THE Government is studying whether it will have to change the legal definition of ''subversion'' and ''secession'' to fit in with the Basic Law.
Principal Assistant Secretary for Security, John Shannon, said the Government was examining whether the Official Secrets Act, the Crimes Ordinance, and the Post Office Ordinance would face difficulty adapting to the Basic Law.
It was concerned that the terms of the latter two might not sufficiently cover the additional provisions of ''subversion'' and ''secession'' contained in the Basic Law.
According to the mini-constitution's Article 23, the Special Administrative Region government should enact laws to prohibit any act of treason, secession, sedition, subversion against the Central Government, and theft of state secrets.
Mr Shannon told the Legco information policy panel yesterday that the Government would forward several options on the subject to the Executive Council within two months.
The Government could opt for doing nothing, or work out the legislation alone.
It could also discuss the matter in the Joint Liaison Group and devise legislation to be effective from June 30, 1997.
