My Take | It’s no time for Article 23
- We have an undeniable constitutional duty to enact legislation on treason, secession, sedition and subversion, but just imagine what terrifying internal upheaval we may face if we go ahead with it
Some influential voices allied with the government are again pushing for legislation on treason, secession, sedition and subversion under Article 23 of the Basic Law. I have no idea how serious they are about it.
If a mere proposed extradition law could plunge Hong Kong into eight months of unprecedented violence and riots, I fear what a draft Article 23 law would do to the city.
I don’t deny it is our constitutional duty to enact it. On the other hand, it’s also in our own interest not to commit suicide.
The “yellow” camp has been trying to destroy the city in the name of democracy. I don’t think the “blue” camp should try to launch another self-destructive war for the sake of national security.
Any Article 23 legislation would, incidentally, give Washington the perfect excuse to intervene massively in Hong Kong. Frankly, I get nauseous just hearing all the self-serving/righteous nonsense from the likes of Mike Pompeo, Mike Pence and Nancy Pelosi.
In any case, it has often been observed by legal experts from both the yellow and blue camps that we already have draconian laws to deal with emergencies. It’s a question of whether our leaders have the guts to use them; so far, evidently not.