HONG KONG: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa said on Saturday that the Hong Kong SAR government has decided to introduce three amendments to the draft National Security (Legislative Provisions) Bill, also known as Article 23 of the Basic Law.

At a press conference on Saturday, Tung also said that the bill will resume its second and third readings on Wednesday as originally scheduled, and the government has started to work on these amendments.

The amendments include deleting the provision regarding a local organization subordinate to a Chinese mainland organization which has been proscribed by the central government; introducing "public interest" as a defence for unlawful disclosure of certain official information, in order to protect and alleviate the concerns of the public, particularly those of the media; and deleting the provision which confers on the police a power to search without court warrant in the exercise of their emergency investigation powers, according to the chief executive.

Tung said: "We are proposing amendments to the three provisions that, in the final analysis, have in fact sparked most of the controversies. We believe it is right to resume the second reading and third reading in the Legislative Council as scheduled."

The government must press ahead with the legislative process as scheduled because everybody clearly knows that "we have the responsibility and the constitutional duty to enact laws to protect national security," he said.

"Safeguarding national security is a prerequisite for the successful implementation of 'one country, two systems', a prerequisite for maintaining good relations between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland, and it is a prerequisite for revitalizing the economy and safeguarding our long-term interests,'' Tung said.

An official in charge of the Commission of Legislative Affairs of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on Saturday described as important the speech made by Tung regarding Article 23 of the Basic Law.

The NPC official said he fully agrees with Tung that legislation of Article 23 is the solemn responsibility of the Hong Kong people and the Hong Kong SAR government to implement the Basic Law and safeguard national security, which is a prerequisite for the successful implementation of the principles of "one country, two systems" and "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong."

During the legislative process of Article 23, the SAR government has always listened to and adopted the opinions of the public, has always adhered to Article 39 of the Basic Law and safeguarded the rights and freedoms of the HK people, and this time, it has decided to make further amendments to the bill, the official noted.

"The way in which the SAR government has been working is appropriate and I believe the public recognizes and accepts it," the official said.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong artists said people in the SAR should treasure their hard-won status as masters and support the government in its legislation concerning Article 23 of the Basic Law, said a local newspaper yesterday.

Popular Cantonese singer Alan Tam was quoted as saying that "Hong Kong is our home and we cannot resort to extremist actions which will bring chaos to our homeland."

He warned people that if Hong Kong is thrown into disorder, it will not attract foreign investment and tourists.

Several leading members of the Hong Kong-South China Film Industry Workers' Association shared Tam's view.

Feng Lin, honorary deputy chairwoman of the association, said Hong Kong people need a stable, harmonious and prosperous home.

She said Hong Kong people should realize that it is right for the SAR government to make further amendments to the draft National Security (Legislative Provisions) Bill and for the Legislative Council to vote on the bill as scheduled. Hong Kong needs to focus on its economic development, which requires closer economic ties between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, she said, adding closer economic relationship can only be achieved by ensuring national security.

Another honorary deputy chairman of the association, Wu Foxiang, said the fact that most of the artists in the entertainment industry did not participate in the protest on July 1 showed the industry's supportive stand for the government.

A consultant for the association, Qiu Ping, said that like every household which has locks on its doors to protect itself against burglary, a country should have a "lock" to protect itself. The national security bill is also a "lock" for protecting our homeland.

Xinhua

(China Daily 07/07/2003 page1)