Elsie Leung admits paper 'politically incorrect' on Taiwan

A leading official of the post-handover administration yesterday admitted it had been 'politically incorrect' in handling the Taiwan question in the consultation document on civil liberties.

Elsie Leung Oi-sie, Secretary of Justice-designate, said at a meeting with academics that the question had not been considered thoroughly.

'The document has been prepared in a rush, it is thus a bit politically incorrect,' she said.

She was referring to the ban on links between local political groups and Taiwan. The ban adopts the same rules applied to ties with 'foreign political organisations'.

The document's presentation has sparked criticism that Taiwan has been treated as a foreign country.

Ms Leung insisted the post-handover administration did not intend to regard Taiwan as a foreign country, although it thought a ban should apply.