(Clearwisdom.net) On Sunday morning, June 29, 2003, a public rally of a
number of groups sponsored by the Global Coalition Against Article 23
Legislation Australia Chapter, was held in front of the Chinese Consulate and
Chinatown in Sydney to support Hong Kong people and oppose Article 23
legislation. They also held a press conference and a grand parade from the
Chinese Consulate to Chinatown. They offered a live performance featuring the
great impact upon Hong Kong people of all professions after the enactment of
Article 23 legislation, attracting many people passing by to stop and watch. The
simple and vivid performance enabled the audience to realize the harmful
consequences Article 23 legislation would bring to the Hong Kong people. People representing different groups gave speeches respectively. The speakers
included Mr. Qin Jin, Director of Democratic China Front Headquarters, Mr. Fang
Yuan, President of Chinese Labor Party, Mr. Zhang Xiaogang, PhD candidate of New
South Wales University, spokesperson of the Global Coalition Against Article 23
legislation Australia Chapter, Mr. Li Qing, PhD candidate of New South Wales
University, member of Chinese Studies Association, and Mr. John Dellar,
volunteer spokesperson for Falun Gong. Australia Democratic Party Federal Member Aden Ridgeway sent a letter to
support the rally against Article 23 legislation. He said in his letter,
"Some MPs and human rights organizations in Australia have unanimously
agreed that Article 23 is actually a violation of Hong Kong's basic human
rights. I've appealed to Australia's Foreign Minister Downer in hopes that he
would request the Hong Kong government to stop the legislation of Article 23 and
adopt a more effective way to curb the extension of terrorism. I thank you for
participating in the activities in opposing Article 23, and wish the activity a
great success." Mr. Qin Jin said in his speech that as we are all likely to go to Hong Kong
to visit friends and relatives, the legislation of Article 23 has impacted our
free entry of Hong Kong in future. Article 23 actually targets mainly political
groups and also Falun Gong. We have become more and more clear that the 'One
Country, Two Systems' is merely a slogan called out to have Hong Kong revert to
Chinese rule. Remaining unchanged in 50 years has actually changed within five
days. Hong Kong is more and more like Mainland. 'One Country, Two Systems' is a
failure. Mr. Qin continued that the US showed concern for Article 23 and the House of
Representatives approved by a 426-1 margin a resolution that calls on the
Chinese and Hong Kong governments to withdraw their proposal implementing
Article 23 of the Basic Law. As a Western democratic country, it is reasonable
that the US criticizes the human rights problem in other countries. The
international trend is human rights above sovereignty. Mr. Fang Yuan said that he represented the Chinese Labor Party to join the
rally to express their protest against Article 23 legislation. He said that six
years ago when Hong Kong was returned to China, we worried that Hong Kong might
follow Chinese-style. Our worry becomes true now. Hong Kong is indeed following
the Mainland style. Just like SARS that was resulted from natural and man-made
disaster, Article 23 is typically a man-made disaster. It is resulted from
oppressing public opinions and speech, and introducing Mainland way of rule to
Hong Kong. The man-made disaster may bring more tragic consequence to human
beings than any kind of disease. Article 23 will bring Hong Kong a more severe
disaster than SARS. He continued that Article 23 is not strange to the ordinary people in
Mainland. They have been long living under Article 23. For Hong Kong people who
have been living with democracy and freedom for 99 years, Article 23 is a very
heavy shackle. So both Chinese people and Hong Kong people should step forward
to oppose Article 23. Mr. Zhang Xiaogang said in his speech that when Article 23 was under
consideration, the Mainland tried all means to control Hong Kong. 'One Country,
Two Systems' is simply empty talk. People who used to live in the Mainland or
are familiar with it know that since the Communist Party seized the power, it
launched numerous movements, the common phenomenon in these movements is: You
can be charged at will if the authorities are not satisfied with you or do not
like you, all evidence can be fabricated. Hong Kong had a set of legal system
before its return to China, effective enough to avoid such things taking place.
Article 23 damages Hong Kong's legal system, it can charge anyone with treason
if the person in Hong Kong has dissenting opinions or dissatisfied with the
Central Government or local government. It can also sentence the person to
prison or fundamentally proscribe a group. When the malevolent law is imposed on
the Hong Kong people, they should depend on themselves to safeguard their rights
and appeal for it.
A press conference in front
of the Chinese Consulate in Sydney
A play depicting the disasters to
be brought to people of all professions after the enactment of Article
23 legislation
A parade in Chinatown
Posting date: 7/5/2003
Original article date: 7/4/2003
Category: News & Media Reports
Translated on 7/4/2003
Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2003/7/3/53347.html