China News Service, Hong Kong, March 8 (Reporter Liu Dawei) The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's "Bill on Safeguarding National Security Bill" was gazetted on the 8th.
The SAR Legislative Council will hold a meeting at 11 o'clock that day to handle the first and second reading of the bill.
The bill has a total of 212 pages and is divided into nine parts.
Parts 2 to 6 cover the proposed crimes and related provisions, including treason and rebellion, which are punishable by up to life imprisonment.
In addition, the draft also defines "state secrets" and adds "public interest" as a defense for specifying the disclosure of "state secrets."
Legislative Council Chairman Leung Kwan-yan said at the meeting that the legislation of Article 23 of the Hong Kong Basic Law (referred to as "Article 23 legislation") has been delayed for more than 26 years, and the SAR government and the Legislative Council must work together to make every effort to complete the legislation as soon as possible.
In view of the necessity and urgency of Article 23 legislation for the country and Hong Kong, the Chief Executive recommended that the Legislative Council review the "Maintaining National Security Bill" as soon as possible. Therefore, the Legislative Council held a meeting the day after the Executive Council passed the bill to start the first reading and second reading. Read the procedures to ensure that national security can be effectively maintained as soon as possible.
Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung of the Hong Kong SAR government moved the second reading of the bill and said that the SAR government's submission of the bill to the Legislative Council for review is an important step towards establishing a legal system and enforcement mechanism for the Hong Kong SAR to effectively safeguard national security.
He also expressed his gratitude to the Legislative Council and relevant committees for their cooperation, believing that this reflected the positive interaction between executive and legislation.
Tang Bingqiang mentioned that various crimes have been clearly defined in the draft, and appropriate exceptions and defenses have been provided.
Each offense is based on the consultation document and further refined and improved with reference to the opinions received during the public consultation period.
The draft also carefully considers and formulates law enforcement powers, litigation procedures and other measures to improve the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security.
In addition, the draft also fully complies with the protection of human rights under the Hong Kong Basic Law.
When meeting with the media after the meeting, Leung Kwan-yin stressed that all members must work together as one, carefully review the provisions, perform their constitutional functions, and work hard for the stable development of the country and Hong Kong.
He is confident that after completing the enactment of legislation to effectively safeguard national security, Hong Kong can fully focus on developing the economy, improving people's livelihood, and making "one country, two systems" stable and long-term.
According to the law-making process of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the bill must pass the third reading process in the Legislative Council before it can be enacted into law.
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