EDITORIAL : HONG KONG BETRAYED? CHINA'S ATTEMPT TO CURTAIL COLONY'S CIVIL LIBERTIES IS SELF-DEFEATING.WITH the momentous mo·men·tous adj. Of utmost importance; of outstanding significance or consequence: a momentous occasion; a momentous decision. change of Hong Kong's sovereignty less than six months away, China already is showing signs of quashing civil liberties and ignoring earlier promises to preserve the freedoms people in 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. enjoyed under British rule. A China-appointed panel moved Monday to repeal The Annulment or abrogation of a previously existing statute by the enactment of a later law that revokes the former law. The revocation of the law can either be done through an express repeal parts of Hong Kong's 1991 Bill of Rights, giving police the power to ban peaceful demonstrations, to tighten controls on civic groups' foreign ties and to weaken citizens' rights to privacy for personal data. Beijing still promises to keep Hong Kong capitalist, free and highly autonomous after July 1, when Great Britain Great Britain, officially United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, constitutional monarchy (2005 est. pop. 60,441,000), 94,226 sq mi (244,044 sq km), on the British Isles, off W Europe. The country is often referred to simply as Britain. ends its 156-year colonial rule and China takes over. But after China's action Monday, a great big heap of uncertainty exists as to whether China truly understands - or cares about - the connection between free speech, free press and free assembly and a healthy, vibrant economy. Washington's new secretary of state, Madeleine Albright Madeleine Korbel Albright (born May 15 1937) was the first woman to become United States Secretary of State. She was nominated by President Bill Clinton on December 5 1996 and was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate 99-0. She was sworn in on January 23 1997. , has a delicate but vital task ahead - forging stable relations between the two countries while urging China to remain true to its word regarding Hong Kong, where American businesses have substantial interests. But what a coup for Albright if she succeeds in assuring China that it's in its best interest to preserve Hong Kong as one of Asia's freest societies and brightest success stories. |
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