The secretary for security will make a policy statement in Legco that snooping operations conducted under the impending covert surveillance law will not be carried out for political purposes, a government source said yesterday. The statement is apparently aimed at pacifying the Democrats and their allies, whose 200-plus amendments to the bill are set to be voted down in a marathon Legislative Council meeting to scrutinise the bill from today. The Democrats and their allies had asked that the bill be revised to state expressly in law that it would not apply to political surveillance, a proposal rejected by the government, which claimed the law's intent was obvious. Legco President Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai has initially set a three-day schedule lasting until Friday for lawmakers to examine the bill, although the secretariat has predicted that the sitting, scheduled specially during the summer recess, could run till Saturday or Sunday. Apart from considering more than 200 amendments by the Democrats and their allies, the government is proposing 190 amendments, ranging from wording changes to concessions such as the introduction of a notification system and additional checks on surveillance of privileged legal communication. The Democrats and their allies seek more fundamental changes covering issues such as the mechanism for authorising covert surveillance, and a 'sunset clause'. The source voiced confidence that the government will have its way, and said Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee Siu-kwong would make a statement on the law's application. Mr Lee would make it clear no surveillance would be carried out for political purposes. 'Unless you can prove the use of violence, if people are organising public assemblies you cannot conduct covert surveillance. The government has also said it will not be used for what ought to come under Article 23 of the Basic Law [dealing with subversion] and this statement will also be made.' Democratic Party chairman Lee Wing-tat said his colleagues would not filibuster the meeting nor try to 'ambush' the government by seizing opportunities to pass or block any of the amendments. 'Nobody is going to talk rubbish only to make the meeting last longer.' The government source said: 'We have tried our best to take on board different views and have taken some amendments moved by James To [Kun-sun] and Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee.' Some amendments, such as Mr To's call for authorisation to be issued by District Court judges instead of a panel of High Court judges, had been rejected. The bills committee on the law yesterday wrapped up 130 hours of discussion. The bill's second reading is expected to resume at 11am today and to run into the night. The law must be in place before a court-imposed deadline of August 8.