Attempts to smear Article 23 'doomed to fail'

Beijing and Hong Kong hit back at the West for criticizing the city's new domestic national security legislation, saying their remarks are "fact-twisting" after the SAR on Tuesday passed the Basic Law Article 23 legislation following a fast-tracked legislative process.

The Legislative Council passed the law unanimously, introducing penalties for five categories of national security crimes including treason and theft of state secrets.

Western countries including the United States and Britain were swift to criticize Article 23, with British Foreign Secretary David Cameron saying the law will "further damage the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong people."

United Nations rights chief Volker Turk called the law and its "rushed" adoption "a regressive step for the protection of human rights," while the European Union said it would affect the city's freedoms and the work of the EU's office and its citizens here.

"This also raises questions about Hong Kong's long-term attractiveness as an international business hub," the EU said in a statement.

In a daily press conference in Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian expressed "strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to certain countries and institutions slandering and smearing HK's national security legislation."

"Security is a prerequisite for development, and the rule of law is the cornerstone of prosperity," Lin said. "All attacks and smears will never succeed and are doomed to fail."

In a separate statement, the office of the foreign ministry commissioner in Hong Kong attacked the British government for still possessing the "mindset of a colonizer" and condemning the EU's "hypocritical" position.

"We urge the UK to set its position right, face the reality, and give up on the fantasy of continuing its colonial influence in HK," the office said.

The SAR government released a statement to "strongly oppose and condemn smearing" of Article 23 legislation, saying that the remarks "not only distorted the facts but also disregarded the positive effects brought about" by the bill.

It also slammed the joint declaration made by 78 foreign politicians and organizations opposing the law, including Hong Kong Watch, Amnesty International, and former Hong Kong governor Chris Patten, for their "sinister intent" to stir up trouble.

Elsewhere in Canberra, Australia's top diplomat Penelope Wong Ying-yen warned her visiting counterpart Wang Yi that the new law would "further erode rights and freedoms" and have implications far beyond China.

Political commentator Lau Siu-kai, a consultant to the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, said attacks towards the new legislation from Western countries were expected.

There might be sanctions against SAR government officials, but Lau believed it would not target the city's financial market.

The Safeguarding National Security Bill comes into effect Saturday after it was passed unanimously by 89 lawmakers during a special Legco session.

michael.shum@singtaonewscorp.com