HELSINGIN SANOMAT (Newspaper in Finland): Hong Kong is preparing security laws that will undermine Human Rights

January 6, 2003

Demonstrations are the biggest since Hong Kong was returned to China

HONG KONG/SHANGHAI. Hong Kong is preparing security legislation that would make it possible to undermine human rights. Even though most citizens are against the laws, it strongly seems that by July in the SAR sentences of "subversion" against China can be handed down.

Human rights associations, financial institutions, influential persons and the governments of several countries have expressed their concerns over the establishment of these laws that stamp out freedoms.

At a meeting of the Hong Kong Journalist Association in the beginning of December, human rights expert Frances D'Souza said, "The proposed law is not in line with international human rights principles. It will turn Hong Kong into a police state."

According to her, the "anti-subversion" law would make it possible for one to commit treason without even knowing about it.

The Hong Kong mini-constitution's Article 23 binds the regime to enact laws against treason, subversion and secession. In the vague outline of the security laws which has been published, people convicted of a crime against the government can receive a lifelong prison sentence, and police will have more far-reaching powers for investigations. The public has not been allowed to see the bill, even though the European Parliament has called for it.

The proposition will proceed for consideration by the legislative body in February. Laws become effective in July.

The "anti-subversion" laws have been in the headlines since September, when the authorities gave citizens a three months period for comments. Just before Christmas, over 60, 000 people held a demonstration to protest the proposal. It was the largest demonstration since Hong Kong was returned to China.

[...] According to international human rights associations, existing laws are adequate.

With the help of these laws, Mainland China would have tighter control over Hong Kong and would be able to move against dissidents. The use of such laws is a common way to silence critics in China, U.S Human Rights in China stated.

Hong Kong's Human Rights Monitor spokesman Law Yuk-kai regards the execution of the laws as certain. He sees the expression of the opinions of citizens and the international community as the only way to pressure the authorities.

"The big boss is not in Hong Kong. Local authorities cannot drop anything from the proposal because it is written together with China. They can only make changes in it," he said.

Those most likely to be victims of the security laws according to him are human rights groups in Hong Kong that are critical of China and the Falun Gong movement.

The leader of China Labour Bulletin, Han Dongfang, regards the proposed law as destructive to the labour movement. Trade unions in Hong Kong who show solidarity with those in China could be sentenced for attempting to subvert the government. In Mainland China, unionization of employees is illegal.

Han's association is helping workers in China to defend their rights against corrupt local governments. He gives an example of how the new laws would render working more difficult: "I could be charged with stealing state secrets for asking for information about an accident in a coal-mine."

"It is paradoxical, that while Mainland China is moving towards the standards of international law, Hong Kong is going in the opposite direction," Han stated.