February 8, 2003
(Clearwisdom.net)
"It is clear that the majority of people from all areas of society in Hong Kong are against the proposed Article 23 legislation. Article 23 is simply unjust and a way for the Jiang regime to export its persecution of Falun Gong and other groups to the people of Hong Kong. The Jiang regime should let the people of Hong Kong stay free to decide on what they want to do as agreed in the joint declaration with the British Government, instead of making a mockery of the principle of One Country, Two Systems.
I am very encouraged with the effective intervention by the British Government, whose recommendations have been reflected in the revisions of the Article 23 legislation. Following the steps of the British government, the governments of the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand etc have also made similar statements. The government's handling of the matter has helped its international standing and image on a matter of principle. We congratulate the British government on its achievement and hope it continues to press the HK SAR on this issue.
Despite some amendments during the consultative process, the HK SAR has left intact the aspects of specific concern to Falun Gong and so the Article could still easily be used to ban Falun Gong and other groups that are proscribed on the mainland. Thus the threats to basic human freedoms in Hong Kong remain. We hope that the SAR government and the Jiang regime will genuinely listen to the voices of the people of Hong Kong and stop this article now. We call on the support of all of the governments and people of the world to help us stop this unjust legislation now."