returned to Chinese
authority in 1997, it was with the assurance that it would retain considerable
political autonomy under the “One Country, Two Systems” plan. Unfortunately,
the proposed legislation under Article 23 would dramatically undermine
this plan, by outlawing in Hong Kong groups that are outlawed under the
People’s Republic of China Central Government. This threat to civil liberties
in Hong Kong is of legitimate concern to political and religious groups
in that territory and around the world.
I would urge you to investigate this matter immediately,
and to communicate to the Government of Hong Kong the deep concerns of
the Canadian people for the protection of the democratic freedoms of all
people in Hong Kong.
I look forward to your earliest possible reply to this
important matter.
Sincerely yours,
Svend J Robinson, MP
Burnaby-Douglas
Volunteers Launch the “Blue Butterflies Signature-Collection
Campaign” in Toronto Canada to Oppose Article 23.
December 13, 2002: The Preparatory Committee for the “Global
Coalition Against Article 23 Legislation” was set up on December 4, 2002,
in Washington, D.C. Volunteers in Toronto, which has the densest population
of Chinese in Canada, launched the “Blue Butterflies Signature-Collection
Campaign” to oppose Article 23.
They are going to many large malls to collect signatures
while wearing blue butterfly armbands. The blue color symbolizes freedom,
and the butterfly symbolizes peace. The purpose is to involve the public
in opposing Article 23, in order to maintain a free and peaceful Hong
Kong, in accordance with the agreement made on Hong Kong’s return to Chinese
authority. Any citizen from any nation around the world who cares about
Hong Kong’s future is welcome to sign.
The consultation period for Article 23 of the Hong Kong
Basic Law will end on December 24, 2002. The Canadian representatives
of the Coalition will hand in the signatures to the Hong Kong Economic
and Trade Office in Toronto, which will then transfer them to the Hong
Kong Security Bureau. The signatures will also be sent to the Canadian
Government.
The “Global Coalition Against Article 23 Legislation” will
also hold a parade on Saturday, December 14, 2002, in the afternoon.
Opponents of Article 23 Hold Parades and Rallies Throughout
Canada
On December 14, 2002, the “Global Coalition Against Article
23 Legislation” and people from all walks of life interested in maintaining
Hong Kong’s freedom held parades and rallies in Toronto, Vancouver and
Montreal, to support the gathering in Washington, D.C. on that same day.
These cities have a very large Chinese population. The non-governmental
Human Rights Front will also have a large parade on Sunday in Hong Kong.
The “Against Article 23” parade was held in Toronto, at
2:00 pm on Saturday. There were about four hundred participants, including
representatives from Canada-Hong Kong Link, the Toronto Association for
Democracy in China, Dr. So Kengchit, and Falun Gong practitioners.
In Vancouver, the “Global Coalition Against Article 23
Legislation” held an “Against Article 23” rally in front of the Vancouver
Art Gallery. In Montreal, at 1:00 pm on Sunday in Chinatown, the “Against
Article 23” rally was at 2:00 pm. There was also a parade.
Taiwan Falun Dafa Association Calls on People from All
Walks of Life to Oppose the Legislation of the Article 23 in Hong Kong.
The intention of the appeal is to point out that, although
the Chinese government promised to keep the policy of “One Country, Two
Systems” unchanged for fifty years, in only the fifth year, the proposed
legislation of Article 23 subverts the initial agreement and will leave
the citizens of Hong Kong living in fear. It crushes freedom and abolishes
the rule of law that Hong Kong has enjoyed for a century. It also severely
damages the international commercial interests of Hong Kong.
People from all walks of life in Hong Kong, from lawyers
to taxi-drivers, from pastors to university professors, from the international
banks to the medium and small size enterprises, are all involved in an
intense publicity campaign to safeguard the “freedom without fear” that
the city has long enjoyed. Taiwan has a very close relationship with Hong
Kong, both in the daily life and in the commercial contacts between its
citizens. We call upon all circles of society to firmly oppose the legislation
of Article 23, which will undermine democracy and the economic health
of Hong Kong. Hong Kong does not need Article 23, and Taiwan opposes it.
The Hong Kong government’s proposed legislation of Article
23 might emanate from Beijing with Falun Gong as the intended target.
However human rights knows no boundary. In the global village, many groups
and many economic interests are so closely related. The tourist industry
and the economies of Taiwan and Hong Kong are especially closely related.
We call upon all freedom loving people everywhere to immediately
express your opposition to Article 23 to the Hong Kong Legislative Council,
the Hong Kong Security Bureau, and the Hong Kong Justice Department
Today, if you safeguard the human rights and the freedom
of others, then in the future, others will safeguard and protect your
freedom and your human rights.
Sincerely,
The Taiwan Falun Dafa Association
December 12, 2002.
An Open Letter from the Australia Falun Dafa Association
to the Hong Kong SAR Government about the Legislation of Article 23
Ever since the Hong Kong government introduced Article
23 for consultation on September 24, 2002, it has received an intense
response. We also feel deep concern about this attempt to modify the law.
All of the concepts and terms used in the Article, such
as “state secret,” “subversion,” “treason,” and “sedition” are the same
as the charges used presently in the People Republic of China (PRC). For
example, such terms as to “destroy state safety and stability,” “divulge
state secrets,” and “disturb the social order,” are used to arrest people
who hold different opinions, or to prohibit or ban organizations that
the PRC opposes. In the PRC peaceful appeals to government leaders are
seen as “counter-revolutionary crimes” that are anti-government. Anyone
who appeals can be jailed at any time. Zhu Keming, who is a permanent
resident in Hong Kong and also a Falun Gong practitioner, was arrested
by the public security bureau and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment
for suing Jiang Zemin using procedures that are provided under the law.
He was severely tortured in jail. The legislation of Article 23 will also
enable the government of Hong Kong to use the law to punish any organization,
media, or person who is not approved by the central authority in China.
Millions of Falun Gong practitioners in China, simply because
they refuse to give up their belief in “Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance,”
are charged with the crimes of “damaging the State’s safety and stability,”
“threatening society,” and “disturbing the social order.” They are brainwashed
and tortured in psychiatric hospitals, illegally jailed, sentenced, sent
to labor camps, and even tortured to death. Over three years of persecution
has demonstrated the true nature of the “state safety and stability” of
this regime of tyranny.
According to Article 23 of the Basic Law “to prohibit foreign
political organizations or bodies from conducting political activities
in the Region, and to prohibit political organizations or bodies of the
Region from establishing ties with foreign political organizations or
bodies,” will result in an unlawful ban of Falun Gong in Hong Kong. In
fact, the nature of Article 23 is all too clear now that the 16 Hong Kong
Falun Gong practitioners have been found guilty of blocking the street.,
and the Falun Gong blacklist has came to light during Jiang’s visit to
Hong Kong in June. Jiang’s dictatorship is impatient to spread the persecution
of Falun Gong to Hong Kong and then export it from Hong Kong to western
democratic countries. However, it is not only the peaceful Falun Gong
practitioners who will be attacked, but also many other peaceful organizations.
In fact any person who holds a different opinion may come under attack..
The human rights and freedom of any foreigner who lives in and does business
in Hong Kong will also be threatened and attacked.
The legislation of Article 23 influences not only the interests
of the seven million people in Hong Kong, but also the common interests
of the world’s people. The legislation of Article 23 means that the autocracy,
totalitarianism, tyranny, and tragedy of all that is the PRC will be repeated
in Hong Kong. It means the complete abandonment of the Chinese government’s
policy of “One Country, Two Systems without change for fifty years.” The
good reputation and image of Hong Kong as the “pearl of the orient”, and
its freedom, democracy and prosperity will no longer exist. Article 23
will be the final crushing blows to an economy that has already been in
decline for the past five years and to the freedom, democracy and safety
Hong Kong still enjoys today.
We sincerely hope that the Hong Kong SAR government will
think about the fundamental interests of the seven million people of Hong
Kong, and about the democracy, freedom and prosperity of the people of
Hong Kong. We hope that the Hong Kong SAR government will rationally and
firmly refuse to pass the legislation of Article 23 of the Basic Law.
Australia Falun Dafa Association
December 14, 2002
The Friends of Falun Gong in British Columbia Issue a Press
release About the Legislation of Hong Kong Article 23
The Friends of Falun Gong in British Columbia issued a
press release reporting on the much-debated legislation of Article 23.
Article 23 has been written because of strong pressure from China. If
it is enacted, Hong Kong will have to ban all organizations that the Chinese
government decides are detrimental to the state’s safety. This completely
contradicts the principle of “One Country, Two Systems” and the autonomy
guaranteed to Hong Kong when it was turned over to Chinese authority.
The press release also pointed out that under this law,
Falun Gong practitioners would become the first victims of the legislation.
Falun Gong is a peaceful cultivation for both mind and body, based on
the principle of “Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance.” This practice
has been well received and is highly respected all over the world. Because
of the severe persecution by Jiang’s Regime, in all the places within
its reach, Falun Gong has been slandered and persecuted. Falun Gong practitioners,
and all those who respect freedom of belief worldwide, would not like
to see an extension of the persecution and of attacks on people for exercising
their basic human rights.
The press release calls upon the Canadian Chinese to sign
their names on an appeal letter on the Internet organized by over 30 non-governmental
organizations. The address for the Internet site is: http://www.article23.org.hk/english/main.htm
Let the whole world unite in opposition to this overt suppression
of democracy and freedom.
Posting date: 20/Dec/2002
Original article date: 19/Dec/2002
Category: Open Forum
