John Lee, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), attends a press conference on "Safeguarding National Security: Basic Law Article 23 Legislation Public Consultation" held at the HKSAR government headquarters in Hong Kong, south China, Jan 30, 2024. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
An overwhelming 98.6 percent of over 13,000 responses received by the authority are in favor of the legislation of Article 23 of the Basic Law, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government said when summarizing the monthlong public consultation that concluded on Wednesday.
The Security Bureau said the consultation, covering areas of drafting the national security ordinance and matters related to safeguarding national security, showed widespread support from the city’s residents.
Among the responses, 85 did not take a stance, while 93 expressed objections, including 10 from overseas anti-China organizations or those who have fled the city.
READ MORE: Responses show overwhelming support for Article 23 legislation
The bureau thanked the public for contributing and highlighted the encouraging groundswell of support from various sectors, marking a strong consensus on completing the legislation as soon as possible.
The consultation results will be submitted to the city’s legislature and the law will be drafted taking into account the opinions received.
The bureau pledged to proactively explain to the community during the legislative process and release information to counter unfounded slanders over the legislation and prevent the public from being misled.
Throughout the past month, more than 3,000 individuals from different backgrounds attended over 30 public consultation sessions, with the majority having expressed their support.
As of Tuesday, 512 groups from various sectors and professions had backed the legislation through open statements, co-signed letters and published articles.
Article 23 of the Basic Law requires the SAR to enact its own laws to prohibit seven types of national security-endangering acts, including treason, sedition, and theft of State secrets.
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The government proposed introducing a new piece of legislation, Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, which would complement the existing National Security Law for Hong Kong.
On Thursday, the Hong Kong Bar Association, representing the city’s 1,600 barristers, voiced its support for the legislation. Its chairman, Victor Dawes, said that the association agrees that the city should fulfill its constitutional duty in prohibiting offenses that are widely recognized as posing a substantial threat to national security.
In the legislative process, he said, clarity must be ensured regarding new concepts, the definitions and elements of offenses, and standards of conviction, which will help prevent unintentional violations of the law and safeguard the long-term interests of the city,
Balancing enforcement powers and the protection of rights can help preserve Hong Kong’s international financial center status, increase global confidence in its rule of law, and safeguard the long-term interests of the nation and the city, he added.
Contact the writers at stushadow@chinadailyhk.com
