Heavyweights support fast-tracked national security subsidiary laws

The newly added subsidiary legislation under Hong Kong’s domestic national security law provides a legal basis for Beijing’s national security arm in the SAR when exercising its jurisdiction, political heavyweight Maria Tam Wai-chu said today.

The subsidiary legislation outlines how SAR authorities should support Beijing’s Office for Safeguarding National Security when it assumes jurisdiction over cases under extreme circumstances. It also designates the office's premises as “prohibited places.”

Speaking on a radio program, Executive Councilor and senior counsel Ronny Tong Ka-wah saw no issue with the swift gazettal of the provisions, noting that they still need to undergo scrutiny by lawmakers under negative vetting, even after taking effect today.

When asked why these subsidiary laws were not originally included in the Beijing-imposed National Security Law, Tong explained that it was deemed more appropriate for “technical details” to be handled by the SAR rather than Beijing legislators.

Such an arrangement, he added, would be more in line with the “one country, two systems” governing principle. He also emphasized that the subsidiary laws “definitely have no impact” on citizens.

Regarding the declaration of prohibited places, veteran politician Tam Yiu-chung noted that the premises of the Beijing office contain “sensitive information” and should not be accessible to the general public.

He predicted that future practices would follow the example of the People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison, with signs placed at restricted sites to separate them from residential areas and minimize community impact.

(Jamie Liu)