Bloomberg: Hong Kong Subversion Law May Harm Freedoms, White House Says

June 19 (Bloomberg) -- A planned Hong Kong law punishing acts of treason, subversion and sedition may stifle freedoms of speech and the press and make some opposition groups illegal, U.S. President George W. Bush's spokesman said today.

The U.S. government has ''concerns'' that a planned statute, required by the 1997 law governing the return of Hong Kong to mainland China, won't preserve civil liberties guaranteed to Hong Kong's citizens, White House press secretary Ari Fleischer said.

The White House urged Hong Kong's legislature to change the proposed new law.

''Especially worrisome are provisions mandating the proscription of certain kinds of popular organizations and the absence of a 'public interest' defense to protect freedom of expression and the press,'' Fleischer said in a statement from Fridley, Minnesota, where Bush gave a speech on the economy.

Hong Kong has been ruled separately as a special administrative region of China since it reverted to Chinese rule. Its 7 million people have liberties unavailable in the rest of China, including the right to protest and to belong to organizations such as the Falun Gong spiritual movement, which is outlawed in China.

Hong Kong's 1997 mini-constitution, called the Basic Law, contains an Article 23 that requires a statute to cover sedition and treason. China insists Hong Kong adopt the measure, which is set to be put in place next month.

''The United States opposes any law that threatens the territory's unique identity, including the current version of the Article 23 legislation,'' Fleischer said.

http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000080&sid=aPTTqmCJaKDo&refer=asia

 Yearly Archive   Printer Version