Safeguarding National Security Bill among 29 items on LegCo’s 2024 agenda

The Safeguarding National Security Bill is among 29 items on this year’s agenda submitted to the Legislative Council on Friday by the Hong Kong government. 

The purpose of the bill is “to implement Article 23 of the Basic Law, to enhance relevant laws for safeguarding national security, and to provide for related matters,” according to the document. 

The responsible body is the Security Bureau and the bill is expected to be tabled to LegCo in either the first or second half of the legislative year of 2024 – unlike other items which are specified to be scheduled in one half. 

The Security Bureau will also table the Cybersecurity (Critical Information Infrastructure) Bill in the second half of the year. 

It aims to establish a legal framework to impose cybersecurity obligations on operators of critical infrastructure and strengthen their resilience against cybersecurity threats. 

Other bills include the Construction Industry Security of Payment Bill and the Protection of the Harbour (Amendment) Bill. 

The Health Bureau will introduce the Dentists Registration (Amendment) Bill as well to provide new pathways for the admission of qualified non-locally trained dentists to practice in specified institutions. 

Another goal is to “modernize the regulatory framework for dentists and ancillary dental workers, with a view to ensuring adequate manpower to support public or subsidized dental care services in the long run,” it read.