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AFP: Human rights warning over Hong Kong anti-subversion laws
Wednesday, 04-Dec-2002 HONG KONG, Dec 4 (AFP) - An international human rights expert warned Hong
Kong Wednesday that proposed anti-subversion laws threaten individual liberties
and will have a "chilling effect" on the free flow of information in the city.
Doctor Frances D'Souza, who helped devise the Johannesburg Principle which is
regarded as the standard for the protection of freedoms in the context of
national security laws, expressed three main concerns about the controversial
legislation. "There is no question that this proposed legislation threatens individual
liberties in a profound and sustained way," D'Souza, who is visiting the
territory, told reporters. "That cannot but have a highly detrimental effect on Hong Kong as a society.
" "The second reason is that history demonstrates that if you have a law on the
statute books which is repressive, even though it is not used, the fact that it
exists in the statute book exercises a chilling effect on the free flow of
information. "The third reason why we should be deeply concerned is because once you
institute a law like this... little freedoms are restricted here and there and
it is the beginning of something much bigger," she warned. Under Article 23 of the Basic Law, the territory's mini-constitution, Hong
Kong is obliged to pass laws banning treason, sedition, subversion and theft of
state secrets. Human-rights and pro-democracy groups fear that China could use the new law
to suppress freedoms including those of media, speech and religion, as well as
to ban groups it considers a threat. The government has issued only a vague outline of the laws so far and many
groups, as well as the United States, have urged the territory to release a
white paper providing all the details. The legislation -- which opponents say is being rammed through at China's
behest -- is due to be enacted after a three-month consultation exercise ends
December 24. http://www.ptd.net/webnews/wed/aq/Qhongkong-subversion.Rd___CD4.html Posting date: 12/8/2002 |