Hong Kong’s Article 23 bill: legislation could be passed within days after lawmakers finish marathon clause-by-clause review

Committee finishes review of Safeguarding National Security Bill and lawmakers to meet on Thursday to examine modified clauses

Government releases changes late on Wednesday, including redefining ‘public officers’ regarding offences linked to state secrets and incitement to disaffection

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The Legislative Council building. Lawmakers on a bills committee are in the sixth day of a marathon review of the coming domestic national security law. Photo: Robert Ng

Published: 2:53pm, 13 Mar 2024Updated: 11:09pm, 13 Mar 2024

Hong Kong’s government could put a revised domestic national security bill to lawmakers less than 24 hours after they finished a review of its 181 clauses in a series of marathon meetings on Wednesday, opening up the possibility of the legislation being on the statute books in days.

Government lawyers, who draft legislation, submitted an amended Safeguarding National Security Bill to the Legislative Council at about 10pm, and the bills committee will meet for four hours on Thursday to review the modified clauses.

The bill committee chairman would after that send the report to the House Committee in preparation for the second reading to resume at a full meeting of Legco, whose next session is scheduled for the following Wednesday.

But a lawmaker on the bills committee suggested the legislation’s final approval could happen sooner.

Secretary for Security Chris Tang leaves an earlier bills committee. He says authorities are emphasising fairness and reasonableness in enacting the legislation. Photo: Sun Yeung

“After getting through the House Committee, it will actually be the Legco president’s call to schedule the [resumption of the second and] third reading,” the lawmaker, who asked not to be named, said.

“He is entitled to call for a special full council meeting if he thinks the matter is of urgent importance.”