Draft legislation for Article 23 introduced for first reading on Wed at the earliest: sources

The Executive Council will convene a special meeting on Thursday to review the draft legislation for Article 23, aiming to introduce it to the Legislative Council for its first reading next Wednesday (Mar 13) at the earliest, according to sources.

The Panel on Security and the Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services of the Legislative Council held an additional meeting yesterday (Mar 6) to discuss the consultation results regarding Article 23, which ended last week.

It was learned that several lawmakers, who are also the deputies to the National People's Congress or members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), flew back to Hong Kong from Beijing to attend the joint panel meeting and rushed back to China's capital for the Two Sessions a day later. 

It is understood that after the first reading of the draft, lawmakers have to complete the deliberation within two weeks and should prepare for a series of special meetings.

Sources added that Article 23 will be finalized by mid-April or sooner, in time for the National Security Education Day on April 15, as well as the activities that mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Separately, Bloomberg on Thursday admitted the news outlet has earlier "erroneously reported" the SAR government was proposing a ban on social media platforms after the results of the Article 23 public consultation were disclosed on Wednesday.