This photo taken on March 8, 2024 shows the public consultation booklets for Basic Law Article 23 legislation, in Hong Kong. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG – The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has strongly condemned a joint statement by Hong Kong Watch and 16 signatories on the Basic Law Article 23 legislation, calling it “a blatant, shameless, and barbaric intervention” to stir religious sentiments. 

A government spokesman on Wednesday said Hong Kong Watch’s statement deliberately misled the public, and smeared the Article 23 legislation’s requirement on "disclosure of commission by others of offense of treason" by saying it targets religions. 

The offenses of treason and misprision of treason, no matter in Hong Kong or in other common law jurisdictions, have existed for a long time. They do not target religious personnel or followers, and have nothing to do with freedom of religion.

Spokesman, for the HKSAR government 

The spokesman said the statement is attempting to provoke discontent among religious groups and followers against the legislation.

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“The offenses of treason and misprision of treason, no matter in Hong Kong or in other common law jurisdictions, have existed for a long time. They do not target religious personnel or followers, and have nothing to do with freedom of religion,” the spokesman said. In any case, freedom of religion will not protect anyone who has committed serious offenses from legal sanctions, he added.

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"We must also point out that, misprision of treason remains a common law offence in the United Kingdom; while countries with a common law system, including the United States, Canada and Singapore, have codified the offence of misprision of treason," he said while noting that the above-mentioned countries had not specified relevant exceptions. 

The spokesman said the government has proposed to codify the offense of misprision of treason under the common law as the requirement on “disclosure of commission by others of offense of treason” with enhancement.

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However, Hong Kong Watch “forcibly” linked the requirement to freedom of religion to smear the HKSAR government’s legislative work, and made “demagogic and exaggerated remarks” to mislead the international community so as to create a negative impression of Article 23 legislation. “It is necessary for the HKSAR Government to express its strongest condemnation,” the spokesman said.