Article 23: Hong Kong to set up special teams to promote upcoming, new security law, and rebut ‘hostile’ criticism
Hong Kong Free Press
The Hong Kong government will establish special teams to promote Article 23 – the city’s own national security law, expected to be passed this year – and to rebut criticism of the legislation by “hostile forces.”
Chief Executive John Lee told lawmakers on Thursday morning that a “response and refute team” would be set up. “‘Hostile forces would engage in propaganda work, especially online, to smear and distort the legislation of Article 23, ” he said.
Another team led by himself would be established to promote and explain Article 23 to the business sector and international community.
“The risk to national security is real as external forces constantly keep a watchful eye and may seize opportunities to undermine it…It is necessary for us to enact legislation at the earliest opportunity. Every day counts in addressing these risks, ” Lee told the Legislative Council.
Authorities have said in multiple occasions that the home-grown legislation, which will supplement the national security law imposed by Beijing in June 2020, should be in place this year. It will cover seven types of offences – treason; secession; sedition; subversion against the central government; theft of state secrets; foreign bodies’ conducting political activities in the city; and local bodies establishing ties with foreign bodies.
Article 23 of the Basic Law stipulates that the government shall enact laws on its own to prohibit acts of treason, secession, sedition and subversion against Beijing. Its legislation failed in 2003 following mass protests and it was not tabled again until after the onset of the separate, Beijing-imposed security law in 2020. Pro-democracy advocates fear it could have a negative effect on civil liberties.
Blue bill consultation
Local media outlets reported that authorities are likely to begin a public consultation process on Article 23 before February 10, the first day of the Lunar New Year.
They said the consultation would probably be based on a blue bill, which is a draft bill with detailed articles, instead of a white bill – a draft proposal without a predetermined position.
HKFP has reached out to the Security Bureau for a response. No lawmakers asked Lee on Thursday about when a public consultation would be launched or what form it would take.
Victor Dawes, head of the Hong Kong Bar Association, said during the opening of the legal year on Monday that the consultation must be “transparent and thorough” to refute claims that the government does not listen to the public.
Full support from lawmakers
Tony Tse, the convenor of G19 – an alliance of 19 pro-establishment lawmakers, said in Cantonese the group fully supported the legislation.
Ma Fung-kwok, a pro-establishment lawmaker, said he had experienced the legislation procedure for Article 23 in 2003 as a lawmaker.
“It was very regrettable that the legislation failed at that time. I have always considered it Hong Kong’s constitutional responsibility to establish Article 23, ” Ma said. “People asked my throughout those years when it’s good timing for legislation again. I always said ‘anytime’ – we’re just waiting for the government’s draft.”
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