(C/NF) HONG KONG: KUDOS AND FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS

S E C R E T STATE 029662 NOFORN E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2034 TAGS: PINR PGOV PHUM CH HK MC SUBJECT: (C/NF) HONG KONG: KUDOS AND FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS FOR REPORTING ON ARTICLE 23 (C-AL9-00693) REF: A. HONG KONG 000354 ¶B. HONG KONG 000335 ¶C. HONG KONG 000232 ¶D. HONG KONG 002229 Classified By: SUZANNE MCCORMICK, DIR., INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C). ¶1. (S/NF) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS WANT TO THANK POST FOR AN EXCELLENT STREAM OF REPORTING ON MACAU'S PASSAGE OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY BILL AND THE CONCERNS IN HONG KONG OVER ARTICLE 23 LEGISLATION. ANALYSTS ARE CURRENTLY RESEARCHING THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY BILL'S RECENT PASSAGE IN MACAU ON THE ARTICLE 23 DEBATE IN HONG KONG, AND INTEND TO USE REF REPORTING IN A WRITTEN PIECE PLANNED FOR LATE-APRIL. ANALYSTS OFFER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS TO HELP GUIDE FUTURE REPORTING, AS TIME AND RESOURCES ALLOW, ON ARTICLE 23 LEGISLATION IN HONG KONG, AND WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE ANY ADDITIONAL INSIGHT FROM POSTS. MANY THANKS, AND WARM REGARDS FROM WASHINGTON. ¶A. (C) WHO ARE THE KEY BEIJING AND HONG KONG OFFICIALS INVOLVED IN HONG KONG'S ARTICLE 23 POLICY PROCESS, AND WHAT DIFFERENCES EXIST BETWEEN THESE INDIVIDUALS IN REGARDS TO THE TIMING, SCOPE, ENFORCEMENT, AND ANY OTHER IMPLICATIONS OF ANY NATIONAL SECURITY LAW IN HONG KONG? ¶B. (C) WHAT DOES BEIJING VIEW AS THE BENEFITS FROM PASSING NATIONAL SECURITY LEGISLATION IN HONG KONG? ¶C. (C) WHAT HONG KONG OR CENTRAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, OR AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS, ARE INVOLVED IN THE POLICY PROCESS RELATED TO ARTICLE 23 LEGISLATION? WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THESE ENTITIES IN HONG KONG AND THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN MACAU? ¶D. (C) WHAT IMPACT HAS MACAU'S PASSAGE OF ITS NEW NATIONAL SECURITY LAW HAD ON THE GOVERNMENT, PEOPLE, POLITICAL PARTIES, AND POLITICAL ACTIVISTS IN HONG KONG? ¶E. (C) WHAT APPROACH IS THE TSANG ADMINISTRATION TAKING TO ITS CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENT TO PASS NATIONAL SECURITY LEGISLATION? TO THE EXTENT BEIJING IS ATTEMPTING TO INFLUENCE THE HONG KONG POLICY DEBATE OVER ARTICLE 23, WHAT LEVERAGE DOES THE HKSARG HAVE OVER BEIJING IN DETERMINING THE WAY FORWARD? ¶F. (C) WHAT WOULD PROMPT BEIJING TO INSIST HONG KONG HASTILY PASS A NATIONAL SECURITY LAW? ¶G. (C) WHAT EXISTING HONG KONG LAWS ADDRESS CONCERNS ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE IN ARTICLE 23 OF THE BASIC LAW? IN PARTICULAR, HOW WILL NATIONAL SECURITY LEGISLATION IMPACT FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS' INTERACTION WITH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OR THEIR ACTIVITIES IN THE HKSAR? ¶2. (U) PLEASE CITE C-AL9-00693 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS. CLINTON