South China Morning Post Letter to the Editor: Article 23 and the Catholic Church ...

06/17/2003

I refer to Alex Woo's letter headlined "Is the Catholic Church threatened?" (June 12).

I agree that the Catholic Church in Hong Kong is not the target of Article 23, not at least within the next three years. My question is, why should Article 23 target Falun Gong? Is it because this organisation has been [persecuted] on the mainland and that a Hong Kong law must be introduced to get rid of it? If that is the case, then it is very dangerous. If Article 23 can empower the government to shut down Falun Gong today, why can't it shut down other "unwelcome" organisations in the future?

I am a Protestant who was born in Hong Kong. In this city different opinions can be expressed and there is freedom of religion.

If anyone tries to deprive me or others of these rights - provided we observe the law - I will fight to the end. That is why I support the existence of Falun Gong even though I do not share its beliefs.

LAW WING-CHEUNG, Kowloon Tong