Exclusive | Hong Kong national security law: time is ‘ripe’ for Article 23 with focus on combating ‘state-level spying’, minister says
- Security secretary Chris Tang says authorities expect less of a backlash now than in 2003 to bring back shelved bill, given residents have witnessed 2019 social unrest
- He adds that bill could be passed in the next four-year term of the legislature
Countering “an obvious increase in spying activities by state-level groups” over the past two years will be the main focus when Hong Kong revives a long-shelved bill under its mini-constitution to safeguard national security, according to the city’s top official in charge of the issue.
With a separate national security law imposed by Beijing already in place and enforcement in full swing, Tang said he expected less of a backlash now than back in 2003 when strong public opposition forced the government to shelve the original bill which the city was constitutionally bound to enact.
“This is obvious … you can tell from the colour revolution in Hong Kong two years ago,” Tang said, referring to heightened espionage.
“It was well organised. Especially in the beginning, you could see the abundant supplies – helmets, train tickets and white shirts [to change into from the signature black that activists used before blending into the crowds] – for the protesters, as well as the strong cooperation by foreign media.