Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs Responds to a Practitioner's Letter of Appeal Regarding Article 23

(Clearwisdom.net)

Dear [...]:

Thank you for your e-mail of December 17, 2002, concerning the proposal to implement Article 23 legislation in Hong Kong. I regret the delay in replying to you.

Canada has carefully studied the Consultation Document circulated by the Government of Hong Kong, particularly in the context of the potential extraterritoriality of certain provisions. We recognize the obligation of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to enact legislation with respect to those provisions of Article 23 of the Basic Law not adequately covered by existing law, and we have welcomed Hong Kong's commitment to ensuring that such legislation is consistent with the provisions of international covenants on human rights to which Hong Kong is a party. We strongly believe that the legislation should respect basic freedoms including freedom of religion, expression, association, and press.

In view of this, Canada has expressed its views on the proposed Article 23 legislation in a submission to the Government of Hong Kong. A detailed news release issued by the Canadian Consulate General in Hong Kong on this matter [was posted on the Internet but has since been removed].

We have made it clear that an appropriate next step would be the publication of proposed legislation in a manner that facilitates further discussion and analysis. The Government of Canada will be following this issue closely.

As you may know, at the meeting of leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Mexico in October 2002, senior Canadian officials presented their Chinese counterparts with a copy of a House of Commons resolution of October 24, 2002, concerning the situation of Falun Gong practitioners in China. I can assure you that we remain concerned about ongoing reports of the suppression of freedom of expression and spiritual practice in that country, including the treatment of members of groups such as Falun Gong.

Thank you again for writing.

Sincerely,

Bill Graham
Minister of Foreign Affairs for Canada

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