Hong Kong Canada Alliance and Toronto Association for Democracy in China Join Forces to Oppose Article 23 Legislation

Hong Kong Canada Alliance and Toronto Association for Democracy in China held a press conference in Metro Hall, Toronto on December 12, 2002 to express their opposition to the Article 23 legislation. Many Chinese media in Toronto attended.

In the conference, Hong Kong Canada Alliance expressed their positions and talked about their activities opposing this legislation. They stated that this legislation violates international laws on human rights. If it is passed, Hong Kong's democracy, freedom, human rights and law will be set back and "One country, two systems" will exist in name only.

Toronto Association for Democracy in China announced that local democracy organizations in four big Canadian cities had written a joint letter to the Canadian Prime Minister. In the letter they asked the Canadian government to take action to make sure that Article 23 accords with international laws regarding human rights.

When a reporter asked about the consequences of the legislation towards Falun Gong practitioners in Hong Kong, the president of the Association, Mr. Cheuk Kwan said, "The first group to be targeted by Article 23 is Falun Gong. The Chinese Communist regime makes belief in Falun Gong equal to opposing the country, a ridiculous claim." He said that the Association opposes any actions that infringe human rights, including freedom of belief.

The President of Friends of Falun Gong, Mr. Hong, said in his speech, "If Article 23 is passed, it will show that 'One country two systems' is camouflage to deceive people in Hong Kong and worldwide. We Chinese people overseas should support the Hong Kong people, support Falun Gong and support all efforts to strive for democracy and human rights."

Canadian Member of Parliament and Organizations jointly Oppose Legislation on Article 23 in Hong Kong (Photo)

On December 13, 2002, a Canadian Member of Parliament and many non-government organizations held a joint press conference in Parliament to explain their positions opposing Article 23 legislation and to call on the Canadian government to express its position clearly before the end of public consultation.

Those attending the press conference included Mr. Stockwell Day, Member of Parliament, Mr. Alex Neve, Secretary General of Amnesty International, Mr. Cheuk Kwan, Chair of the Toronto Association for Democracy in China, Ms. Dai, a representative of the Falun Dafa Association of Canada.

Mr. Stockwell Day (MP) is giving a speech	Mr. Alex Neve, Secretary General of Amnesty International: "Canada must play its role (in opposing legislation on Article 23)."
Mr. Cheuk Kwan, Chair of the Toronto Association for Democracy in China: "We urge Canada to publicly express its position opposing Article 23 before the end of public consultation on December 24, 2002."	Ms. Dai, a representative of Falun Dafa Association of Canada: "We cannot sit by and watch Jiang's regime extend its persecution of Falun Gong to Hong Kong."

The United States, Britain, and New Zealand declared recently that they would pay close attention to Article 23's impact on Hong Kong. It is reported that dozens of non-government organizations will participate in rallies in Hong Kong and the United States. In the Canadian cities of Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, people concerned about Article 23 will gather this weekend for rallies and other activities to support the Hong Kong people and join righteous voices worldwide in opposition to legislation on Article 23, and to call on the Canadian government to express its position clearly to Hong Kong.

International Human Rights Association of Austria Holds Press Conference to Criticize the Hong Kong Regime and Its Proposed Anti-subversion Law

The International Human Rights Association of Austria held a press conference in Vienna on December 10, 2002, International Human Rights Day, to announce its news release stating its opposition to Article 23 in Hong Kong. The President of the association criticized the Hong Kong government for its proposed "anti-subversion law" and elaborated on the legislation's harmful effects on Hong Kong's freedom and democracy.

The President of the International Human Rights Association of Austria and Spokesman of Austria Falun Dafa Information Center making speeches	A reporter interviews a spokesman for Austria Falun Dafa Information Center

A spokesman for the Austria Falun Dafa Information Center was invited to give a speech at the conference. He first introduced Falun Gong to the reporters and exposed the Jiang regime's brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners during the last three and one half years. He stated that the Hong Kong government's new anti-subversion law is a gangplank to extend the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners to Hong Kong.

European Parliament Holds Hearings on Hong Kong's Anti-subversion Law; Falun Gong Practitioners Are Invited to Speak

On December 11, 2002, the European Parliament held hearings on Hong Kong's anti-subversion law. Three Falun Gong practitioners, including an Ireland resident, a Hong Kong resident and a former British diplomat were invited to give speeches at the hearing.

Mr. Zhao Ming, a resident of Ireland, recounted the persecution he suffered in China: illegal arrest, forced labor without trial, torture, and attempted brainwashing. He said that the people of Hong Kong would face the same situation as Chinese people if the anti-subversion law were passed.

Hong Kong resident Ms. Wang talked about the persecution she suffered in China. She was illegally detained, intimidated and beaten for appealing for Falun Gong in China, and was unjustly treated by Hong Kong police during her peaceful appeal there. From her own experience, she pointed out the possible harmful effects of the Article 23 legislation to the Hong Kong people and other countries and regions.

A 90-year-old Falun Gong practitioner who was a senior diplomat in the British foreign diplomatic system and also a member of Britain's House of Lords elaborated on the dangers of the "anti-subversion" law from Hong Kong's history and related international rules and pointed out the duties of the European Parliament and British government in maintaining Hong Kong's freedom and the people's basic rights.

The Chairman of the meeting expressed his appreciation to Falun Gong practitioners and his position of firmly opposing the Article 23 legislation.

Falun Gong Practitioners in Austria Clarify the Truth on International Human Rights Day and Expose the Hong Kong Government's Deceitful "Anti-Subversion Law"

Falun Dafa practitioners in Austria held truth-clarification activities in downtown Vienna on December 10, 2002, International Human Rights Day. Dafa practitioners introduced passers-by to the Hong Kong government's "anti-subversion law," which is a pretext for persecuting Falun Gong in Hong Kong, and will cause long-term harm to Hong Kong's future. Many Austrians and tourists from other countries signed the letter to the Hong Kong Authorities to oppose the legislation on Article 23. Chinese people passing by also came to learn the truth and asked for Dafa literature.