By Cheng Ming

December 19, 2002

(Clearwisdom.net) What can talk about laws in a high-sounding manner to the people of the world and achieve some goal people are unaware of? Lies! What can expose lies? Lies themselves.

The Hong Kong government claims Article 23 legislation can protect national security and carry out the promise of "one country, two systems." The problem is, what is "one country, two systems?" The Basic Law states Hong Kong citizens don't have to pay for military expenses and join the military. Does that mean the people of Hong Kong don't protect their country? Moreover, the fact that two opposing systems can co-exist is based on independent rule to protect the integrity of the nation, so it's unreasonable to use the nation itself as the explanation. Regarding national security, a nation is based on her people, and no nation exists without families. In order to protect their families and nation, people will naturally unite, for the interest of the nation is the interest of the people, and security for the nation is also security for the people. Therefore, if the people's appeal, will, and fundamental interest are not truly considered during the process of law-creating while presenting the issue of national security as an excuse, all claims and actions will be false.

On the issue of Article 23, the government ignored the public's opinions and hastily presented the draft, while claiming nothing will be changed after the enactment of Article 23. If nothing will be changed, what is the need for this law? The standard cited in Article 23, to protect human rights and freedom, not only fail to connect with the world standard; its content is also obscure and empty. Furthermore, the "White Bill" consultation was refused, which is very confusing and shows the government is forcibly enacting a law in conflict with two systems, with one safe and the other endangered. The prosperity and stability of a free society is completely dependent upon the stability of the laws and rights people enjoy. Right now, many governments and organizations are paying attention and are crying out. Legislation of Article 23 became the world's focus and this is not merely an "internal affair" or a local administrative issue. As a member of the world community, we have the right and responsibility to uphold justice, peace and freedom in the world.

History and facts have shown us the ferocity and brutality of dictatorship and its deprivation of human rights and freedom. Dissidents face only suppression. If it were not so, why was there any need for the creation of "one country, two systems" policy and why were many representative witnesses from various countries invited to be present in 1997, during Hong Kong's return to Chinese sovereignty?

In order to selectively strike against dissidents, the dictator must open a large net to cover all areas. Even if he aims at few targets, all social strata will be inevitably affected. In fact, hardly anyone can escape its control. According to the current standard of Article 23, it will extend existing policies in Mainland China into Hong Kong. From one perspective, Article 23 is to spread the persecution into Hong Kong and the whole world. Who will be the target? According to the consultation document from Article 23, Falun Gong is the obvious target.

In Hong Kong, Falun Gong is a legal organization and its practitioners enjoy equal rights, as do all other citizens. Although Falun Gong is popular in more than 60 countries around the world, has received nearly 1,000 proclamations and is embraced by people of different ethnicities, the dictator in China regards it as a target for persecution. With the world's people as witness, countless evidence and international support show peaceful Falun Gong is indeed suffering slander and persecution, which exposes the lies in Mainland China. The Chinese dictator blatantly shows the world the actions of destroying human morality and human life, and his reckless use of violence no doubt let the world's people see clearly true goodness and evilness, so people of conscience and justice will have a chance to choose and take actions. In order to disseminate brutality into Hong Kong, the dictator would rather break the promise of "one country, two systems" as well as the interest and rights of seven million Hong Kong citizens. Article 23 is connected with the future of Hong Kong, whether Falun Gong can continue to exist legally, and whether the citizens of Hong Kong will continue to enjoy democracy and freedom.

It's funny, although the people of Hong Kong have the right to independently make laws, they cannot guarantee that others would not control the law! But please be clear who is the true owner of society? What is freedom and democracy? Is the law used to protect citizens or restrict citizens? Does the law administrator abide by the rule himself? The citizens are not restricting themselves; they are placing hope and confidence in the government. By going against the people's will, the government will only attract people's opposition and lies will expose themselves, because the people are in control of justice and autonomy, not the liar.

Posting date: 12/23/2002
Original article date: 12/23/2002
Category: Open Forum
Translated on 12/21/2002
Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.cc/mh/articles/2002/12/20/41358.html

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