Canadian MP Svend J Robinson Writes to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Calling for the Canadian Government to Oppose Article 23

December 12, 2002

Honourable Bill Graham, PC, MP
Minister of Foreign Affairs
418-N Centre Block
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6

Dear Bill,

I have recently been contacted by a number of Falun Gong practitioners and other concerned Canadians regarding the proposed enactment of "Article 23," also known as the "anti-subversion" law, in Hong Kong. As noted by Amnesty International and others, the proposed legislation, if passed into law, would seriously compromise the human rights and civil liberties enjoyed by the people of Hong Kong.

The Government of Hong Kong, in its proposals for legislation under Article 23, appears to be moving away from international human rights law, and threatening groups who would exercise their fundamental rights to freedom of thought, conscience, religion, and peaceful association with possible imprisonment.

As you are aware, when Hong Kong was returned to Chinese authority in 1997, it was with the assurance that it would retain considerable political autonomy under the "One Country, Two Systems" plan. Unfortunately, the proposed legislation under Article 23 would dramatically undermine this plan, by outlawing in Hong Kong groups that are outlawed under the People's Republic of China Central Government. This threat to civil liberties in Hong Kong is of legitimate concern to political and religious groups in that territory and around the world.

I would urge you to investigate this matter immediately, and to communicate to the Government of Hong Kong the deep concerns of the Canadian people for the protection of the democratic freedoms of all people in Hong Kong.

I look forward to your earliest possible reply to this important matter.

Sincerely yours,

Svend J Robinson, MP
Burnaby-Douglas

SJR/drf
CEP 232