The government has come under fire for allowing closed-door court hearings when appeals are brought by organisations that have been banned under the proposed national security laws.
Prominent lawyers have also challenged provisions that would allow such cases to go ahead in the absence of group leaders and their legal representatives, arguing that this might breach the Basic Law.
During the three-month consultation period on government proposals for the laws, which ended in December, the Security Bureau sought to calm fears by assuring the public there would be an appeal process for groups that are banned.
The blue bill made public on Thursday allows such appeals to be taken to court, rather than the special tribunals that were originally proposed. But it also empowers the chief justice to make rules that provide for some cases to be held behind closed doors, and for those bringing the appeal to be barred from the hearing if necessary.
These rules could also see the legal representatives of the organisations banned from the court. The government's aim is to ensure that any sensitive or secret information that may arise during the course of the appeal is kept out of the public domain.
The court may appoint a different legal practitioner to act in the interests of the banned group if necessary.
