Survey shows people value their privacy, says Margaret Ng
Legislator Ronny Tong Ka-wah, an outspoken critic of the covert surveillance bill, said the results of the SCMP/TNS opinion leaders survey vindicated pro-democracy lawmakers' calls for the law to include procedural safeguards and a broad notification system.
'I certainly hope the government will sit up and listen,' he said. 'If you've got the movers and shakers of the community feeling uncomfortable with a law like this, it is time for the government to give them a better deal.'
Mr Tong said the bill, which the government must have enacted by August before a court-imposed deadline expires, should come with a sunset clause. The government and lawmakers could then work on refining it further.
But the Security Bureau has refused to do so, with time running out to pass the bill by August 8.
The bills committee has completed its clause-by-clause examination of the Interception of Communication and Surveillance Bill but it is still considering more than 100 pages of proposed amendments and government responses to issues raised by lawmakers.
To have ensured the bill passed by July 12, when Legco goes into summer recess, the committee would have had to finish its discussions by last Tuesday. Legislators have now agreed to call for a special session on August 2 to pass the bill.