Hong Kong passed a tough new law on Friday to block funding to terrorists as part of a global effort to cut off support for militant groups following the September 11 attacks on the United States.
Hong Kong government said it needed to urgently enact the bill to fulfill commitments to United Nations Security Council resolution 1373 against terrorism, which was adopted in late September. China was a signatory to that resolution and Hong Kong returned to China in 1997.
"As a financial hub, we can't rule out the possibility of terrorist funds flowing in. of course we haven't found any evidence of this but we can't guarantee it won't happen in the future," Security Secretary Regina Ip told legislators.
"This is a global effort so we're trying to do it as soon as possible," she added.
The bill was passed 32 to 18 after 12 hours of heated debate, which resumed on Friday morning after an overnight recess.
The new law defines a terrorist act as the use or threat of action to influence a government or intimidate or endanger the public to advance a political, religious or ideological cause.
People who provide funds or resources to terrorists, including weapons, face up to 14 years' jail if convicted.
The law also allows the government to confiscate assets believed to be linked to terrorists and requires people to report to authorities if they know of property belonging to extremist groups.
(China Daily July 12, 2002)
