Forwarded from RTHK Latest News
"Public interest defence only for clear, urgent cases"
The government on Saturday said it's looking at the possibility of including a "public interest" defence to new laws to protect state secrets in national security legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law. Speaking on an RTHK programme, justice minister Paul Lam said the defence would only apply in circumstances that are urgent and overriding, for example when public safety is at stake. "Maintaining national security is an important matter of public interest. If you want to leak state secrets, you must have a reason that is more significant than keeping this confidentiality. It should be something overriding, very clear, and very urgent, with no other way to inform the public that they may face threats to their lives," he said.Ronny Tong, a member of the Executive Council and a senior counsel, said such a defence can be considered as a way to allay concerns about the legislation, but any such provision must be clear."But it is important to give proper consideration to the fact that national security is of paramount public interest," he told reporters after attending a Commercial Radio programme. "And therefore, for anything to override that public interest, there must be very clear provisions. There must be very clear guidelines to the courts to enable them to come to a balanced review of the competing public interests that one is talking about."Meanwhile, officials said a new offence targeting external interference won't affect exchanges between academics in Hong Kong and colleagues elsewhere. Some legal scholars had expressed concern that conducting research with universities overseas or publishing reports that the authorities deem to be untrue may put academics in breach of the new security law.Security minister Chris Tang told the same RTHK programme that the law's definition of "foreign forces" covered governments and political parties, not universities. "We also need to determine whether you are knowingly using incorrect information. If you are, it constitutes knowingly making a material misrepresentation, not just a simple mistake," he said."Another question is whether it has brought about an interference effect... To violate the law, you have to actually influence government policies, such as the city's election or legislature."The government launched its consultation on the new security legislation on Tuesday. People have until February 28 to give their views.
2024-02-03 12:43:46
The government on Saturday said it's looking at the possibility of including a "public interest" defence to new laws to protect state secrets in national security legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law. Speaking on an RTHK programme, justice minister Paul Lam said the defence would only apply in circumstances that are urgent and overriding, for example when public safety is at stake. "Maintaining national security is an important matter of public interest. If you want to leak state secrets, you must have a reason that is more significant than keeping this confidentiality. It should be something overriding, very clear, and very urgent, with no other way to inform the public that they may face threats to their lives," he said.Ronny Tong, a member of the Executive Council and a senior counsel, said such a defence can be considered as a way to allay concerns about the legislation, but any such provision must be clear."But it is important to give proper consideration to the fact that national security is of paramount public interest," he told reporters after attending a Commercial Radio programme. "And therefore, for anything to override that public interest, there must be very clear provisions. There must be very clear guidelines to the courts to enable them to come to a balanced review of the competing public interests that one is talking about."Meanwhile, officials said a new offence targeting external interference won't affect exchanges between academics in Hong Kong and colleagues elsewhere. Some legal scholars had expressed concern that conducting research with universities overseas or publishing reports that the authorities deem to be untrue may put academics in breach of the new security law.Security minister Chris Tang told the same RTHK programme that the law's definition of "foreign forces" covered governments and political parties, not universities. "We also need to determine whether you are knowingly using incorrect information. If you are, it constitutes knowingly making a material misrepresentation, not just a simple mistake," he said."Another question is whether it has brought about an interference effect... To violate the law, you have to actually influence government policies, such as the city's election or legislature."The government launched its consultation on the new security legislation on Tuesday. People have until February 28 to give their views.
2024-02-03 12:43:46
Forwarded from Hong Kong Free Press HKFP
Article 23 then and now: What changed between 2002 and 2024, as Hong Kong’s local security law is resurrected
https://hongkongfp.com/2024/02/04/article-23-then-and-now-what-changed-between-2002-and-2024-as-hong-kongs-local-security-law-is-resurrected/
https://hongkongfp.com/2024/02/04/article-23-then-and-now-what-changed-between-2002-and-2024-as-hong-kongs-local-security-law-is-resurrected/
Hong Kong Free Press HKFP
Article 23 then and now: What changed between 2002 and 2024, as Hong Kong’s local security law is resurrected
Explainer: What does Hong Kong's new 2024 Article 23 proposal entail? How does the security law's 2002 consultation period compare to 2024?
Forwarded from US China Watch
IN-DEPTH: Hong Kong Set to Pass Article 23, Further Tightening Beijing’s Control READ: https://www.theepochtimes.com/china/in-depth-hong-kong-set-to-pass-article-23-further-tightening-beijings-control-5578871?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=telegram&utm_campaign=USChinaWatch
The Epoch Times
IN-DEPTH: Hong Kong Set to Pass Article 23, Further Tightening Beijing’s Control
Experts fear the new law will crush what remains of freedom in the city and spook foreign businesses.
Hong Kong Democracy Movement
Photo
Hong Kong government initiates public consultation on proposed legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law. The consultation covers categories like treason, sedition, espionage, and foreign interference. Three approaches suggested: new national security law, integrating existing crimes, and expanding coverage of current laws. Consultation seeks to enhance legal framework and execution mechanisms for safeguarding national security.
Implementation of the national security law in Hong Kong raises human rights concerns. Freedom of expression, assembly, and association could be restricted. Due process and fair trials may be compromised. Surveillance measures threaten privacy rights. Extradition to mainland China raises fair trial concerns. Balancing national security with human rights is crucial. #HongKong #NationalSecurityLaw #HumanRights
Implementation of the national security law in Hong Kong raises human rights concerns. Freedom of expression, assembly, and association could be restricted. Due process and fair trials may be compromised. Surveillance measures threaten privacy rights. Extradition to mainland China raises fair trial concerns. Balancing national security with human rights is crucial. #HongKong #NationalSecurityLaw #HumanRights
Forwarded from 777文宣傳播稿件大合集
林定國在Now新聞台最新一集《大鳴大放》節目中被記者問及23條通過後，傳媒如果訪問被通緝的海外港人會否觸犯法律。林定國表示，他覺得記者是「有篩選過訪問人選，不會是不經意地去做」，提供平台發表違法言論，要小心有觸犯法律的風險。
林定國直言，如果記者明知受訪者被通緝，本身是很熱切發表違反《國安法》或觸及《國安法》的言論，仍為被通緝人士提供平台，容許他們說同一番說話，記者有機會要負上協助教唆他人的嫌疑，奉勸傳媒「要自己去小心一點」 。
鄧炳強在同一節目上補充，如果傳媒訪問被通緝港人之後，呼籲公眾捐款，有機會被視為協助逃犯。
許穎婷說﹕「大部分的主流媒體，即在香港本地的主流媒體，其實已沒有和我們做任何訪問。我們已經在香港主流媒體中被消失，沒有人敢再去報道，在外國流散的香港人究竟在做甚麼。香港不需要再包裝自己為一個自由社會，或者熱衷於去推廣新聞自由等價值 。無論香港政府怎樣去包裝，或者美化行為，舉例甚麼外國例子去合理化他們的做法，在國際社會的角度來看，都很清楚知道所有這些行為，其實都是對新聞自由、言論自由和公民社會的打壓 。」
#基本法 #廿三條 #劃上句號 #叛國罪 #叛亂罪 #境外干預罪 #竊取國家機密 #間諜行為
報導：自由亞洲粵語 @rfacantonese
林定國直言，如果記者明知受訪者被通緝，本身是很熱切發表違反《國安法》或觸及《國安法》的言論，仍為被通緝人士提供平台，容許他們說同一番說話，記者有機會要負上協助教唆他人的嫌疑，奉勸傳媒「要自己去小心一點」 。
鄧炳強在同一節目上補充，如果傳媒訪問被通緝港人之後，呼籲公眾捐款，有機會被視為協助逃犯。
許穎婷說﹕「大部分的主流媒體，即在香港本地的主流媒體，其實已沒有和我們做任何訪問。我們已經在香港主流媒體中被消失，沒有人敢再去報道，在外國流散的香港人究竟在做甚麼。香港不需要再包裝自己為一個自由社會，或者熱衷於去推廣新聞自由等價值 。無論香港政府怎樣去包裝，或者美化行為，舉例甚麼外國例子去合理化他們的做法，在國際社會的角度來看，都很清楚知道所有這些行為，其實都是對新聞自由、言論自由和公民社會的打壓 。」
#基本法 #廿三條 #劃上句號 #叛國罪 #叛亂罪 #境外干預罪 #竊取國家機密 #間諜行為
報導：自由亞洲粵語 @rfacantonese
Hong Kong Democracy Movement
7.1立會｜王宗堯等4人暴動罪成還押 兩記者暴動無罪、進入立會範圍罪成准保釋 https://bit.ly/3HJL2cR
In the July 1 Legislative Council riot case, actor Gregory Wong and 5 others stood trial. After 34 days of hearings, 4 were convicted of rioting, including Wong. One defendant, Lam Kam-kwan, also found guilty of criminal damage. The charges against 2 self-proclaimed journalists were not established, but they were convicted of "entering or remaining in the meeting hall." Two reporters were granted bail, while the rest remain in custody. Sentencing set for March 16. Concerns raised over press freedom in the verdict.
The conviction of journalists in the July 1 Legislative Council riot case raises concerns about the Hong Kong court system's treatment of journalists and its alleged neglect of evidence. The verdict appears to overlook the importance of press freedom and fails to consider the evidence presented. This raises worries about potential limitations on journalists' ability to carry out their work. Upholding a free and independent press is crucial for a democratic society. #PressFreedom
The conviction of journalists in the July 1 Legislative Council riot case raises concerns about the Hong Kong court system's treatment of journalists and its alleged neglect of evidence. The verdict appears to overlook the importance of press freedom and fails to consider the evidence presented. This raises worries about potential limitations on journalists' ability to carry out their work. Upholding a free and independent press is crucial for a democratic society. #PressFreedom
Well, this is a caution for the world. The virus was prepared in lab, and made to spread. Whatever happened was a global genocide. And you know who is responsible for that. And the plan was to become number 1 in the world, grab other's territories and more, including taking Taiwan. Aggressors love wars. And if they don't want a war, they create a biological weapon like CCP Virus.
Some families ended. Some loved ones were lost. If any new strain spreads, please take strict precautions. Masking up😷 will be must. CCP must be ended, as it's a global threat.
#CCPIsTerroristOrganization
#chinaliedpeoplediedworldwide
Some families ended. Some loved ones were lost. If any new strain spreads, please take strict precautions. Masking up😷 will be must. CCP must be ended, as it's a global threat.
#CCPIsTerroristOrganization
#chinaliedpeoplediedworldwide