Wrong to think Hong Kong people not patriotic, lawyer tells officials in Beijing
A Hong Kong lawyer meeting senior National People's Congress officials yesterday sought to dispel the notion that the city is selfish in wanting economic benefits from the mainland while refusing to pass national security laws in return.
Alan Hoo SC, deputy head of a delegation visiting Beijing, said he told officials he did not believe that Hong Kong people were opposed to Article 23 of the Basic Law itself, but they were just unhappy with the manner in which the controversial issue had been handled by the government.
'I said I do not believe the people of Hong Kong object to national security legislation which protects their country,' Mr Hoo said.
Speaking outside the meeting, he said he was very concerned about scathing comments appearing in mainland internet chat rooms suggesting Hong Kong people were unpatriotic.
'There has been a lot on the internet saying we are selfish and that when it comes to wanting economic benefits, such as more mainland tourists, we demand it, but when we are supposed to do the minimum for 'one country' by passing national security laws we get anti-Article 23.