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In response to a statement issued by the European Union (EU) regarding proposals to implement Article 23 of the Basic Law, a spokesman for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today (April 30) said that the National Security (Legislative Provisions) Bill was in full accord with the "One Country, Two Systems" Principle.

"We note that the EU recognised the positive steps taken by the HKSAR Government, including the dropping of the offence of possessing seditious publications and the introduction of jury trials for most of the proposed offences, to address public concerns on the proposals to implement Article 23.

"We also note that the EU recognised the significance of safeguards in the National Security (Legislative Provisions) Bill, which requires that all the provisions ought to be interpreted, applied and enforced in a manner consistent with both the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights," the spokesman said.

As regards the proposed proscription power, the spokesman said that the arrangement was in accordance with Hong Kong laws and international human rights principles.

"All proscription decisions are appealable in the courts of Hong Kong," he added.

"The proposed sedition offence represents a significant narrowing down of the existing provisions, which are based essentially on UK law."

"The new sedition offence is based on the well-established common law concept of incitement. This is in line with the 1977 UK Law Commission's recommendations," the spokesman noted.

End/Wednesday, April 30, 2003

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