Expert calls for legislation of HK Basic Law Article 23: Global Times

BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese expert has called on Hong Kong's legislative body to pass the national security provision of Article 23 of the Basic Law, a Global Times report said.

The report, in the Thursday edition of the newspaper, quoted Tian Feilong, an associate professor at Beihang University's Law School in Beijing, as saying that "in order to maintain the stability and social order of Hong Kong, Article 23 must be legislated."

Tian made the remarks after the region's high court sentenced "Occupy Central" activists to a few months in jail on Wednesday.

"Given Article 23 of the Basic Law (on national security) is yet to be legislated, Hong Kong could only impose a lighter sentence on 'Occupy Central' activists who illegally and violently interrupted social order but issued heavier sentences on policemen who safeguarded social order. Such a situation can't effectively safeguard Hong Kong's stability," Tian told the newspaper.

"A few months' jail term has a limited impact on these secessionists, and the judge also can't prevent more youths from following these activists," he said. Enditem