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HK leader backs down over law
HONG KONG, China -- Hong Kong leader Tung Chee-hwa has announced plans to amend a controversial security law after mass protests on the streets of the territory earlier this week. "After repeated and detailed discussions, we have decided to make amendments to further allay people's fears," Tung told a news conference Saturday. But the chief executive added he still wanted to see the law passed by the territory's Legislative Council (Legco) on schedule next week albeit in an amended form. That is unlikely to appease all of the bill's critics, many of whom say they want to see the legislation withdrawn entirely pending further public debate. Organizers of Tuesday's protest say they are still planning futher action this Wednesday to surround the Legco building in the heart of the city with tens of thousands of protesters. Announcing the changes Tung said a provision that allows some groups to be banned would be removed from the legislation, as would a provision allowing police to conduct searches without warrants. He said protections would be added for journalists who publish classified information, allowing them to defend themselves if they could prove the release of the information was in the public interest. Tung's announcement comes after an estimated half a million people joined a protest Tuesday against the planned anti-subversion law, known as Article 23. The mass action was the largest protest seen in the territory since more than a million Hong Kongers took to the streets in 1989 in reaction to the crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Beijing. Public anger has been growing over the proposed law amid fears that it would undermine basic rights and civil liberties guarantied under the 'one country, two systems' principles agreed when Hong Kong was returned to Chinese rule in 1997. 'Do better'Announcing the changes to the law, Tung acknowledged that the massive outpouring of public opposition seen had forced the government into an embarrassing retreat from parts of the law. Hinting at other more general signs of public disaffection with his leadership and polls showing his growing unpopularity he said: "My colleagues and myself have to do better." Aside from the Article 23 controversy, criticism has been growing of the Tung administration over his failure to address Hong Kong's economic troubles and his handling of the recent crisis over the SARS virus. Previously the government had firmly defended the proposed legislation saying it was required under the territory's mini-constitution, known as the Basic Law, that took effect at the handover on July 1, 1997. The bill outlaws subversion, treason, sedition and other crimes against the state, as well as imposing life prison sentences for some offenses.
Critics say Tung's handling of the Article 23 issue may have been the last straw and could bring about his downfall. "The Tung Chee-hwa administration has effectively fallen in the sense that it is no longer able to function," political commentator Christine Loh was quoted by The Associated Press as saying. He said Tung's handling of the legislation and the opposition had embarrassed Beijing and he "may well be sounding his own downfall." On Friday a key Tung ally, lawmaker James Tien from the pro-business Liberal Party, said eight legislators from his party would support delaying the bill until the end of the year. After announcing the changes Tung said he was confident the bill would pass unopposed on Wednesday because "the controversy is no longer there."
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