My Take | No need to enact national security law now
There is too much division and distrust in society for Article 23 legislation to go forward at this time, not unless you want to plunge the city into a prolonged state of deep conflict
We all know Wu Chi-wai is not the sharpest tool in the shed. But the Democratic Party chairman and lawmaker sometimes seems to go out of his way to demonstrate his many intellectual challenges.
During a debate on radio, Wu said any national security legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law, the city’s mini-constitution, should only sanction political leaders, senior government figures and legislators.
But how should we define political leaders and politicians? Wu no doubt qualifies as a political leader, but what about his fellow party members? Would they be free from legal sanctions under his suggestion if they fought for Hong Kong independence, that is, so long as they didn’t hold any political or public appointment?
If you are a political party chief, senior civil servant, a minister or lawmaker, you are already a kind of establishment figure, even if you are a pan-democrat or member of the opposition. How likely would they turn out to be a radical and a secessionist? In any case, mainstream pan-democrats have declared on public record that they don’t support Hong Kong independence.
The people who are agitating for secession are likely those working in the fringes of politics, disaffected youngsters and idealistic university students.