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1989 6/4 Memorial Candle Light Vigil

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"Dare Not to Forget"

In memory of the June 4th Tiananman Square student movement happened 16 years ago in Beijing China in 1989, more than 150 people attended the annual candle light vigil in front of Chinese Counsulate in Los Angeles on 6/4/05.


Against Article 23 of HKSAR Basic Law

December 14, 2002

Mr. Tung Chee Hwa
Chief Executive
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
People's Republic of China


Dear Mr. Tung:

We, Hong Kong Forum, Los Angeles (HKF-LA) had in the early spring of 1990, voiced out its concern over the legitimacy issue of the Basic Law, which was merely a document written without consultation to the Hong Kong residents.  While many aspects of the Basic Law have indeed provided a platform for Hong Kong and its Government and people to function in the post 97 era, the Basic Law as a whole remains a document not endorsed by the Hong Kong people. In that regards, HKF-LA is writing to oppose the proposals to implement Article 23 of the Basic Law.

Further, HKF-LA considers that such proposals will give excessive weight to national security at the expense of civil liberties and freedom of speech. Since majority of our members are Hong Kong permanent residents, we are particularly concerned that the proposed Article 23 provisions allow for all permanent residents, residing locally or overseas, to be prosecuted for what they say in and outside of Hong Kong.

The timing to implement this particular Article is at best dubious. Mired in the deepest economic stagnation in decades, the HKSAR Government is determined to further disturb, but not safeguard, the financial well-being of the Hong Kong residents by trying to implement Article 23 and create uncertainty in the future of individual freedom in Hong Kong. The Article 23 provisions would have a chilling effect on all individuals, groups and enterprises engaged in the business of information exchange. We are deeply convinced that the implementation of Article 23 in its current form would seriously breach the spirit of freedom of speech and violate Article 19 of the United Nations' 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Finally, HKF-LA recommends to the HKSAR Government that a better time to implement Article 23 would be after both the Executive and Legislative branches of the Government are fully democratically elected. Only under this condition can the Hong Kong people feel secure that the proper check-and-balance measure is in place to examine the existing freedom that has been so long enjoyed and to implement a law under the context of former.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Yours Sincerely,

Hong Kong Forum, Los Angeles

 

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To read the open letter in Chinese, please click here.





NOTE: Same open letters have also sent to Mrs. Regina Ip, Secretary of Security, Security Bureau of HKSAR.