My Take | Taking soft and hard lines at the same time
Carrie Lam has repeatedly said there is no plan to legislate the national security law unless the social and political climate is favourable. But the likely banning of the Hong Kong National Party may well establish a precedent to exercise such powers without the need for new legislation
Politicians don’t always mean what they say, but sometimes they do. In such instances, it pays to listen to them literally. Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has effectively spelled out her government’s policy on Article 23 and national security. So, whether you are yellow, blue or what not, you may actually want to take her at her word.
She has repeatedly said there is no plan to legislate the national security law under the article in the Basic Law unless the social and political climate is favourable. That sounds like a soft line. We may never see any attempt to legislate while she is in office.
However, after the Security Bureau and police initiated moves to ban the Hong Kong National Party, Lam spelled out the Communist Party line that would make Beijing proud.
“[The government] must resolutely and without ambiguity uphold Chinese sovereignty, safety and territorial integrity,” she said. “Any speech or acts to advocate Hong Kong independence will not be condoned and most certainly will face suppression.” Meanwhile, police have labelled the party as posing an “imminent threat”.
It may seem contradictory, being soft and hard at the same time, but it is not. Opposition critics of Article 23 legislation have long pointed out that existing laws could already take care of requirements for national security and public order.
