Punishment awaits Hong Kong independence advocates amid efforts to make Article 23 passage more likely, Carrie Lam says
No timetable set for highly controversial national security legislation, top official adds, but recent banning of separatist party cited as ‘strong testimony’ to government’s resolve
Hong Kong’s leader has vowed to “fearlessly” punish independence advocacy using existing laws while continuing to cultivate an environment favourable for introducing contentious national security legislation.
“I have stated publicly a number of times that the government will carefully consider all relevant factors, act prudently and continue its efforts to create a favourable social environment for the legislative work,” Lam said on Wednesday in her second policy address since taking office in July last year.
“Yet this does not suggest we will turn a blind eye to acts violating the constitution [of China] and the Basic Law, attempting to secede from the country and endangering national security.”
Neither would laying the groundwork for the law against treason, secession, sedition or subversion include restarting efforts to win universal suffrage for Hongkongers, Lam said.
“It is not logically sound for universal suffrage to come before national security legislation,” Lam said, during a question-and-answer session with reporters later.