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The SAR administration will announce details of its public consultation over the enactment of Basic Law article 23 this morning, with sources saying the process is expected to last two months.
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In a statement released last night, it said Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu will hold a press conference on the consultation" at 10 am today..
Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok and Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung will also attend the press conference, according to the statement, while the Executive Council will not convene its Tuesday meeting.
Sources said the consultation will commence shortly after the announcement and will last for around two months.
It is also understood that the government will not publish a "white bill" as the government does not have a predetermined stance on the legislation and the full draft is made available to the public to get their views.
Instead, like with the government's failed attempt in 2003, the government will publish a "blue bill" where the government will already have drafted the legislative framework before presenting it to the Legislative Council for first reading, which will allow limited room for amendments to be made.
"The government's target is to finish all legislative work before the Legco summer recess," the sources said.
The enactment of an anti-subversion bill in line with article 23 of the Basic Law has already been included in Legco's agenda for the year submitted by the government's administration wing that lists bills planned to be tabled within the year.
But the government has not made clear until now when the bill will be tabled this year to enact the SAR's own laws to penalize acts of treason, secession, sedition and subversion against Beijing.
Sources have already said that the government is targeting a start to the consultation before the Lunar New Year holidays, with Lee saying that the SAR has "no time to waste" in enacting the law to make Hong Kong safer.
Lee also announced on Thursday that his administration will establish a dedicated team aimed at "refuting slanders and smears from opposing forces" surrounding the implementation of article 23.
The government has also established teams, including a core lobbying team and a supporting team, consisting of top officials including Lam, Tang, Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki and Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po.
Also joining the effort are three Legco members - Starry Lee Wai-king from the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, Election Committee sector's Lai Tung-kwok and Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee from the New People's Party.
Ip was secretary for security during the first attempt to enact article 23 in 2003, which fell apart after it drew over half a million protesters into the streets. The bill was subsequently shelved, followed by Ip's resignation.
