Hong Kong’s domestic security bill: day 3 of marathon discussion of home-grown legislation covers state secrets, espionage and sabotage
- At least 40 per cent of home-grown national security legislation has gone through scrutiny by third day of discussions
- Justice secretary Paul Lam says those detained under law will not have time in custody extended without permission from the courts
At least 40 per cent – 73 out of 181 clauses – of Hong Kong’s home-grown national security law had gone through scrutiny by lawmakers by Sunday, after it was gazetted and sped through its first and second readings in the legislature two days ago.
Legislators have already spent 20 hours in the bills committee’s marathon meetings so far, and other panel meetings will give way on Monday so that the whole day discussion on the Safeguarding National Security Bill can be continued.
The Post continues to follow the scrutiny of the 212-page bill mandated under Article 23 the Basic Law, the city’s mini-constitution and lays down what has been discussed in the Legislative Council as lawmakers go through it clause by clause.
March 10
State secrets
Paul Lam Ting-kwok, the justice secretary, said:
On the offence of “unlawful disclosure of information etc that appears to be confidential matter”:
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The clause targets public officers or government contractors “giving out false information” intended to endanger national security.
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Public officers have credibility, and people will think the fake information is true, which would cause social instability.
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But criminal liability would also depend on whether the information would prejudice the interests of the central authorities or the Hong Kong government.