Back to "Annual Reports" Main Page
1. Social Concerns
1.1 Petition to Amend the Public Order Ordinance
Since amendments to the Public Order Ordinance were introduced in 1997, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Hong Kong have been telling the government that the Public Order Ordinance is unjustified. It is motivated, they claim, by an urge to suppress freedom of speech and assembly. On May 9, 2002, the Dept. of Justice charged local activist Leung Kwok-hung for “organising an assembly without permission”—an infringement of the Public Order Ordinance. Fung Ka-keung and Lo Wai-ming were also charged with “assisting to hold an assembly without permission.” These arrests, including the arrest of Leung and Fung in their homes, indicate that the government intends to suppress dissenting voices through the Public Order Ordinance, which was amended by the provisional legislature hours after the sovereignty of Hong Kong was transferred to China on July 1, 1997.
HKCI emphasises the importance of civil society's development and the rights of citizens. Because of this stance, HKCI persists in joining meetings and actions of NGOs that pressure the government to amend the Public Order Ordinance and withdraw the changes made in 1997.
1.2 Sept. 11: Religion, Peace and the Anti-Terrorism Law
After Sept. 11, many countries were concerned with the anti-terrorism issue. Hong Kong has been no exception. Therefore, in early July, the government passed the Anti-Terrorism Bill in spite of the voices of the public and legislators against it. HKCI believes that the government intends to use this law to suppress dissenting voices in the name of combating terrorism and upholding national security. Therefore, HKCI began to contact interested groups in March to discuss a response to the government. The opinions of concerned NGOs and individuals were put in a position paper in Chinese and English that was used in a meeting with Legislative Council (Legco) members and government officials of the Security Bureau on June 3, 2002. The position paper was also later published in the Apple Daily newspaper on June 24.
From the perspective of human rights, HKCI considers freedom of speech as a necessary element of a functioning and vibrant civil society. Thus, like the Anti-Terrorism Bill, legislation to enact Article 23 of the Basic Law is one of the major concerns of HKCI.
1.3 Human Rights and Religion (Cult) Issues in the Lai Kwong-keung Case
A Hong Kong businessman, Lai Kwong-keung, was charged by the Chinese government for transporting 30,000 Bibles to mainland China during the year 2000–2001. According to the prosecution paper, Lai was charged with “using a cult organisation to destroy the law illegally.” HKCI worked with human rights and religious organisations both before and after the judgement, emphasising that everyone has the right of religious belief and the right to have and use the holy books of one's religion.
1.4 Workers' Rights and Advocacy for Basic Social Security
In the area of socio-economic concerns, HKCI has participated in several campaigns to support the rights of workers in the past year. HKCI, for instance, was a local partner in the successful efforts of foreign domestic workers to prevent the Hong Kong government from reducing their minimum wage. HKCI also supported the MTR cleaning workers in their attempt to receive reasonable compensation from their Danish employer when the company's contract expired with the MTR.
In addition, HKCI continued its concern about poverty in the community and the basic social security of Hong Kong's citizens. Sectors of society that received special attention were the working poor and the youth who live in poverty. HKCI also was involved in issues related to Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) and a minimum wage and other security provisions for workers in Hong Kong.
1.5 Anti-Globalisation Campaign
Globalisation is used by the government as an excuse to explain and legitimise unemployment. One of the responses of church organisations and NGOs to globalisation was a demonstration at the World Economic Forum (WEF).
To make the anti-globalisation campaign more effective, the alliance of anti-poverty groups was divided into three areas of responsibility—public education, the People's Forum and action. In the first area, pubic education, a set of small booklets was published and promoted in schools, bookstores and among workers. Meanwhile, the People's Forum invited representatives from the Asian region to share their anti-globalisation experiences. Lastly, the action team was responsible for the demonstrations during the WEF conference.
Globalisation is one of the primary factors that polarises society into the rich and the poor. Thus, it is important to understand the concept of globalisation when seeking to address poverty. Consequently, an alliance has been formed among NGOs in order to have deeper discussion and understanding about this issue.
HKCI shows its concern by participating in meetings, seminars and related actions that are jointly organised with other NGOs. In addition to joining with others in various events and actions, HKCI seeks to emphasise its role of being a bridge between the Church and society by conveying the thoughts and analyses of NGOs to the Church.
In addition to globalisation, the long-term development of society is affected by the population policy that will be a major thrust of the second five-year term of the administration of Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa. In response, HKCI posted its views in Ming Pao on July 12, 2002. HKCI has also called for interested groups to discuss the issue further and to formulate a response to the government. A position paper will be drafted, and an appointment will be made with Chief Secretary Donald Tsang during which the content of the position paper will be presented to the Hong Kong government.
1.6 The Second Term of Tung Chee-hwa: The Public Opinion Poll of the First Term and the People's Political Agenda
In the political arena, HKCI participated with others in meetings about the election of the chief executive. The meeting decided to investigate the opinions of Hong Kong's citizens about the government through a telephone survey. Meanwhile, NGOs were invited to join the drafting of the People's Political Agenda in order to suggest, evaluate and demand that the new government rule from the perspective of minorities.
Later HKCI and other NGOs made suggestions related to 19 areas of concern to the government and released the result on Feb. 17, 2002.
1.7 Challenges to the Rule of Law: The Right-of-Abode Issue
HKCI contacted local churches in order to organise a forum that would allow the right-of-abode seekers in Hong Kong to share their experiences with church members. During Good Friday, HKCI held a worship service with several Catholic organisations entitled “Transforming Suffering into Blessing.” In addition, HKCI and other NGOs sent letters to the U.N. Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in order to reflect an alternative interpretation of events to that presented by the Hong Kong government related to the right-of-abode issue.
1.8 Social Movement Alliance
Joining with other NGOs in actions is not the only strategy of HKCI to transform society. HKCI also believes that the social movement has to grow and mature. With this objective in mind, HKCI began to organise meetings with different sectors of people—scholars, teachers, activists, etc.—to discuss the development of the social movement in Hong Kong. These meetings have offered a platform to exchange different opinions and experiences. The aim is for the social movement to permeate into the daily life of the community. The meetings began in June 2002, and the decision was made that school teachers would be the social movement's dialogue partners. A series of salons will be held to consolidate and exchange opinions and to look for alternatives for the future development of society in general and the social movement in particular.
Kandy WONG
|
