Elsie Leung sought to dispel fears that some slogans would be banned from public processions on the grounds of national security.
In an interview with RTHK, Ms Leung was at pains to stress police would not specifically listen to what slogans were being chanted in public processions.
'If the Commissioner of Police is of the opinion that it may endanger national security, public safety, public order or it may infringe on the freedoms of others, then he can object to the procession.
'It doesn't give him any duty to follow the procession and to listen to what people shout.' Ms Leung said protecting national security did not mean certain slogans would be banned, but she said advocating Hong Kong's independence, for instance, was undesirable.
'It's not that there are certain things that they cannot shout. But if the procession threatened the territorial integrity or independence of the People's Republic of China, that is certainly not desirable for our society.' She said if a procession turned into something that might threaten public safety or order, the police had the power to disperse it, as they can now.
Ms Leung also fended off attacks that the original draft of the bills were too harsh or showed a lack of understanding for people's concerns.
