Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa appealed for calm Monday and said he would work to better understand public concerns.

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]

"We believe that the community needs to have a calm atmosphere and we need to really stand united in front of all these challenges,'' he said.

He made the remark after the special administrative region (SAR) government decided to defer the resumption of the second reading of the National Security Bill formerly scheduled for Wednesday.

On Saturday, the government made substantial changes to three controversial areas of Article 23 of the Basic Law.

"This is really in further response to the views and concerns expressed by the people,'' Tung said.

He said he understood public dissatisfaction over government policies, and would respond to their concerns in detail.

"At this moment, I think what is most important is really to get our economy going again, and we need to stand united to move forward together.''

He stressed, however, that Hong Kong has a constitutional duty to enact legislation to safeguard national security. He expressed his hope that the people of Hong Kong would work together to see that the legislative process is completed.

Chief Secretary Donald Tsang said the SAR government does not have any timetable for the resumption of the bill's second reading at the Legislative Council.

"The main purpose of the postponement is to allow Hong Kong people more time to consider the bill with a cool head. The summer vacation will give us sufficient time to examine the amendments,'' he said.

Secretary for Justice Elsie Leung pointed out that the Article 23 legislation is mandatory under the Basic Law. Her department would continue explaining the bill to legislators and the public and she hoped they would fulfil their civic responsibility in a serious manner.

Tung announced in the small hours Monday that the second reading of the bill will be shelved after a contingency Executive Council meeting.

The abrupt postponement came after Liberal Party Chairman James Tien announced his resignation as an executive councillor.

Explaining why he had to quit, Tien yesterday said the Liberal Party felt that more time is needed to hear public opinion after 500,000 demonstrators had taken to the streets.

Executive Councillor Tsang Yok-sing, also chairman of the Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong, called for a reshuffle of the Executive Council now that Tien had quit.

Gao Siren, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong, yesterday expressed support and respect for the SAR government's decision to defer the second reading of the National Security Bill.

He said the event will not affect the governance of Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa's administration. What the government needs to do is something conducive to economic development and the improvement of people's livelihoods, he added.

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