'The head of the Catholic Church in Hong Kong yesterday launched a harsh attack on the government and "disgusting" pro-government legislators, claiming they were using the atypical pneumonia outbreak to push through controversial anti-subversion laws...Legal and human rights heavyweights such as the Bar and Law Society, Amnesty International, the Article 23 Concern Group and the Asian Human Rights Commission all voiced their fears.'

Apple Daily reported on April 17 that the legislation of Article 23 of the Basic Law continues to receive worldwide attention. The report points out that even though Hong Kong still respects the freedom to enter and leave Hong Kong, last June, 90 Falun Gong practitioners were denied entrance to Hong Kong.

'But it is the coming power to proscribe organisations "subordinate" to those banned in the mainland that most worries Gladys Li, the chairman of Hong Kong "Justice". The Government has not explained why it needs to augment existing proscription powers under national security and anti-terrorism legislation, especially since Article 23 does not even require it. Falun Gong is an obvious target.'

'More than 20 council members from the Democratic Party, the Civil Human Rights Front, and the Employee Union left the meeting before the first reading [and] burned a mockup of the Blue Bill in the parking lot outside the Legislative Council building.'

'They pointed out that the proposed legislation would infringe upon the already weakened human rights and freedom in Hong Kong. They also complained that the immigration office denied entry to more than ten Taiwan practitioners at the airport. One Swedish practitioner expressed to the reporter that the Hong Kong government should take care not to sell out its integrity.'