Hong Kong Legco to hold special meeting for subsidiary security legislation

Hong Kong lawmakers will hold a special meeting to discuss new subsidiary legislation for the city’s domestic national security law, after a minister called on them to expedite the oversight process.

The Legislative Council’s meeting schedule on Wednesday showed that its House Committee would hold a special one-day session on the morning of the next day following a government request, paving the way for the creation of a bills committee to proceed with scrutinising the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance’s subsidiary legislation.

The new legislation came into force after its gazettal on Tuesday, just a day after the government unveiled the proposals. Authorities also issued an order designating six premises under Beijing’s national security office in the city as “prohibited places”.

Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung earlier wrote to Starry Lee Wai-king, chairwoman of Legco’s House Committee, urging her to fully support the government’s legislative work and consider holding a special meeting.

He stressed that the national security risks faced by Hong Kong could come “suddenly and unpredictably”.

“Hong Kong has the responsibility to complete the legislative work surrounding the subsidiary legislation as soon as possible, as well as to expedite the relevant work under the principle of ‘the sooner, the better,’” Tang wrote.