Guo'an Law｜Chen Shuzhuang's writings were removed: violation of retrospective definition Tang Jiahua: nothing wrong

Political situation

Author: Zhai Ruimin

2020-07-06 09:47

The Public Library under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, in response to the passage of the National Security Act of the Minato City, reviews books whose contents are deemed to possibly touch the "red line" of national security. Former Hong Kong Secretary-General Huang Zhifeng and the Citizen Party Legislative Council members Chen Shuzhuang and other books have been drawn. Chen Shuzhuang accepted a radio program interview this morning, questioning that the LCSD did not provide objective standards, and that the book was published 6 years ago, which violates the National Security Law and has no retroactive definition.

Tang Jiahua, a member of the Executive Council, explained in the same program that Article 6 of the National Security Law states that any agency in the port area is obliged to safeguard national sovereignty and the government is responsible for complying with the relevant regulations, but it does not mean that the banned book is a banned book. There is no problem for citizens to collect at home.

"Sensitive Zone of Chen Shuzhuang" written by Chen Shuzhuang is still on the shelf of the central library. (Profile picture / Photograph by Liang Huanmin)

Chen Shuzhuang’s criticism caused panic and criticized the practice of “walking while eating and fighting”, and questioned that the National Security Law had no retrospective effect. However, the LCSD reviewed a book published in 2014, “The line is drawn to the side.” When? A timeline is drawn to the side? There is a mystery." She continued that many articles of the books involved have been published in newspapers, mainly discussing social issues including Liang Zhenying, the June 4th incident, and sharing personal travel experiences. There is no content of Hong Kong independence. "Unless you travel to collude with foreign forces," criticism The LCSD's interpretation of the decision to "remove it" did not provide objective criteria.

Chen Shuzhuang also mentioned that the government only issued a statement on July 2 stating that the slogan "Recover Hong Kong, the Revolution of the Times" had a unique meaning to Hong Kong, but on July 1 it had cited regulations to arrest demonstrators harboring the banner of the slogan, questioning the government's attitude Law enforcement is unclear, and Chief Executive Lin Zheng Yue'e has not appeared to explain the provisions since legislation. According to her, only the Secretary will attend the joint meeting of the Legislative Council tomorrow.

Tang Jiahua pointed out that it is not unreasonable to restrict freedom of publication and expression. International human rights conventions stipulate that freedoms may be restricted due to national security. (Profile picture)

Tang Jiahua: There is nothing wrong with limited press freedom

Tang Jiahua believed that the definition of the provisions was quite clear. The citizens did not organize, plan, participate in and use force to split the country, and would not constitute a criminal act. He also pointed out that it is understandable that freedom of publication and expression is restricted. International human rights conventions stipulate that freedom can be restricted due to national security. The focus is on balancing the conflict between the two.

There are concerns that bookstores and publishers are liable to fall into the wrong net. Tang Jiahua disagrees, saying that as long as the person concerned has no intention of disseminating Hong Kong independence thoughts or providing proceeds to the relevant organizations for illegal acts, there will be no problem with publishing. But he also emphasized that the court will make the final judgment based on the inference of objectivity, and the bookseller needs to examine whether it is worth the risk. 

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