Solicitor-general says changes would see traitors go unpunished
Hong Kong's solicitor-general warned yesterday that China could be seriously endangered if the government agreed to amend its proposed national security laws along the lines suggested by legislators opposed to the bill.
Robert Allcock told the South China Morning Post that many of the amendments put forward would create 'huge gaps' in the legislation, allowing traitors, separatists and subversives of the worst kind to go unpunished.
He said the government had done as much as it could to ease concerns about the impact of the laws on human rights, adding: 'We have adjusted our position on at least three occasions ... and we don't think we can go any further.'
Mr Allcock said he could see why some local deputies to the National People's Congress were suggesting national security would not be adequately protected as a result of changes already made by the government.
The solicitor-general's comments came as preparations continued for a mass demonstration on Tuesday against the laws, expected to attract at least 100,000 people. He said he was surprised and disappointed that so much concern still existed in the community nine months after the original proposals were published.