7 April 2003

The Editor
South China Morning Post

Dear Sir,

Your report on April 1 alleging that the European Union (EU) may raise its concerns over the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government’s proposals to implement Article 23 of the Basic Law at the next EU-China Summit is untrue.

The European Commission has written to our Economic and Trade Office in Brussels on April 2 clarifying that this is not the case. They made it clear in their letter that it is the EU’s basic policy to trust the HKSAR Government on matters relating to Article 23 of the Basic Law, and to address any possible EU concerns by pursuing direct discussions with the HKSAR Government.

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