The government plans to launch a legislative consultation on Article 23 of the Basic Law in the first half of this year and submit it to the Legislative Council in the second half of the year.
Liberal Party Legislative Council member Lee Chun-keung asked in the Legislative Council today (26th) the situation of espionage in Hong Kong and how these acts will be dealt with in the future.
The Secretary for Security, Tang Bingqiang, responded that the next 23 legislative periods will include amendments to the existing Official Secrets Ordinance.
He also threatened that foreign espionage activities are "inevitably related" to domestic terrorism, such as providing an "umbrella" for criminals in foreign countries, indicating that they will strictly enforce the law.
Deng Bingqiang: The anti-revision bill is an example of foreign espionage infiltration
Deng Bingqiang said that the country has developed rapidly since the reform and opening up, and some countries have adopted a "zero-sum game thinking". Western countries have not viewed China's rise with a positive thinking, ignored China's concept of "a community with a shared future for mankind", and spread the "China threat theory". Form factions and create a Cold War confrontation pattern.
Among them, "infiltration" and "espionage" activities are important means. Specific means include instigating public servants and buying agents for self-interest.
Among them, the "black violence" incident in 2019 is a notable example, which is the "color revolution" promoted by overseas forces.
Deng Bingqiang pointed out that the current law prohibiting espionage activities is the "Official Secrets Ordinance", which contains relatively narrow content, only involving intrusion into forbidden areas and leaking information beneficial to the enemy.
The government will continue to strengthen information sharing with the Office of Homeland Security in Hong Kong in accordance with Article 53 of the National Security Law for the Hong Kong Region, and will study with the Department of Justice how to improve the Official Secrets Ordinance together with the Department of Justice during the legislation of Article 23.
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All national security laws have extraterritorial effect
When asked by Pakatan Harapan Leung Mei Fen, whether it was considered to change the name when the regulations were revised, in order to be in line with the country's "State Secrets Law" and to classify different secrets.
Deng Bingqiang said that he would consider relevant opinions, and also stated that he would strengthen the training of relevant law enforcement agencies on new cases and purchase useful equipment.
Zhou Haoding of the DAB mentioned whether Article 23 of the Legislative Council targets some criminals who have fled overseas and remotely hide their agents.
Deng Bingqiang pointed out that the relevant provisions of national security have extraterritorial effects, and there are wanted criminals (referring to former Legislative Council member Xu Zhifeng, etc.) without naming names. On the eve of the Legislative Council election, he called on Hong Kong people to violate election-related regulations.
He pointed out that the law has extraterritorial effect, and law enforcement agencies will collect evidence and try their best to arrest these people.
Espionage settles lawbreakers in exile: To bury you, read Tim
Election Commissioner Jie Ma Fengguo asked whether the crime of espionage may involve the overthrow of the regime by violent means, whether it is similar to the method and purpose of domestic terrorism, and whether the bureau has any knowledge of overseas espionage activities and the internal connection with domestic terrorist activities.
Deng Bingqiang stated that foreign espionage activities and local terrorism "have an inevitable relationship". These people hope to incite hatred and division in society. The specific methods include cultivating local terrorism, such as providing resources and technology, teaching bomb-making, and serving criminals. Provide an "umbrella" to allow them to settle down after escaping to a foreign country, "Zhongbai will bury you and read Tim." The government's consistent position is to crack down in accordance with the law, but in order not to affect the effectiveness of law enforcement, it is inconvenient to disclose the specific action details.
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