After five years as part of China, Hong Kong must soon enact an anti-subversion law, the justice secretary said yesterday in an announcement that critics have been dreading since the handover.
Rights activists immediately warned that the former British colony could lose the civil liberties left in place under a government arrangement dubbed "one country, two systems," intended to recognize China's control while granting considerable local autonomy and freedoms.
"This will be the greatest test of Hong Kong's freedom of speech since the handover," said Law Yuk-kai, director of the Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor.
"If the law is intended to find those who say things against Beijing guilty, Hong Kong will be no different from any other mainland Chinese city," Law said.
After becoming part of China on July 1, 1997, Hong Kong has been constitutionally required to enact h anti-subversion law, which supporters say is necessary to prevent anyone from using Hong Kong as a base to subvert the government in China.
Secretary for Justice Elsie Leung said yesterday that Hong Kong's government had never insisted on acting quickly on the law, but after five years "it is time we must do it."
Hong Kong officials have sought to calm fears the law will destroy freedoms or be a tool to target individuals or groups.
The article says Hong Kong must "enact laws on its own to prohibit any act of treason, secession, sedition, subversion against the central people's government or theft of state secrets."
Some fear the law will be impossible to square with Hong Kong's freedoms of speech, press and assemble. The Hong Kong government has been vague about its intentions.
But several local newspapers said yesterday that media could be charged with sedition for publishing continuous articles attacking the central government or promoting succession from China.
RULES BROKEN: The MAC warned Chinese not to say anything that would be harmful to the autonomous status of Taiwan or undermine its sovereignty A Chinese couple accused of disrupting a pro-democracy event in Taipei organized by Hong Kong residents has been deported, the National Immigration Agency said in a statement yesterday afternoon. A Chinese man, surnamed Yao (姚), and his wife were escorted by immigration officials to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, where they boarded a flight to China before noon yesterday, the agency said. The agency said that it had annulled the couple’s entry permits, citing alleged contraventions of the Regulations Governing the Approval of Entry of People of the Mainland Area into the Taiwan Area (大陸地區人民進入台灣地區許可辦法). The couple applied to visit a family member in
CELEBRATION: The PRC turned 75 on Oct. 1, but the Republic of China is older. The PRC could never be the homeland of the people of the ROC, Lai said The People’s Republic of China (PRC) could not be the “motherland” of the people of the Republic of China (ROC), President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks in a speech at a Double Ten National Day gala in Taipei, which is part of National Day celebrations that are to culminate in a fireworks display in Yunlin County on Thursday night next week. Lai wished the country a happy birthday and called on attendees to enjoy the performances and activities while keeping in mind that the ROC is a sovereign and independent nation. He appealed for everyone to always love their
‘EXTREME PRESSURE’: Beijing’s goal is to ‘force Taiwan to make mistakes,’ Admiral Tang Hua said, adding that mishaps could serve as ‘excuses’ for launching a blockade China’s authoritarian expansionism threatens not only Taiwan, but the rules-based international order, the navy said yesterday, after its top commander said in an interview that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) could blockade the nation at will. The object of Beijing’s expansionist activities is not limited to Taiwan and its use of pressure is not confined to specific political groups or people, the navy said in a statement. China utilizes a mixture of cognitive warfare and “gray zone” military activities to pressure Taiwan, the navy said, adding that PLA sea and air forces are compressing the nation’s defensive depth. The navy continues to
MISSILE MISSION: The Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology said it does not make policy, but would be glad to obtain certification to assemble the missiles The Ministry of National Defense-affiliated Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology is in the process of getting certified to assemble an additional 1,985 Stinger missiles on top of those from US arms sales, a senior defense official said yesterday. Washington is to send a team to Taiwan to evaluate the institute’s manufacturing capabilities and information security, said the official, who commented on condition of anonymity. The ministry initially bought 500 missiles for the army and navy, but later increased the order to 2,485 in response to an increase in Beijing’s military activities around the nation, and to meet the army’s urgent need
RSS