Hong Kong Imail: Thousands protest at subversion law

December 16, 2002 Monday

Tens of thousands of people from all walks of life took to the streets yesterday in protest against the government's proposed anti-subversion law that they feared would jeopardize fundamental rights and freedoms.

Rally organizer Civil Human Rights Front estimated about 60,000 people from a broad spectrum of society - clerics, lawyers, civil servants, educators, journalists, artists, students and Falun Gong practitioners - joined in what was believed to be the biggest protest since the Handover. The group had expected only 5,000 people to show up. Police, however, put the number around 12,000.

The organizer, a coalition of more than 40 pro-democracy, religious, women's and rights groups, held a four-hour rally to condemn the proposed law. It said the consultation was a "sham'' because the government had refused to issue a white bill for further consultation.

Catholic Bishop Joseph Zen led a prayer meeting attended by more than 2,000 followers before the march. "Dear God, the government and leaders are imbued with fears of challenges to its regime and are easily becoming partial to opinions,'' he said. "I beg you to cast away their fears and make them more receptive to opinions under your love and wisdom, and to allow room for multiplicity and developments in this society so that Hong Kong has more complete and human safeguards.'' One hour before the 3 pm march, thousands of protesters had already flocked to Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, forming a broad six- kilometer procession. It took about 1 hour for the marchers to get going.

The protesters chanted slogans and waved black balloons and banners with the words, "Don't want Article 23'', as they marched from Victoria Park to deliver a petition at the SAR Government Headquarters about 7pm.

A protester said that although the law did not affect him, he would fight for a fair system. "One should not just think of oneself, but to care for society and to fight for a fair system,'' he said.

A 70-year-old said he was prompted to turn up in support of Bishop Zen after legislator Leung Fu-wah launched a scathing attack on the church leader, calling him a "pathological saint''. "I am already seventy-something. But Leung Fu-wah made me come out,'' he said. "Civil servants also have their conscience. We have to speak for the workers,'' a civil servant said. "Use your courage, stand up and fight until the end,'' some activists shouted. Others displayed a mock guillotine calling the anti-subversion law "a knife above Hong Kong people'', while others wore muzzles, signifying curbs on freedom of expression.

A group of Catholics carried a large cross. Apple Daily chief Jimmy Lai, one of the protesters, said the law was "like an invisible, tightening collar''.