Page 5 - Article 23 News Today

War of words breaks out between Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong and Federation of Trade Unions lawmakers over national security law.

Xia Baolong, who leads Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, to meet city leader John Lee, top officials, business sector representatives and young people to gather feedback on number of issues, sources say.

Chief Executive John Lee also says his administration will report full results of one-month consultation exercise to legislature in due course.

Xia Baolong’s fact-finding visit comes at crucial time given concerns over economy and proposed national security law, tycoon and political observers say.

Regina Ip echoes call by former city leader Leung Chun-ying to step up communication on coming legislation under Article 23 of Basic Law.

Washington-funded Radio Free Asia claims that national security law would target media dismissed by Secretary for Security Chris Tang.

Top government adviser Regina Ip says foreign countries wrongly think ‘one country, two systems’ governing principle will disappear once home-grown national security legislation is enacted.

Leung says the draft legislation for Article 23 comparable with countries such as Singapore, which recently acted against a Hong Kong-born citizen under a law to counter foreign interference.

History will show that Hong Kong was slow to fulfil its duty and pass Article 23 national security legislation, so it’s important that we cover all aspects in the new law. This will require careful work and thorough scrutiny, but such important legislation demands we take time to get it right.

John Lee says Hong Kong is packed with opportunities, as mainland China’s economy is ‘expected to improve steadily’.