Consultation on interception of communications
The Government released today (Friday) a consultation paper on the Interception of Communications Bill to seek public views on its proposals to provide better protection to privacy of communications by regulating the interception of communications.
The consultation paper, in the form of a White Bill, was gazetted today for one month's consultation, a Government spokesman said.
The Legislative Council's Security and Information Policy Panels, District Boards, the Fight Crime Committee and District Fight Crime Committees will receive copies of the White Bill as well as briefings by Government officials.
Offices.
Members of the public can obtain copies of the consultation paper from District
The spokesman explained that the proposals in the White Bill were drawn up based on the recommendations in the Law Reform Commission (LRC) report entitled "Privacy: Regulating the Interception of Communications" published last December.
"We have accepted key recommendations in the LRC report. In view of the complexity of the issue and its wide-ranging implications, we believe that there is a need to consult interested parties of the community.
"The publication of a White Bill is the best means to gauge public opinion over this issue and to make it clear to all how we would like to proceed.
"A careful assessment of public opinion, obtained through consultation and analysis, should help us understand the likely reaction of the community to any proposed course of action or change in policy," he said.
A major proposal in the Bill is to introduce a judicial warrant system to regulate the interception of communications, replacing the current arrangements of executive warrants under section 33 of the Telecommunication Ordinance and section 13 of the Post Office Ordinance.
It will then become an offence, punishable by a maximum of two years' imprisonment and a fine of $50,000, to intentionally intercept communications, unless the action is pursuant to a judicial warrant or exempted in the Bill.