Proposed changes to civil liberties laws will go to the provisional legislature in the form of 'blue bills' before the handover, according to post-1997 executive councillor Henry Tang Ying-yen. This means the interim body will conduct three readings on the bill before July 1 - a move the Democratic Party has vowed to challenge in court. Mr Tang said blue bills would be tabled to replace the Public Order Ordinance and Societies Ordinance, which are to be partially scrapped by the National People's Congress Standing Committee. The aim is to ensure the laws are passed before July 1 to eliminate the chance of a legal vacuum. Mr Tang described the proposals as 'moderate and constructive', but declined to comment on whether they were more restrictive than the present laws. 'It is not a matter of tightening or loosening freedom. We have to seek the right balance between maintaining public order and complying with the international human rights covenants,' he said. The office of Chief Executive-designate Tung Chee-hwa is about to issue a consultation paper on the issue. The president of the provisional legislature, Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai, said that if there was to be a month's consultation, the two bills would be introduced to the interim body after May. 'If that is the case, I strongly believe we have to work overtime because time is very pressing,' she said. She hoped the interim body would finish scrutinising and passing the bills in June. Last night, the Democratic Party called on Mr Tung's government to endorse the existing versions of the two ordinances, or even adopt a looser approach. 'The spirit of the existing laws has affirmed the public's right of assembly, demonstration and association, and that such rights be enjoyed without the need of police approval,' said Democrat Albert Ho Chun-yan. Mrs Fan said she hoped Mr Tung's office would first introduce the interim bills which were less controversial. Mr Tung's executive council was briefed by Secretary for Financial Services Rafael Hui Si-yan yesterday on the Mandatory Provident Fund. Mr Hui was confident the scheme would be adopted by the SAR government, noting that the views of Exco member Tam Yiu-chung had been incorporated in the proposal. The chances of it being rejected were slim, he said.