An assembly of 100,000 people from various communities in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) will be held on Sunday, Dec. 22 to support the HKSAR government's plans of drafting laws to protect national security.
Members from 27 organizers of the event will gather together Dec. 22 in Victoria Park in Causeway Bay on Hong Kong Island to voice out their support for the government's move, said the Hong Kong Coalition for National Security Legislation at a news conference Monday.
The coalition was recently set up to support the HKSAR government legislating on Article 23 of the Basic Law of the HKSAR. It consists of various local business and trade organizations, political parties, education bodies, cultural organizations, social organizations, professional bodies and grassroots organizations in Hong Kong.
Article 23 of the Basic Law of Hong Kong stipulates that the HKSAR shall 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.
More than 300 other organizations have also joined forces with the organizers and will voice out their support during the Sunday assembly, according to the coalition.
Convener of the Coalition Cheng Yiu Tong said at the news conference, "Our stand is clear. We support the Hong Kong SAR government's plans of and stand on making laws on Article 23 of the Basic Law, as well as the details that have been laid down in the consultation paper in order to protect national security."
Cheng said participants will be chanting the coalition's slogan throughout the event: "National Security: Everyone's Responsibility."
"We are taking action of various forms to explain clearly to the society our point of view," he added.
The coalition said leaflets will be handed out to passers-by, and a signature campaign will be held Sunday to gather signatures of supporters to be submitted to the Security Bureau of the HKSAR government.
The coalition said it has also established a web site, http:///www.basiclaw23.org.hk, in order to explain the standpoint to the public.
According to Article 23 of the Basic Law, the drafted law shall also prohibit foreign political organizations or bodies from conducting political activities in the HKSAR and prohibit political organizations or bodies of the HKSAR from establishing ties with foreign political organizations or bodies.
(Xinhua News Agency December 17, 2002)
