Media will not easily breach state secrecy laws, says Exco's Tong

The government should not add disclaimers for people who disclose state secrets out of public interest as it does not overlap with national security, Executive Councillor Ronny Tong Ka-wah said.

Tong said: "Behavior endangering national security shall not be of public interest. As long as people do not have an intention to hamper national security, all information can flow freely in Hong Kong.

"I also believe the media will not easily breach these laws. But if journalists are doubtful, they can consider contacting relevant departments to clarify whether they are unlawfully disclosing state secrets."

As Hong Kong relies on the transparency and free flow of information to consolidate its position as an international financial center, Tong said the government needs to be "very clear" about the definition of state secrets.

Exco convener Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee disagreed with Tong, saying there are exceptional cases in which the decision can be left to the government to decide whether the misunderstanding is acceptable.

"Former US Central Intelligence Agency employee Edward Snowden unveiled America's state secrets by disclosing details of their evil surveillance program in Hong Kong, which is out of significant public interest," Ip said.

In Beijing, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Wang Wenbin said the ministry "fully supports" the enactment of Basic Law Article 23 as it is "beneficial to protecting the fundamental well-being of all Hong Kong residents".

The enactment will also "protect the interests of investors around the world, facilitate the SAR's high level of security to ensure a high-quality development and allow the city to focus on developing the economy and improving citizens' livelihood," Wang said.

"Hong Kong will be able to exert its strengths and characteristics and better integrate into the overall development of the country and realize its high-quality development."

Deputy Secretary for Justice Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan said the enactment is not aimed at lowering the threshold of conviction in local courts, as the threshold cannot be easily changed.

The government also organized three briefings for deputies to the National People's Congress and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference sector, the finance sector and the journalism sector yesterday, according to Cheung.

Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung brushed off rumors that law breakers will be tried in the mainland.

"The government has made it very clear that people arrested in Hong Kong will stand trial in Hong Kong. Those who did not breach the law in Hong Kong will not be dealt with in Hong Kong," Tang said.

Pro-Beijing heavyweight Tam Yiu-chung said the Article 23 consultation paper is well-rounded and the bill can be scrutinized quicker if the bills committee calls additional meetings.

Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong lawmaker Gary Chan Hak-kan said the Legislative Council is ready to scrutinize the bill, and expects it to be passed before the summer recess.