German Falun Dafa Association Writes to Hong Kong Chief Executive Regarding Article 23

(Clearwisdom.net)

Mr Tung Chee Hwa

Chief Executive of Hong Kong SAR

5/F Main Wing

Lower Albert Road

Hong Kong

21 October 2002

Dear Mr. Tung,

Most people in Germany as well as the German Falun Gong practitioners had been pleased to see that the Hong Kong government, under your leadership, managed to uphold the principle of "one nation, two systems" since Hong Kong was handed over to China July 1997. Hong Kong continued to safeguard basic human rights. People in Hong Kong continued to enjoy freedom of assembly, speech, demonstration, belief and other freedom which gained the confidence of the world in the future of Hong Kong. These freedom are the cornerstone of the quality of life in Hong Kong.

Unfortunately and regrettably, recent developments have thrown a very black shadow over Hong Kong. The arrest of Falun Gong practitioners who legally and peacefully held a sit-in appeal in front of the liaison office of the Chinese central government was a serious violation of basic human rights. It sadly marked a tremendous setback of the human rights record of Hong Kong.

In view of the above-mentioned development, we are very concerned about the recently published "consultation document" on the enactment of Article 23 in the Basic Law. Such concepts as "national security" and "state secrets" have been frequently used in Mainland China as excuses to sentence dissidents to heavy punishment and these concepts seem to be key elements in the "anti-subversion" law, although "national security" and "state secrets" have never been a problem in Hong Kong. We are concerned that this enactment of Article 23 will bring Hong Kong closer and closer to "one nation, one system," a totalitarian system. This will ruin the confidence of the world towards Hong Kong and will not promote and safeguard the positive development of Hong Kong.

Falun Gong has done no harm to Hong Kong or any other places in the world. Just the opposite, Falun Gong promotes health and morality of the practitioners, and health and morality are other cornerstones of a peaceful and harmonious society.

On behalf of all Falun Gong practitioners in Germany we sincerely urge you not to become a tool of Jiang's regime in his criminal and cruel persecution against Falun Gong. We hope you will make correct decisions and secure for Hong Kong and yourself a bright future.

Sincerely yours,

Edith Koerper

Member of the Board

German Falun Dafa Association

 Yearly Archive   Printer Version