MAC’s statement on July 03, 2004

MAC wants China to hand over Taiwanese suspects

CNA , TAIPEI
 

The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) asked China on Thursday to repatriate Taiwanese suspects in a cross-strait fraud ring that were recently arrested in Shanghai to stand trial in Taiwan.

MAC Vice Chairman Chiu Tai-san made the call after Shanghai public security authorities announced June 30 that they had cracked a large fraud ring allegedly formed by Taiwanese expatriates. Fifty-seven Taiwanese citizens were arrested in the raid, according to the Chinese announcement.

Chiu said it is the MAC's expectation that Taiwanese suspects will be repatriated to stand trial, as this is the most convenient and efficient way of dealing with the alleged criminals.

If Chinese law enforcement authorities were to insist on jurisdiction over the Taiwanese suspects, it would make matters more complicated, Chiu said.

He said the MAC will continue to communicate and negotiate -- through the intermediary Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) -- with China on this matter.

Chiu made a call June 30 urging Chinese authorities to negotiate with Taiwan on feasible measures to jointly fight criminal activities involving people from both sides of the strait.

He said Taiwan's SEF has informed its Chinese counterpart -- the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS) -- on six occasions since last July of the fleeing of suspected Taiwanese fraudsters to China. The SEF also faxed detailed information about 11 cross-strait criminal cases.

"Although the Chinese authorities failed to give the SEF any formal response to those messages, we believe that the information offered by the SEF has contributed much to Shanghai law enforcement officers' latest success in cracking the ring," Chiu said.

In his view, Chiu said, there is ample room for the two sides of the Taiwan Strait to cooperate in tackling cross-strait criminal activities.

"We hope the SEF and ARATS can resume regular dialogue to work out more effective measures to eradicate cross-strait crime," he added.

HK march brings back memories of Tiananmen

UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE: A man who survived the 1989 protest said he was pleased to see that Hong Kong still clings to the rights that are denied in the rest of China
AP , HONG KONG
 

One visitor from China who attended Hong Kong's huge march for meaningful voting rights said it brought back memories of the Tiananmen Square democracy movement that was crushed by troops in Beijing on June 4, 1989.

The man, who identified himself only as Yan, said he participated in the student protests in Beijing, where hundreds if not thousands were killed in the crackdown. Yan said he was pleased to see that Hong Kong still clings to the speech rights that are denied in the rest of China.

"This feels like I'm back at the June 4 movement again," Yan said Thursday night as Hong Kong's march was winding down. "You can only experience this kind of feeling in Hong Kong."

Tour operators said the number of mainland visitors slowed to a trickle over the past three days, as the 400 to 600 groups that normally enter each day fell to only about 50 a day. Some democracy activists voiced suspicions that China cut off the flow of visitors so mainlanders wouldn't get any ideas from having a firsthand look at the Hong Kong democracy protest.

But there were plenty of mainland residents in Hong Kong on Thursday, when local activists organized the massive march to demand universal suffrage in the former British colony. Organizers put the turnout at 530,000, while police said there had been 200,000.

The Chinese visitors voiced differing views about the rally -- which would not be permitted in the mainland.

Xiao Yang, 40, a doctor from Hubei Province, knew about the protest but said he had no plans to join it.

"It is the demonstration of Hong Kong's freedom and an open government," Xiao said. "I think the protest is a proper channel for people to voice their opinions."

But outside an official flag-raising ceremony Thursday morning that marked the seventh anniversary of Hong Kong's return from Britain to China, another mainlander had harsh words for the activists.

A small group of demonstrators -- carrying a mock black coffin -- tried to push their way toward the official gathering but were held back by police.

"They are so stupid," said accountant Bob Zhuang, 30, who was waving a Chinese red flag on his way out of the official ceremony. "Should such a protest really be allowed in this territory?"

After speaking briefly with a reporter, Zhuang stepped into a chauffeur-driven Jaguar and was quickly whisked away -- showing his status as one of the mainlanders who have achieved financial success amid China's economic boom without rocking any political boats.

US supports Hong Kong's pro-democracy protesters

AP , HONG KONG
 

The US government voiced support for hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong protesters who marched for democracy, despite Beijing's objections that such remarks amount to meddling in its internal affairs.

"We respect the Hong Kong people's right to express their commitment to democracy and political reform peacefully," US Consulate General spokeswoman Susan Stevenson said on Thursday night after a massive demonstration to demand the territory's people be allowed to select their leaders.

"As we have said many times, it is up to the Hong Kong people and the government of Hong Kong to determine the pace and scope of democratization," Stevenson said in response to a query from reporters.

When the UK returned Hong Kong to China in July 1997, the territory was guaranteed a "high degree" of local autonomy. Critics charge that China violated that deal when it ruled in April that Hong Kong people cannot directly choose their next leader in 2007 or all lawmakers in 2008.

"The long-standing policy of the United States has been to support Hong Kong's move toward electoral reform and universal suffrage as provided for in the Basic Law," Stevenson said. "We believe that continued progress is essential for Hong Kong's success, prosperity and stability."