Hong Kong's Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa Tuesday said the majority of Hong Kong's residents agreed with the need to safeguard national security, and his government would not let the public's freedoms compromised.
Tung made the remarks at a press conference on the outcome of the consultation exercise on Article 23 of the Basic Law.
"We know that the majority of the public agree that we have a responsibility to safeguard our national security. They also realize the need to legislate under Article 23 of the Basic Law,'' said Tung.
"However, some members of the public have expressed doubts and worries about certain legislative proposals. In short, all issues, major or otherwise, have been thoroughly and enthusiastically discussed during the three-month consultation period,'' he added.
"Press freedom is the foundation for Hong Kong's success. We must safeguard it. The media have expressed worries during the consultation exercise. We must allay their worries because we have no intention of undermining press freedom. Nor would we allow any damage to press freedom. Since the media are concerned about the possession of seditious publications, for instance, we have proposed to abolish the offence,'' said Tung.
In order to safeguard the freedom of the press and the free flow of information, the government will limit the definition of "unauthorized access'' to protected information to that which has been obtained by or through criminal means such as hacking, theft or bribery, he said.
"I have full confidence that after the law is enacted, the public will find that their freedoms, including the freedom of speech, press, procession and assembly which they currently enjoy, will remain fully protected,'' said Tung.
"We will complete the drafting work in accordance with the above directions as soon as possible,'' he added.
"I would like to emphasize that, during this drafting period, we will continue to listen to the views of various sectors. And indeed we will continue to do so throughout the legislative process,'' Tung concluded.
The result of a recent public consultation revealed Tuesday that the overwhelming majority of organizations and individuals in Hong Kong support the legislation of national security prescribed in Article 23 of the Basic Law.
Releasing the outcome of the consultation Tuesday, Regina Ip, secretary for security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said the government had received a total of 97,097 local submissions, involving 340,513 signatures in the three-month consultation starting from September 24, 2002.
(China Daily January 29, 2003)
