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LEGCO QUESTION: ARTICLE 23 BASIC LAW OFFENCES.
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1. THE FOLLOWING QUESTION WILL BE ASKED FOR AN ORAL ANSWER BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SITTING ON 8 APRIL. QUOTE ARTICLE 23 OF THE BASIC LAW STATES THAT THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION SHALL ENACT LAWS ON ITS OWN TO PROHIBIT ANY ACT OF TREASON, SECESSION, SEDITION, SUBVERSION AGAINST THE CENTRAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT, OR THEFT OF STATE SECRETS, TO PROHIBIT FOREIGN POLITICAL ORGANISATIONS OR BODIES FROM CONDUCTING POLITICAL ACTIVITIES IN THE REGION, AND TO PROHIBIT POLITICAL ORGANISATIONS OR BODIES OF THE REGION FROM
ESTABLISHING TIES WITH FOREIGN POLITICAL ORGANISATIONS OR BODIES. UNQUOTE. WILL GOVERNMENT INFORM THIS COUNCIL:
(A) WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WILL INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO CONTROL THE ACTIVITIES PROHIBITED BY ARTICLE 23 OF THE BASIC LAW BEFORE
1997 OR LEAVE THE ISSUE FOR ACTION BY THE FUTURE GOVERNMENT OF
THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION:
(B) IF IT IS THE FORMER CASE, WHEN WILL SUCH LAWS BE DRAFTED AND INTRODUCED TO THIS COUNCIL: WHETHER THIS COUNCIL WILL BE FULLY CONSULTED BEFORE THE BILLS ARE FINALISED: AND
(C) WHAT KIND OF POLITICAL ORGANISATIONS OR BODIES WILL THUS BE PROHIBITED FROM ESTABLISHING TIES WITH FOREIGN POLITICAL
ORGANISATIONS AND BODIES?
2. WE PROPOSE TO ANSWER AS FOLLOWS. QUOTE. TREASON AND SEDITION ARE OFFENCES UNDER THE CRIMES ORDINANCE. THEFT OF OFFICIAL SECRETS IS AN OFFENCE UNDER THE OFFICIAL SECRETS ACTS WHICH APPLY TO HONG KONG. THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO PLANS TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO COVER THE OTHER MATTERS MENTIONED. UNQUOTE.
3. THE FIRST SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION MAY WELL PRESS FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION ON THE TIMING OF LEGISLATION TO GIVE EFFECT TO ARTICLE 23. WE PROPOSE THAT THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY ANSWERS AS FOLLOWS. QUOTE. OUR CONSIDERATION OF ARTICLE 23 OF THE BASIC LAW
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