(Clearwisdom.net) On June 28, the "Global Coalition Against Article 23" held a press conference in front of Chinese Embassy in London against Article 23 and to support the Hong Kong people. Many British people who care about freedom and democracy in Hong Kong and its future participated in the activity. Former Diplomat Lord Thurlow spoke at the press conference, condemning the Jiang's regime's pressuring of the Hong Kong government to pass Article 23, which is harmful to Hong Kong's democracy, freedom and prosperity. Below is the speech.

In the last 20 years there has been a widespread and welcome transition from tyranny to democracy in all the continents in Europe after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, in Asia, in South America and in Africa. But to the regret of the rest of the world there is one spectacular instance of a reversal of the move towards freedom, in the worsening of conditions for the people of China, with whom all countries desire friendly relations of confidence.

China's police state over the last four years has moved not forwards but backwards. In contrast to the loosening of central controls of industry the Government under Jiang Zemin has carried out the most massive persecution in human history against 100 million of its own citizens: more than 100,000 have been confined in horrific slave labour camps at the mercy of cruel guards explicitly encouraged to ignore all the state laws to perpetrate physical violence against the practitioners of Falun Gong. Thousands of men, women and even children have been murdered after prolonged torture for their refusal to surrender their faith, centred on truth, compassion and tolerance.

There has been no improvement after the change of top leadership in recent months: in some areas the suppression has intensified. The abuses have been accompanied by a vast propaganda campaign at home and abroad of lies and distortion of facts to misrepresent Falun Gong as a harmful social influence, whereas for several years previously the authorities had encouraged its spread as promoting good citizenship and health.

And now there is an imminent threat under pressure from the Chinese Government to reduce Human Rights in Hong Kong. The Joint Declaration and Basic Agreement signed by the Governments of the United Kingdom and China provided for one country but two systems: It was agreed that Hong Kong would continue to enjoy its traditional rights of freedom of association, speech and beliefs. There was to be protection of security and against subversion as in most countries and the last British Governor introduced a suitable draft article for the Constitution which the Hong Kong Legislative Council refused to accept, leaving a gap to be filled.

The Hong Kong administration has now proposed to fill the gap but its new draft Article 23 is unacceptable in several respects, undermining the right of the Hong Kong Court and legal system to determine the law. Under prompting from Beijing any organisation banned in the Chinese police state would have to be banned in Hong Kong. This is a breach of the spirit and principles of the Joint Declaration.

The British Government has expressed its concern and asked for reconsideration. The United States and Canadian Governments have also protested and the European Parliament has passed a resolution in opposition to the reduction of Human Rights in Hong Kong.

On July 1, a vast protest demonstration is due to be held in Hong Kong. We ask that the people of this country and the press and media should show their active concern and support the demand for the removal of the threat to freedom of belief and expression.

Posting date: 7/27/2003
Original article date: 7/26/2003
Category: Falun Dafa Worldwide
Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2003/7/9/53744.html

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