華爾銜日報撐李柱銘原文
NEW YORK, Oct. 29 (AP) - (Kyodo)—Selected editorial excerpts from the U.S. press:
CHINA AND MARTIN LEE (The Wall Street Journal, New York)
Earlier this month, we were pleased to publish an op-ed by Hong Kong legislator Martin Lee on democracy in China. Little did we know it would be seized by Beijing sympathizers as a chance to undermine freedom of speech in Hong Kong.
The assault, which has the flavor of a Cultural Revolution struggle session, stems from an October 17 op-ed, "China's Olympic Opportunity." In the article, Mr. Lee called on President Bush and other world leaders to "press for a significant improvement of basic human rights. . . including press, assembly and religious freedoms" and to use "direct engagement," rather than listen to calls from some quarters for an Olympic boycott. Mr. Lee was traveling when the op-ed was published.
Upon his return to Hong Kong last week, the political assault started. On Friday, a raft of pro-Beijing newspapers -- including Hong Kong's largest-circulation daily, the Oriental Daily News, as well as the Ming Pao Daily News and Sing Tao Daily -- ran leading stories attacking Mr. Lee.
Hong Kong's Beijing-controlled legislature added its criticism, while the chairman of the pro-Beijing Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong called for Mr. Lee to apologize. Several dozen people jeered Mr. Lee as he left the legislature. The Hong Kong government didn't muster a defense of Mr. Lee's right to free speech. Hong Kong's second-highest ranking official, Henry Tang, told reporters Friday that the Olympics shouldn't be "politicized."
This incident is extraordinary, and not only because it's the first time that a Hong Kong democracy advocate has been targeted so ferociously. In this case, the campaign was organized against something Mr. Lee didn't even say. Many of the articles suggested that he had called for an Olympic boycott, though he expressly didn't.
The pro-Beijing camp has many reasons for assailing Mr. Lee. Because he is Hong Kong's most eloquent and famous democracy advocate, his words carry weight in Western capitals, at a time when China is under pressure to improve its human rights record. China may also be trying to send a warning to its own citizens that anyone who links the Olympics with human rights or democracy will be treated harshly. Beijing wants the Olympics to be a showcase for nationalist pride, not domestic debate.
However, China's efforts to demonize Mr. Lee may backfire. Hong Kong citizens are sophisticated, educated people who treasure their freedoms and will recognize a mainland-style smear campaign for what it is.
When reached by telephone yesterday, Mr. Lee said he was "flabbergasted" by the attacks. True to form, he's fighting back by telling the truth about what he believes. As for China and its spokesmen, their heavy-handed assault will only draw more attention to Beijing's own lack of freedom. (Oct. 29)
