Taiwan's representative praised in HK

Taiwan's representative in Hong Kong stepped into the territory's debate over a controversial anti-subversion law, but drew uncharacteristic praise instead of fire from local Beijing allies yesterday.

Ping Lu, director of the Kwang Hwa Information and Culture Center, said public fears about civil liberties being crushed by the have created a ``depressing atmosphere.''

Ping Lu compared the current situation to the ``identity crisis'' experienced by many Hong Kong people when Britain was about to return the territory to Chinese sovereignty in 1997.

Ping Lu said Hong Kong artists who might be worried about the law should be courageous about the future and express themselves without fear. ``Perhaps this may not be as horrible as one presumes,'' Ping Lu said.

Taiwanese officials in Hong Kong have stirred feuds in the past by commenting on politics, but Ping Lu got an unusually smooth reception from two local delegates to the Chinese National People's Congress.

``She is a lady of wisdom,'' said local NPC delegate Raymond Wu (鄔維庸). Wu added that Ping Lu's statement was much more sensible and intelligent than comments by many in Hong Kong who fear the anti-subversion legislation will destroy local freedoms.

``Her comment is just like what anybody else could say in a country with a national security law,'' said another NPC deputy, Ma Lik, who is also a top official in Hong Kong's biggest pro-Beijing political party.

Ping Lu, a 50-year-old novelist, arrived in Hong Kong last week, almost a year after her appointment. Her arrival was held up by visa problems.