Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa said Saturday that the HKSAR government has decided to introduce further three amendments to the drafted National Security (Legislative Provisions) Bill (Article 23 of the Basic Law).

Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa (C), Donald Tsang, the Chief Secretary for Administration and Antony Leung, Financial Secretary attend a news conference at a central government office in Hong Kong July 5, 2003. [Reuters]

At a press conference on Saturday, Tung also said that the bill will resume second and third readings on July 9 as originally scheduled, and the government has started to work on these amendments.

The amendments include deleting the provision regarding a local organization subordinate to a Chinese mainland organization which has been proscribed by the central government; introducing "public interest" as a defense for unlawful disclosure of certain official information, in order to protect and alleviate the concerns of the public, particularly those of the media; and deleting the provision which confers on the police a power to search without court warrant in the exercise of their emergency investigation powers, according to the chief executive.

Tung said, "we are proposing amendments to the three provisions that, in the final analysis, have in fact sparked most of the controversies. We believe it is right to resume second reading and third reading in the Legislative Council as scheduled."

The government must press ahead with the legislative process as scheduled because everybody clearly knows that "we have the responsibility and the constitutional duty to enact laws to protect national security," he said.

"It is a matter relating to the national dignity and the glory of the Chinese race. Safeguarding national security is the prerequisite for the successful implementation of 'one country, two systems,' it is a prerequisite for maintaining the good relations between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland; it is a prerequisite for revitalizing the economy and safeguarding our long-term interests," he said.

"I suggest everybody should reflect rationally about how to maintain stability in Hong Kong and to properly manage some of the fundamental relationships, help maintain our stability, including our relations with the Chinese mainland and the international community," Tung said.

The chief executive emphasized that the HKSAR government's position on such an important matter of principle is both firm and clear.

He explained that after extensive discussions and consultations lasting about a year, the government has made a number of clarifications and introduced 51 amendments to the National Security (Legislative Provisions) Bill, taking into full account all the views and suggestions of the public.

"I appeal to our community and to you all to complete the legislative process for the Bill as soon as possible, so that we can focus our efforts and work together to get our economy going again," he said.

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