Officials say amendments will better protect rights but critics are not happy
Twelve amendments to the proposed national security laws were introduced by the Hong Kong government yesterday on the grounds that they would better protect human rights.
But critics swiftly dismissed the move as 'purely cosmetic', alleging that the administration would be given even more power to curb dissent.
Officials said the amendments would be the last major changes to be made to the proposals before they are put to a vote in the Legislative Council next month.
The bill, which seeks to ban acts of treason, sedition and theft of state secrets, has long angered critics who warn it will place key rights and freedoms at risk.
The amendments tabled in the Legco Bills Committee scrutinising the bill to implement Article 23 of the Basic Law included giving power to the secretary for security to make regulations on how groups should appeal after they have been banned for threatening national security.