AFP: Subversion law dangerous despite changes: Hong Kong Catholic leader

HONG KONG, Feb 17 (AFP) - A controversial subversion bill which is going before Hong Kong's Legislative Council on February 26 is "very bad" because of linkages with mainland China, the head of Hong Kong's Catholics said Monday.

"Supposing tomorrow in China they say the underground Catholic Church is dangerous to state security... may be some bishops there put me as (their) vice president... then we are to be proscribed as well," Bishop Joseph Zen said.

Speaking at the Hong Kong Foreign Correspondents' Club, he said the "link to proscribed associations in China is very bad for us."

Bishop Zen sought to defend his outspoken criticism of the subversion law by saying: "We are members of the society, we care for the weak people in society... sometimes there is suffering caused by institutionalised injustice.

"That is why we have to speak out whenever unjust structures are being made."

Some people regarded Hong Kong's right to legislate a subversion law "as if we are in Canada or France, but we are in China.

"We are concerned because in China by their own admission they are slowly improving the rule of law."

The Hong Kong government said last week that fundamental rights and freedoms in the territory would continue to be guaranteed as it prepared to legislate the subversion law.

Under Article 23 of the Basic Law -- the mini-constitution which came into force when sovereignty of the former British colony reverted to China in 1997 -- Hong Kong is obliged to pass laws banning treason, sedition, subversion and the theft of state secrets.

Despite the watering down of the bill, a proposal to ban groups outlawed in mainland China on national security grounds was retained.

However, the bill allows people charged with treason, secession or subversion to be tried by jury, while those charged with sedition or unlawful disclosure may opt for trial by jury if they so wish.

The proposed new laws have proved deeply divisive because of concerns that basic rights would be curtailed, prompting mass protests in December both for and against the legislation.

http://www.ptd.net/webnews/wed/cz/Qhongkong-subversion.RTdR_DFH.html

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