Pro-China rally in Hong Kong larger than expected

["Fred Feldman" <ffeldman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Massive support for Security Laws in Hong Kong

HONG KONG (AFP) - Thousands of people gathered in a Hong Kong park Sunday to
pledge support for controversial national security laws that critics charge
will jeapordise fundamental rights here, organisers said.

A coalition of 27 groups headed by the pro-Beijing Democratic Alliance for
the Betterment of Hong Kong political party gathered in Victoria Park to
rally public support for the proposed legislation, insisting it is essential
to protect Chinese national security.

Organisers had expected 10,000 people to attend the rally, but one organiser
claimed 40,000 people had attended. Police put the figure at 16,000.

The demonstrators sang patriotic songs, waved mini-flags carrying slogans
that included "National Security is everybody's responsibility" and unfurled
a huge red Chinese flag to show support.
"The groups assembled here may all differ on how they believe the law could
be amended but we all believe in the basic principle that there should be
such legislation and we appeal to the public to support the law," said party
chairman Tsang Yok-shing. Under Article 23 of the Basic Law, the territory's
mini-constitution since it reverted to Chinese control, Hong Kong is obliged
to pass laws banning treason, sedition, subversion and theft of state
secrets.

"If we don't implement the laws, then we will be inviting the Chinese
government to enact national security laws in Hong Kong which nobody wants
to see. "I doubt if there is any modern government in the world which does
not have laws to protect national security," he added.




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