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China blasts HK officials for visit

China's official mouthpiece blasted two Hong Kong lawmakers yesterday for participating in a political seminar in Taipei over the weekend, accusing them of supporting Taiwan's separatism and posing a threat to national security.

The China Daily also said Hong Kong's controversial subversion law must be passed as soon as possible.

Outspoken government critic Emily Lau (劉慧卿) and Democratic Party legislator James To (涂謹申) were invited to the seminar last week by the pro-independence Taiwan Advocates think tank led by former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝).

An editorial in the newspaper reserved its harshest words for Lau, who has called on Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa (董建華) to resign and for direct elections to choose the city's leader and all its legislators.

It accused Lau of speaking ill of the "one country, two systems" policy under which the former British colony was returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

"She dared to go to Taiwan to badmouth the `one country, two systems' arrangement and asserted in one voice with Lee Teng-hui and Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) that Taiwan's independence or otherwise should be determined by Taiwan people," said the commentary.

"By the same token, tomorrow she would most probably incite a referendum to decide on Hong Kong's independence and commit the crime of secession," the commentary said.

"In view of this development, the national security law must be enacted and it must be done as soon as possible," the commentary said.

Lau was not immediately available for comment.

Beijing's leaders were rattled when half a million people took to the streets in Hong Kong on July 1 to protest the government's failed attempt to push through the controversial anti-subversion bill.

Critics say the bill could threaten basic civil rights and liberties and be used against anyone who criticizes the leadership of Beijing.

Tung later postponed the bill for further public consultations, which are expected to begin next month.

China had hoped the formula guaranteeing Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy could be used as a basis for unification with Taiwan.

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