Hong Kong will forge ahead with plans to pass Article 23 national security law, justice secretary says
- Secretary for Justice Paul Lam concludes five-day trip to capital, where he met Beijing’s top man overseeing Hong Kong affairs
- ‘There were many discussions surrounding national security as this is an important topic,’ Lam says
Hong Kong will forge ahead with plans to pass a local version of the Beijing-imposed national security law, the justice secretary has pledged, after meeting a top mainland Chinese official overseeing the city’s affairs.
Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok on Friday said national security was on the agenda during his meetings with Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, and officials from 11 departments in Beijing.
While concluding his first trip to the capital, Lam said the “very high level of reception” he had received from the delegation reflected Beijing’s trust in Hong Kong’s government.
When asked if the discussions touched on the legislation of Article 23 of the Basic Law, the city’s mini-constitution, Lam said: “Completing it is our constitutional responsibility. There is only one so-called timetable - it is as soon as possible.”
“There were many discussions surrounding national security as this is an important topic. But it’s not appropriate for us to disclose what we have talked about exactly.”
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During his five-day trip, the justice secretary met with officials from the Legislative Affairs Commission, the Basic Law Committee and the Ministry of Justice, with the aim of strengthening cooperation between the mainland and Hong Kong concerning their respective legal systems.
Ahead of his trip, Lam said the authorities hoped to enact the legislation this year, or by the end of 2024 at the latest.
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Beijing implemented the national security law in Hong Kong in June 2020 to ban acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces.
Article 23 requires Hong Kong to enact its own laws to also outlaw theft of state secrets, as well as ban foreign political organisations or bodies from conducting political activities in the city and local political organisations or bodies from establishing ties with foreign political organisations or bodies.
The city first attempted to pass the Article 23 bill in 2003 but it was shelved after half a million people took to the streets in protest over fears of possible abridgment of civil liberties and rights.
With the 34th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown on Sunday, Lam was also asked to clarify if it would be illegal for residents to commemorate victims by holding up candles.
“The national security law has made it clear that certain categories of acts are outlawed such as secession and subversion. Every resident’s behaviour is confined by this legal framework,” he said, without giving a definite answer.
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As for whether he would advise residents against gathering on June 4, Lam stressed he would not tell people “what to do or not to do” but said following the law was his “only suggestion”.
Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung earlier warned that authorities would take “resolute action” against anyone threatening national security on the approaching “special occasion”.
