The Straits Times: New security law in HK under scrutiny

By Mary Kwang
HONGKONG CORRESPONDENT

JAN 3, 2003

THE Hongkong government is now working on a draft of a security law, which has become the territory's most divisive and emotive issue since 1997 when Hongkong reverted to Chinese sovereignty.

Church leaders, academics, culture groups, bankers, lawyers, librarians, teachers, journalists, foreign businessmen, college students and others have spoken out against many of its vague provisions on treason, secession, subversion, sedition and theft of state secrets.

What also upset opponents, who are wary of Beijing, is that officials have admitted frankly that the government consulted China, and both sides agreed on the thrust of the legislation and that it would be enacted by July.

Furthermore, the administration ended a three-month consultation period on Dec 24 as it had started the exercise - by refusing to publish a white paper on the legislation to avoid any delay in passing it.

Although officials say a report on the 90,000 public submissions would be released this month, it is unlikely to appease opponents, who want to see technical and legal details.

The government's attitude has made the exercise appear consultative only in name, and resulted in a belief that while the administration might make token amendments to incorporate public views, the thrust of the legislation would remain unchanged.

These moves rekindled fears simmering since 1989, when Article 23, which requires Hongkong to enact anti-subversion laws, was written into the Basic Law. This happened just after the Tiananmen crackdown.

Some analysts believe the government has to pass the law this year as Beijing is nervous about instability in Hongkong in the next few years, seen as a sensitive political time for the territory.

For one thing, the Hongkong government would have to implement unpopular measures over the next several years, such as cutting civil servants' pays and welfare spending, as it aims to eliminate the ballooning budget deficit by 2006-2007.

For another, the Basic Law states that Hongkong may have full elections in 2007. But critics say this is unlikely to happen as Beijing has already ruled out such a possibility.

While little was said over the New Year about the controversial Bill, this is only the lull before the storm. In the months ahead, the government's actions are likely to come under increasing public scrutiny.

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