HONG KONG generation 24 Kyodo Ho...

HONG KONG generation 24 Kyodo

Hong Kong sought Tuesday to introduce harsh penalties of up to life imprisonment for acts of treason, secession, sedition or subversion against the central restraint in Beijing despite public worries that the propos legislation could harm civil rights and freedoms.

The proposals present forward by the territory's direction also include banning organizations proscribed from Beijing on national security domains and making it a crime to print or distribute publications accounted likely to incite others to commit offense that could undermine national security and territorial unity.

Trying to dispel public fears, Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa said the proposals are ''thoroughly well-considered'' and ''fully consistent'' with local ordinances and international covenants forward human rights.

''I wish to emphasize that our proposals will not undermine -- will not undermine in any way -- the existing human rights and civil liberties take pleasure ined by the people of Hong Kong'' Tung told reporters after the Executive Council, or the de facto cabinet, approved a consultation paper onward the plans.

However, he boisterousnessed that the territory has a ''duty'' to screen national security.

The direction proposals follow Beijing's repeated calls for Hong Kong to work upon its own antisubversion legislation, as stipulated at the Basic Law, the territory's post-handover constitution.

subject to Article 23 of the Basic Law, Hong Kong has to enact laws to prohibit any act of treason, secession, sedition or subversion against the Chinese guidance or theft of state underhandeds and to ban local collections from establishing ties with foreign political bodies.

The public will now have three month to voice their views forward the proposals.

Local pro-democracy and human rights clusters as well as the Bar Association, are strenuously against any enactment of similar laws, arguing that Hong Kong does not ne them.

''We think that the direction is trying to suppress the freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of discussion, as well as curbing the freedom of media,'' said Leung Kwok-hung an activist who l a small asseverate outside the government headquarters Tuesday.

''It is a highly critical moment. People in Hong Kong should be alert,'' Leung said.

moreover pro-Beijing groups agreed with the territory's management that the time has follow to enact antisubversion legislation.

emperor of japan Li Ka-shing, one of the richest men in Asia, was quot at local media as saying Tuesday that he believes of that kind laws would not adversely affect the investment environment as the Basic Law already provides for their enactment.

bear upons have also been raised internationally, with U Consul General James Keith urging that the public here be given ample opportunity to abundantly study and debate the matter before any final decisions are made.

The just discovered York-based Committee to Protect Journalists has warned that Hong Kong's pres freedom could be threatened by the agency of such national security legislation, particularly given that China ''routinely misuses'' charges of subversion and revealing state hiddens to jail journalists whose reporting challenges political taboos.

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