I would love not to have to speak anymore on political issues. But since it was because of my appeal that several faithful have taken part in prayer meetings and other mass action related to legislation on Article 23, I think they reasonably expect to know what do I think of the fact that the Chief Executive has now withdrawn the legislative draft.

The "withdrawing" is a negative action, though we can see a positive aspect in it: it seems to show that Mr. Tung has finally understood that the present blue paper draft even with the promissed amendments, is not yet good enough and cannot be a good starting point for the new consultation. So we welcome the withdrawal, but it is no surprise.

Mr. Tung has somehow launched a revision of the whole process of legislation. But it not that revision already in action under the responsibility of the Secretary for Security? Mr. Tung suggested no concrete detail of said revision, leaving us still with all the uncertainties and anxieties.

We are particularly eager to know if the government would issue a "white paper" draft. In case the government, at the end, still brings back the present blue paper draft even with all the amendments, I think the people would not accept and the eventually improved economic conditions would not help.

Mr. Tung has not explicitly answered to the different suggestion of timetable, which surfaced in these days, but there are clues of a direction.

The open ended time indication seems to be determined by "improved economic situation" that may probably mean one year's time, much earlier than what the Democratic party and People's Front suggest, i.e. after the introduction of universal suffrage in elections.

The Government implicitly has rejected also the suggestion of the Concern Group of Lawyers, who propose to adopt the "minimal legislation" principle, start immediately the consultation and conclude the process within the present legislature.

Mr. Tung seems to suggest one year's suspension of the operation, then it becomes obvious that this is in the interest of the pro-government parties in view of the coming elections. Mr. Tsang Yok Sing says this way of seeing things betrays superficiality, but not to see things this way would surely be naive.

To say that in this moment we should concentrate on economic improvement is, to say the least, not convincing. The SARS epidemic was a life-threatening danger and effectively made it impossible for the people to pay due attention to Article 23 legislative process, But there is no incompatibility between carrying on this legislation and caring for economic progress. To cover political issues with economics can not work anymore in Hong Kong after 1st July 2003!

My analysis seems to be very political, but who is responsible for having made everything political in this our city? We would like to be able to trust the government, but we are sad to confess that we still feel we are being manipulated.