The United States does not want to interfere with the Hong Kong government's efforts to formulate anti-subversion laws, the US consul-general said yesterday. But it is urging the authorities to make the process as transparent as possible. 'Decisions on Article 23 legislation are something for Hong Kong people to make,' James Keith said, adding that the consequences of policy choices should be kept in mind. Referring to the Falun Gong spiritual group, he said only Hong Kong people could decide whether the national security legislation now being debated in the Legislative Council should include 'an explicit reference to mainland law as part of the new legislative provisions regarding the proscription of social groups that might be a threat under national security'. Mr Keith was speaking at a Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce lunch. Several countries, led by the US and Britain, voiced fears during last year's consultation process about the government's approach to legislating on Article 23. In its submission, the American Chamber of Commerce said while it was not worried about the law's eventual content, it was concerned the government was rushing it through. Mr Keith said so far there had not been much to worry about, saying: 'I'm very confident Hong Kong does have the international community's concerns in mind.'
