Hong Kong lawmakers speed through first scrutiny of domestic security bill that carries stiffer penalties for treason and insurrection
- Full draft undergoes first and second readings in Legislative Council just hours after being gazetted
- Security chief Chris Tang stresses ‘innocent people will not be brought to justice by mistake’, citing the requirement to prove criminal intent
The full draft underwent its first and second readings in the Legislative Council just hours after it was gazetted on Friday, reflecting the urgency placed upon it by the local and central governments to complement the Beijing-imposed national security law and plug loopholes in the existing overall legal framework.
A Legco bills committee then began vetting the legislation immediately after the second reading, with weekend sessions scheduled to speed up the process. While no official deadline to enact the legislation has been set publicly, sources said they expected it to be passed by early April if not within this month.
China’s critics were quick to raise concerns about any impact on rights and freedoms, but local politicians and major organisations welcomed the legislation as a constitutional obligation that would strengthen Hong Kong, and officials stressed the need to protect the city against external forces.
“The geopolitics has become increasingly complex, and national security risks remain imminent … the Hong Kong government must complete the legislative work as soon as possible to plug the national security loopholes,” Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung told lawmakers.
“The earlier we complete the legislative work, the sooner we can guard against national security risks.”
Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po told a forum organised by the Post that the fast-tracked legislation would not undermine investor confidence in Hong Kong.