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100,000 set for Hong Kong rally
HONG KONG, China (CNN) -- More than 100,000 demonstrators are expected to take to the streets in Hong Kong to protest against a controversial proposed national security law. Organizers say Tuesday's march is set to be the biggest demonstration in Hong Kong since its return to Chinese rule and is likely to overshadow official celebrations marking the sixth anniversary of the territory's return from British sovereignty. The new security bill carries life prison sentences for treason, sedition, theft of state secrets and subversion. Hong Kong's legislature is required to pass the bill under Article 23 of the territory's post-colonial constitution known as the Basic Law. While the government maintains the bill is necessary to protect the territory's security, critics say it could erode fundamental rights and freedoms as well as restrict access to information. Rights groups and democracy advocates say the law -- set to be passed July 9 -- will curtail autonomy guarantees for Hong Kong from China under Beijing's "one country, two systems" model of governing the territory. The European Union has criticized the law saying it would compromise the territory's autonomy, while last week U.S. lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to condemn the proposed law after the White House expressed concern that it could stifle freedoms. The law will give the government of Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa authority to ban local groups with ties to any organization banned by the communist authorities in mainland China. It will also give police the power to conduct searches without a warrant and impose a ban on disclosing state secrets. While this has been of particular concern to local media worried about freedom of reporting issues, many businesses are also concerned. "We feel that good business decisions are made on good information, so anything that impacts the free flow of information is not good for business," Lucille Barale from the Hong Kong American Chamber Of Commerce told CNN. PledgeThe bill's supporters, however, insist that Article 23 won't be abused. "I am not worried that the bill when enacted will have an adverse impact on civil liberties. Everything which people can now say or do they will be able to continue to say or do," said Hong Kong University law professor Albert Chen, a member of Hong Kong's committee for the Basic Law. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, in Hong Kong for the handover celebrations, said Beijing would continue to honor its commitment to the "one country, two systems" policy. But Wen's pledge is unlikely to deter protesters who want the proposed law derailed.
Polls show a vast majority of Hong Kong residents oppose Article 23 and believe that Chief Executive Tung -- appointed by Beijing to lead the territory -- as well as a compliant, largely un-elected legislature are simply not listening to public opinion. "The Tung administration is getting very intolerant and very impatient with dissenting views," opposition legislator Emily Lau said. "They would like to have the tools with which they can hit the people and shut the people up, and I think Article 23 is one of those tools." Nearly 1,000 police officers have been deployed for the march, as well as 800 marshals. Official ceremonies to mark the handover anniversary got underway early Tuesday. Wen and Tung, as well as other officials, stood silently to attention in the city's central business district as a band played patriotic music and helicopters dragged Hong Kong and Chinese flags through clear skies over Victoria Harbour. About 15 pro-democracy protesters scuffled with police and burnt a Chinese Communist Party flag as they tried to stage a demonstration at the ceremony. -- CNN Senior Asia Correspondent Mike Chinoy contributed to this report.
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