Human rights activists yesterday warned changes to the Societies and Public Order ordinances would mark 'an end to civil liberties' if they became law.
They called on the Chief Executive-designate, Tung Chee-hwa, to explain to Beijing the potential harm.
In a 14-page paper released yesterday, Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor condemned the amendments as badly thought-out and claimed the change would create social disorder.
'Under the proposed amendments, the police need not reply until 48 hours before the demonstrations and there may not be enough time for large-scale demonstrations to prepare,' chairman Paul Harris said.
'If they are badly organised, there is a greater chance of disorder and criminal elements.' Mr Harris said a legal vacuum would not exist because the two ordinances did not contravene the Basic Law.
'Even the Chief Executive's Office admitted during our last meeting that they were unable to identify any breach of the Basic Law in the two ordinances,' he said.