Update: No current plans for Article 23, says HK’s Chief Exec

Jan 21, 2015

by Doreen Weisenhaus with contributions by Rick Glofcheski and Yan Mei Ning (Expanded Second Edition, Hong Kong University Press 2014)


Jan. 21, 2015 (RTHK) — The Chief Executive, CY Leung, says there are no plans at present to introduce national security laws.

Such legislation – against subversion, sedition and treason – is required under Article 23 of the Basic Law. However attempts to introduce it in 2003 were derailed by huge street protests.

Mr Leung’s comments come as a local deputy to the National People’s Congress, Ng Chau-pei, plans to propose to the central government that the mainland’s national security laws – which are expected to be passed in March – should also be implemented here.

Democratic Party chairwoman, Emily Lau, said Mr Ng’s proposal violates the One Country Two Systems Principle.

Labour Party chairman, Lee Cheuk-yan, said the proposal is aimed at suppressing the freedom of speech. Story here.

Jan 24, 2015  (new.gov.hk) — “Secretary for Justice rejects national law proposal”

It is more appropriate for Hong Kong to form anti-subversion legislation with Article 23 of the Basic Law, than introduce the national security law to Hong Kong, Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen says.

He told the media  that according to Article 18 of the Basic Law, national laws can only be implemented in Hong Kong under certain conditions and he did not see it meeting those conditions at the moment.

Related:

“National security laws have place in Hong Kong” — Former Chief Exec Tung, South China Morning Post, Jan 21, 2015.  Story here.