Reuters: HK Leader Says Weighing Subversion Law Changes

Fri July 4, 2003

(Clearwisdom.net) HONG KONG (Reuters) - Assailed by half a million protesters over contentious anti-subversion legislation, Hong Kong leader Tung Chee-hwa stalled for more time on Friday, saying he was still reviewing public demands for changes to the bill.

Tung, clearly rattled by Tuesday's mass rally, facing growing criticism even from allies and under pressure from Beijing, said he would make a decision as soon as possible but repeated that the bill would not be scrapped.

The government wants the legislation to go into its final readings next week.

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Tung and his top advisers held their third round of crisis talks in as many days on Friday as calls grew from supporters and opponents alike to shelve or amend the bill, which critics say poses the biggest threat to rights and freedoms in the former British colony since it returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

The law has raised concerns that any dissent may soon be treated the same way it is in China. Beijing fears that without the law, Hong Kong will be used as a base for subversive activities against it.

The Falun Gong spiritual group for instance practices freely in Hong Kong but has been banned in China.

Tung is believed to be weighing four options -- delaying the bill, amending it to address some of the biggest concerns, postponing the most controversial clauses or pushing ahead with the final readings on July 9 with no changes.

With public anger mounting, Tung's political future appears to be under a cloud after one leading Hong Kong delegate to China's parliament said it was "over" for the unpopular leader and another bypassed him to seek the help of Beijing.

CRISIS TALKS IN CHINA

Hong Kong Cable TV said that China's Communist Party Politburo held an emergency meeting on Thursday to discuss the crisis in Hong Kong. It said the meeting was chaired by President Hu Jintao but did not give details.

National People's Congress deputy Allen Lee said his Beijing sources told him it was over for Tung, The Standard newspaper reported on Friday. But another NPC deputy, Ma Lik, said it was still too early for Chinese leaders to consider removing him.

A third Hong Kong delegate, Victor Sit, said on Thursday he had asked Beijing to tell Tung to shelve the legislation.

"I think the crucial factor will be in Beijing. I hope Chinese leaders will pick up on the message (from the public) and urge Tung to change course," Joseph Cheng, a political science professor at City University, told Reuters.

Beijing is pressing Tung to pass the bill. Hong Kong's constitution requires it, but sets out no timetable.

Opposition lawmakers clamored again on Friday for the government to delay the legislation and hold further public consultations.

"Tung Chee-hwa should withdraw the legislation and hold talks with opponents of the law," said Yeung Sum, chairman of the opposition Democratic Party.

"He has only two choices -- one is to shelve the legislation, the other is to step down."

Hong Kong's financial markets have been largely unfazed by the crisis, but are concerned that the public's total loss of confidence in Tung's government will make it even harder for it to pass tough measures like spending cuts needed to eliminate its huge budget deficit, which is one of the largest in Asia.

A South China Morning Post survey of the 60 lawmakers in the legislature found 23 opposed to the bill and 17 for it.

Sixteen were undecided, mainly from the pro-business Liberal Party, with most of those saying their votes might be influenced by the size of Tuesday's mass protest. Several other lawmakers refused to say how they would vote or were out of town.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=3037407