Editorials
Friday, April 11, 1997

Hong Kong repression
under Chinese rule

IN the 1984 agreement for Britain's return of Hong Kong, China agreed to preserve the colony's political, social and economic system for 50 years. With the turnover almost here -- it's scheduled for July 1 -- virtually no one believes that the Chinese Communists will live up to their pledge.

The latest piece of evidence to the contrary is the issuance by the so-called government in waiting of plans to require police approval for demonstrations and to permit the banning of political parties. The incoming government, which was hand-picked by Beijing, defends the moves as needed to bring Hong Kong's freedoms into line with the constitution China has written for it, to "strike a balance between civil liberties and social stability."

But Hong Kong's Democratic Party called the proposals "flagrant violations of basic human rights." Outgoing British Gov. Chris Patten said the measures would "undoubtedly tighten the screw on Hong Kong's civil liberties."

Under the proposals, people wanting to hold demonstrations after July 1 must seek police permission seven days beforehand, or 48 hours in special circumstances. It goes without saying that no demonstrations critical of the government are likely to be approved. Under British rule, demonstrators must notify the police, but do not have to apply for permission.

Another change would prohibit groups that engage in politics from forming links with foreign political organizations. Political parties would be barred from soliciting overseas donations, and could be banned altogether "in the interests of national security or public safety, public order or the protection of public morals." That amounts to unlimited power to suppress dissent.

These are not the rules in effect in today's Hong Kong -- which China is committed to continue.They are, however, what might be expected of the regime that brutally crushed the demonstrations at Tiananmen Square in 1989. The new government of Hong Kong is going to run it with a much tighter grip -- no matter what the turnover agreement says.

Social Security lapse

AMERICANS expect sensitive information the government collects about them to be kept confidential, but a serious lapse of judgment put such information at risk recently. The Social Security Administration offered to supply information about individuals' personal income and retirement benefits on the Internet without adequate confirmation of the inquiring person's identity. After receiving complaints, the agency suspended the Web site. It should remain shut down indefinitely.

Welfare recipients

TRYING to wish away the real problems of welfare recipients, Congress and the president collaborated last year on a measure curbing welfare benefits. The idea was to force people on welfare to go to work. The legislation was based on the myth that welfare recipients are loafers who could find work if they tried. The reality is that many are unemployable because they lack skills and work experience and suffer from a variety of ailments -- and that the jobs they need don't exist.

Pretending that hiring welfare recipients is just a matter of will is ridiculous. Pretending that benefits can be cut off without causing hardship is deplorable.



Published by Liberty Newspapers Limited Partnership

Rupert E. Phillips, CEO


John M. Flanagan, Editor & Publisher


David Shapiro, Managing Editor


Diane Yukihiro Chang, Senior Editor & Editorial Page Editor


Frank Bridgewater & Michael Rovner, Assistant Managing Editors


A.A. Smyser, Contributing Editor



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