Security Bureau slams foreign criticism of upcoming Article 23 legislation

The Security Bureau on Thursday criticized British Foreign Secretary David Cameron for smearing the upcoming legislation of Article 23, as the Bureau said feedback on the law had been largely positive.

The law will target crimes including treason, theft of state secrets, espionage, sabotage, sedition and "external interference", including from foreign governments.

A public consultation on the proposed legislation ended this week, with the Legislative Council expected to approve the draft laws soon.

The Bureau said it firmly rejects the biased and wrong remarks recently made by Cameron.

It added that the UK also has a dozen laws and procedures relevant to safeguarding its national security that cover different sectors, and the introduction of the legislative proposal of Article 23 has made reference to relevant laws of foreign countries, including the UK.

The Security Bureau stated that Cameron disregarded the positive feedback from the public consultation in the city and his remarks exposing the double standards.

In addition, the Hong Kong Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Thursday "to express their strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition" to Cameron and other politicians' making "irresponsible remarks" on the legislation of Article 23.

The ministry said they were "maliciously smearing and attacking Hong Kong's human rights, freedoms and rule of law".

The statement followed remarks from Cameron on Wednesday that Britain had raised its concerns with the Hong Kong authorities.

"Vague references to 'external forces' and the new offence of 'external interference' threaten the legitimate and lawful diplomatic and consular activity as protected in the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations", Cameron said.

The U.S. State Department also said in a statement on Wednesday that it was closely monitoring the legislation and its implications for U.S. citizens, investments, and companies operating in Hong Kong.

"We are also concerned that Hong Kong authorities will apply Article 23 extraterritorially in their ongoing campaign of transnational repression to intimidate and restrict the free speech of U.S. citizens and residents."

Beijing imposed a national security law in 2020 that punishes acts, including subversion and collusion with foreign forces, with up to life imprisonment, after mass pro-democracy protests in the financial hub.

(Staff reporter and Reuters)

(Updated at 7.28 pm)