|
UK Government Issues Formal Statement on the Draft Bill of the Hong Kong Article 23 Legislation
(Clearwisdom.net) On 27 March 2003, the UK government issued a formal
statement on the draft bill of the Article-23 legislation in Hong Kong. Foreign
Office Minister Bill Rammell stated "the way this issue is handled, and the
legislation itself, will be seen by many as a key litmus test for the 'One
Country, Two Systems' principle," and, "as a co-signatory to the Sino-British
Joint Declaration on Hong Kong, we have a responsibility to ensure that the
rights and freedoms enshrined in the Joint Declaration are maintained." In
addition, "we would expect the legislation itself to be compatible with the
[human rights] Covenants and not to infringe the human rights principles they
enshrine."
Mr Rammell stated that the "Principal" concern over the draft bill relates to
the widely opposed proscription mechanism, which "blurs the dividing line
between the separate legal systems of the SAR and the mainland. He said "We have
carefully studied the SAR government's draft legislation, published on 14
February [...] concerns still remain."
"Principal among these are the provisions concerning the proscription of
organisations endangering national security [...] many in Hong Kong and
elsewhere are still concerned that what is proposed is an unnecessary addition
to Hong Kong law and, in introducing into Hong Kong legislation linkages to
mainland law, blurs the dividing line between the separate legal systems of the
SAR and the mainland, as laid out in the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law.
They remain unhappy about these proposals and the rationale behind them,
particularly why it is necessary to provide for the proscription of local
organisations on the grounds that they are subordinate to prohibited mainland
organisations. We share this concern and trust that the SAR government will look
very closely at these particular provisions and ensure that the final
legislation is consistent with both the letter and the spirit of the Joint
Declaration and the Basic Law. It is vital that Hong Kong's legal autonomy is
not undermined in any way by this legislation."
The Minister concluded, "We will continue to follow this issue closely."
Article from:
http://clearharmony.net/articles/200304/11409.html
Posting date: 4/3/2003 |