(Policy Address 2023) Legislation for Article 23 of the Basic Law to be completed in 2024

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Wednesday that the government is pressing ahead to draw up effective legislative options and will complete the legislative exercise as stipulated in Article 23 of the Basic Law in 2024 to fulfill its constitutional duty in safeguarding national security.

Lee said Article 23 of the Basic Law stipulates that the HKSAR shall enact laws on its own to prohibit acts and activities that endanger national security. He also said Article 7 of the National Security Law stipulates that the HKSAR Government shall complete, as early as possible, legislation for safeguarding national security as stipulated in the Basic Law and shall refine relevant laws.

Government sources said the new legislation will not overlap with the existing national security law drafted by Beijing and implemented in Hong Kong on June 30, 2020.

Meanwhile, Lee said the government is working to enhance the cybersecurity of our critical infrastructure, including energy, telecommunications, transportation, and financial institutions to address the increasing risks of cyber-attacks globally. He said a bill will be introduced into the Legislative Council for this purpose in 2024.

Government sources said the law intends to regulate local companies and organizations to do better in terms of cybersecurity, but they said the government has no provision to include penalties towards companies for data leakage or towards hackers.