Australian Financial Review: Street Protests Over New Security Law

Anne Hyland Hong Kong

06/30/2003

[...]

At least 100,000 citizens are expected to fill Hong Kong's streets tomorrow, the sixth anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China, to protest against implementation of a controversial national security bill, which many fear will restrict Hong Kong's political and civil freedom.

The law, referred to locally as article 23, has drawn international criticism, with the US House of Representatives on Friday passing a resolution, 426 votes to one, urging the Hong Kong government to withdraw the bill. [...]

Human rights group Amnesty International has demanded the law be abandoned, claiming it could present a ''potential catastrophe to human rights''.

Hong Kong is required under the basic law, the city's mini-constitution, to pass legislation banning treason, sedition, subversion and theft of state secrets. However, concern exists that the Hong Kong government has gone beyond the basic requirements of such legislation and may use the new law to suppress freedoms, including those of the media, speech and religion.

For example, Hong Kong could decide to suddenly ban groups, such as the Falun Gong, which is allowed to exist in the city but is outlawed on the mainland.

A University of Hong Kong study found that nearly two-thirds of people surveyed opposed the government's July 9 deadline for the passage of the controversial national security bill.

The strong opposition to the law has not dissuaded the Hong Kong government from pushing ahead with its implementation and this continued even in the midst of the 13-week crisis caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome, which killed 296 and infected 1755.

The disease has taken its toll on the city, with unemployment at a record high and the economy teetering on the brink of recession, which would be the third in six years.

A survey by advertising firm TBWA Hong Kong recently found the territory's people were the unhappiest of those questioned in an Asia-wide survey, and the most likely to describe the future as scary and stressful.

Mr Wen would be cognisant of the discontent in Hong Kong, but is unlikely to witness the protests in the streets as he will depart the city shortly before they begin. His visit is ostensibly to mark the handover anniversary as well as the signing of the first bilateral trade agreement between Hong Kong and China, which Beijing is hoping will help to revive Hong Kong's sluggish economy.