Challenging Beijing's iron fist: Hong Kong residents stage continuing massive protests against Red China's planned clampdown on freedom.On July 1st, an estimated half-million demonstrators poured into the streets of Hong Kong's central business district for a mass protest outside the Legislative Council. The demonstrations have continued, protesting against government plans to limit freedom of expression and association. Dissatisfaction with the government of Mr. Tung Cheehwa, Hong Kong's chief executive, has been growing ever since the former British colony was handed over to Communist China in 1997. However, Mr. Tung, a puppet of the Beijing regime, stirred this wealthy island enclave of 6.6 million people to action with a proposed new "anti-subversion" bill that most residents see as a major step toward adopting the totalitarian police-state measures in place on the mainland. Tung first unveiled the new proposal, known as Article 23, last September. Promoted at the insistence of the Peoples' Republic of China (PRC). the law would provide a legal justification for outlawing political dissent Political dissent refers to any expression designed to convey dissatisfaction with or opposition to the policies of a governing body. Such expression may take forms from vocal disagreement to civil disobedience to the use of violence. and religious worship under the guise of protecting the state against treason treason, legal term for various acts of disloyalty. The English law, first clearly stated in the Statute of Treasons (1350), originally distinguished high treason from petit (or petty) treason. Petit treason was the murder of one's lawful superior, e.g. , sedition sedition (sĭdĭ`shən), in law, acts or words tending to upset the authority of a government. The scope of the offense was broad in early common law, which even permitted prosecution for a remark insulting to the king. , subversion, or secession. Hong Kong Hong Kong (hŏng kŏng), Mandarin Xianggang, special administrative region of China, formerly a British crown colony (2005 est. pop. 6,899,000), land area 422 sq mi (1,092 sq km), adjacent to Guangdong prov. residents are justifiably alarmed that the legislation will be interpreted to make it illegal for them to criticize government policies or to have any contact with religious and political groups outlawed on the mainland. They also are justified in seeing this as a step toward eventual implementation of Communist-style persecution, such as the PRC now employs against the Falun Gong Falun Gong or Falun Dafa Controversial spiritual movement combining healthful exercises with meditation for the purpose of “moving to higher levels.” Its teachings draw from Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, and the Western New Age movement. spiritual group, the Roman Catholic Church Roman Catholic Church, Christian church headed by the pope, the bishop of Rome (see papacy and Peter, Saint). Its commonest title in official use is Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. , and most Protestant churches This is a list of Protestant churches by denomination. Anglican/Episcopal Church Anglican Communion Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and PolynesiaAnglican Diocese of Auckland= Archdeaconry of Waimate== Parish of Kaitaia.Tung, a shipping tycoon long beholden be·hold·en adj. Owing something, such as gratitude, to another; indebted. [Middle English biholden, past participle of biholden, to observe; see behold. to Beijing, was chosen as chief executive by a PRC-appointed committee of 800 people. The same committee, dominated by businesses with ties to the mainland, also chooses six members of the 60-member parliament, known as the Legislative Council. An additional 30 members of the legislature are selected by Beijing-designated business and professional groups. That leaves only 24 members for the general public to elect. Besides protesting the proposed Article 23, the demonstrators, representing a broad cross-section of Hong Kong's population, have called on the government to address this democratic deficit. Following the massive show of public opposition to Article 23. the Tung government postponed adoption of the measure. However, it has indicated that it will not move to speed reforms allowing for popular representation. Tung and the PRC are insisting that no change in the Basic Law, Hong Kong's Communist-designed constitution, take place before the 2007 election for chief executive. Since the chief executive's term of office is five years, this would guarantee a pro-Beijing leader in charge of Hong Kong through 2012 and greatly aid the Communists in consolidating control over the independent-minded people of Hong Kong. The U.S. State A U.S. state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of the United States, although four states use the official title "commonwealth". The separate state governments and the federal government share sovereignty, in that an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and Department and the Bush administration have made virtually no comments about the situation in Hong Kong, even though the demonstrations and the push to enact Article 23 have coincided with the State Department's release of its annual report on human rights around the world. State Department spokesmen condemned human rights violations by Burma, Zimbabwe, and Liberia's Charles Taylor
Charles Taylor may refer to: Political figures
Communist China's premier Wen Jiabao Wen Jiabao (wĕn` jyä`bou`), 1942–, Chinese political leader, b. Tianjin. Originally a geologist, he worked for the Gansu provincial geological bureau (1968–82), where he was the head of its political section, and rose to deputy (at podium) delivers a speech on July 1st celebrating the sixth anniversary of Hong Kong's return to Communist rule. Outside, however, protesters gathered to demonstrate against the Soviet-styled Article 23. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Journalists join protest: Mak Yin-ting (above) chairman of the Hong Kong Journal Association, wears a protest t-shirt during the July 1st demonstration against the proposed Article 23 anti-treason law. Journalists see the legislation as a dangerous blow to freedom of the press and a major step toward transforming the Hong Kong media into a propaganda arm of the brutal Beijing regime. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Let freedom ring: Half a million demonstrators choked the streets of Hong Kong during a July 1st protest (left) against the anti-treason law proposed by the Beijing puppet government Noun 1. puppet government - a government that is appointed by and whose affairs are directed by an outside authority that may impose hardships on those governed pupet regime, puppet state of Hong Kong. The massive demonstrations, the largest since the 1989 Tiananmen Square Tiananmen Square, large public square in Beijing, China, on the southern edge of the Inner or Tatar City. The square, named for its Gate of Heavenly Peace (Tiananmen), contains the monument to the heroes of the revolution, the Great Hall of the People, the museum of massacre, were censored cen·sor n. 1. A person authorized to examine books, films, or other material and to remove or suppress what is considered morally, politically, or otherwise objectionable. 2. from news coverage throughout Red China. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Hong Kong's chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa, acknowledged at a July 9th press conference that the massive demonstrations showed his administration must "win back the trust and support of the people." However, Tung continues to push the policies of his Red Chinese masters. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Legislators revolt: Hong Kong Liberal Party legislator LEGISLATOR. One who makes laws. 2. In order to make good laws, it is necessary to understand those which are in force; the legislator ought therefore, to be thoroughly imbued with a knowledge of the laws of his country, their advantages and defects; to James Tien speaks at a press conference surrounded by members of his party on July 7th. Mr. Tien's resignation from the Hong Kong government over the proposed Article 23 security law prompted Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa to postpone action on the measure. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Heroic pastor: Hong Kong's Roman Catholic Bishop Joseph Zen (left) has become a leading spokesman against the government's tightening police-state measures. Although Christians comprise only four percent of the territory's population, polls by Hong Kong's leading newspapers have proclaimed the popular bishop the "most significant person of the year 2002." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Coming persecution? The Falun Gong movement (above, bottom left) fears that it will be targeted by Article 23. In China, Falun Gong, a system of exercise and mediation, is brutally persecuted, its members jailed, beaten, tortured, and killed. The Falun Gong is not the only religious group suffering persecution. Over the past two years, the Years, The the seven decades of Eleanor Pargiter’s life. [Br. Lit.: Benét, 1109] See : Time Communist mainland government has stepped up its attacks on Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, and Tibetan Buddhists as well. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Peaceful protests: The massive Hong Kong demonstrations have been remarkably peaceful and orderly, with no rioting, looting, or vandalism. Shops and businesses, including diamond stores and other luxury stores, have remained open and unmolested by the huge throngs packing the streets. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A light in the darkness: A girl hands out yellow ribbons against the Article 23 law at the July 9th protest that drew thousands of demonstrators to a candle-light vigil outside Hong Kong's legislative chambers. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] |
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