Letter to the Hong Kong Government Regarding Article 23 from Falun Gong Practitioners in 80 Universities in the United States

Dear Sir or Madam:

We are Falun Gong practitioners in 80 universities in the United States. We are writing to express our deep concern over the proposal to implement Article 23 of the Basic Law. We are concerned that the enactment of Article 23 will result in the extension of the tyranny in Mainland China to Hong Kong, and the violent suppression of Falun Gong, in particular. We urge you to consider the effect that such action will have on Hong Kong and its future.

Hong Kong has always been known for its free flow of information and its open economy. Yet this freedom, along with Hong Kong's autonomy, has been constantly eroding under pressure from Mainland China. The policy of "one country, two systems" would be seriously jeopardized if Article 23 were implemented. It would further undermine the cherished freedom that Hong Kong has fought so hard to maintain and drastically affect the region's economic status.

Media organizations, legal professionals, religious organizations, human rights groups, educational institutions, as well as financial firms have all expressed their concern over the ambiguities of Article 23. In accord with international practice, laws and terminology regarding criminal actions must be precise and specific. The ambiguity of Article 23 could easily lead to violations of fundamental rights in the name of "national security." This is indeed what is happening in Mainland China, especially in regard to various ethnic and religious groups, Christians, the spiritual Falun Gong practice, as well as internet users, scholars, and journalists. With the enactment of Article 23, Hong Kong would essentially be turned into a police state like the Mainland, and the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners may also be extended to Hong Kong.

The proposed Article 23 does not comply with the Johannesburg Principles as well as the World Human Rights Convention and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In fact, a co-author of the Johannesburg Principles, Dr. Frances D'Souza, has stated, "There is no question that this proposed legislation threatens individual liberties in a profound and sustained way."

Hong Kong is a city that is respected throughout the world. Please act in the best interests of Hong Kong and its people. We are hoping that you will do everything in your power to preserve freedom, the inalienable right of humans everywhere.

Sincerely,

Falun Gong practitioners currently studying and working in the following universities:

American University
Boston University
California Institute of Technology
City College of New York
Colorado state university
Columbia University
Cornell University
Duke University
Emory University
Florida State University
George Washington University
Georgetown University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia State University
Harvard University
Indiana University
Iowa State University
Johns Hopkins University
Kansas State University
Kent State University
Lehigh University
Mississippi State University
MIT
North Carolina State University
New Jersey Medical School
New York State University at Buffalo
New York State University of Albany
Northeastern University
Northern Illinois University
Northwestern University
Northwestern Health Sciences University
Ohio State University
Penn State University
Princeton University
Purdue University
Rutgers the State University of New Jersey
San Francisco State University
South Dakota State University
Stanford University
Temple University
Texas A&M University
The Catholic University of America
Thomas Jefferson University
Tufts University
University of California Berkeley
University of California Davis
University of California- Los Angeles
University of California San Diego
University of Central Florida
University of Chicago
University of Cincinnati
University of Colorado at Boulder
University of Colorado at Denver
University of Florida
University of Georgia
University of Houston
University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign
University of Maryland- College Park
University of Memphis
University of Michigan
University of Minnesota- Twin Cities
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh
University of Rochester
University of Southern California
University of South Florida
University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Houston Medical School
University of Texas Health Science Center
University of Utah
University of Virginia
University of Wisconsin- Madison
Washington University in St. Louis
University of Washington
Yale University