Saturday May 3, 11:10 AM

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The United States said Friday it had "serious reservations" about Hong Kong's proposed sedition law, despite changes made by the territory's government to the controversial legisation.

State Department deputy spokesman Philip Reeker noted that Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa's government had changed its initial draft of the law in response to concerns raised during last year's public consultation period. "We encourage the Hong Kong government to be receptive to additional proposals for clarification or safeguards as the bill is considered in the Legislative Council," he said.

Under Article 23 of the Basic Law, the territory's mini-constitution, Hong Kong is obliged to pass laws banning treason, sedition, subversion and the theft of state secrets.

The government is hoping to have the legislation on the statute books by July.

The controversial bill went before Hong Kong's Legislative Council on February 26, albeit in a watered down form from its original draft following protests during the three-month consultation period.

"Serious reservations remain about provisions for the proscription of organizations endangering national security. As currently drafted, the law stands to blur the dividing lines between the Chinese and Hong Kong legal systems," Reeker said in a statement.

"We encourage the Administration and the Legislature to consider carefully the international community's expressions of concern with respect to this aspect of the Article 23 legislation."

[...]

Human rights and pro-democracy groups fear China could use the new law to suppress freedoms including those of media, speech and religion.

The proposed laws have proved deeply divisive, prompting mass protests last December both for and against the legislation.

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/030503/1/3aov4.html