Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) government spokesman said Thursday that a British government report has again confirmed the continuous well practice of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong and the HKSAR government has noticed the remarks.
The British report came from its Foreign and Common wealth Office's twelfth six-monthly report on Hong Kong.
On the implementation of Article 23 of the Basic Law, the government spokesman said Hong Kong has a constitutional responsibility to enact laws to protect national security.
"The government has clarified and refined the proposals put forward in the Consultation Document, taking into account the views expressed during the consultation," he said.
"The strict and clear definitions in the National Security (Legislative Provisions) Bill show that we are responsive to the concerns of the public. We are firmly committed to ensuring that the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Basic Law are maintained. The position of the HKSAR as an international financial and business center with free flow of information will remain unchanged," the spokesman stressed.
He said "the Basic Law provides full protection for the freedoms of speech, procession, demonstration and peaceful assembly. A total of 12,135 public meetings or processions were held in Hong Kong from July, 1997 to January, 2003, an average of six events daily."
The spokesman concluded that the SAR government remains firmly committed to the protection of the fundamental rights and freedoms as provided for in the Basic Law, and would also continue to uphold the rule of law.
(Xinhua News Agency February 28, 2003)
