As it happened: Hong Kong Article 23 bill readings advance in Legco, with lawmakers set for marathon meetings over weekend to push forward legislation

Among changes in draft bill, those convicted of endangering national security, or those on trial for such offences, will not be eligible for early release
Bills committee begins to scrutinise proposed legislation clause by clause at two afternoon meetings, with lawmakers set for marathon sessions over weekend

Hong Kong’s Article 23 national security law

SCMP Reporters

Published: 8:30am, 8 Mar 2024

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Flags outside Legco at Tamar. The public can now read in full the proposed offences’ associated penalties and extraterritorial application. Photo: Yik Yeung-man. Photo: Jelly Tse

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Introduction

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Hong Kong’s domestic national security legislation is being prepared at lightning speed as a full draft reached the Legislative Council on Friday morning, eight days after a month-long consultation period ended.

The legislation is part of a constitutional requirement Hong Kong must fulfil as stated under Article 23 of the Basic Law, the city’s mini-constitution. It is meant to work in tandem with the Beijing-imposed national security law and fill in gaps in the legal framework on national security.

The legislature cleared the first reading of the bill and began the second hours after it was first published in the government gazette in the morning, while a bills committee started deliberating it clause by clause at two back-to-back meetings in the afternoon.

Hong Kong’s Article 23 domestic security law: what are the fears?

The Post tracks the full reveal and fast-moving developments of the proposed legislation, which will cover five new offences: treason; insurrection, incitement to mutiny and disaffection, and acts with seditious intention; sabotage; foreign interference; and theft of state secrets and espionage.

Friday also marks the first time the public can read in full the proposed offences’ associated penalties and extraterritorial application, both of which were not disclosed in a consultation paper published on January 30.

After the consultation paper’s broadly worded terms drew concerns, officials promised greater clarity from the draft bill. Sources have suggested the bill may pass as soon as early April.

Here is a quick summary of the penalties as published in the draft bill.

Follow our live blog for the latest on the passage of the bill.

Reporting by Kahon Chan, Jeffie Lam, Sammy Heung, Elizabeth Cheung, Jess Ma, Lilian Cheng, Willa Wu and Emily Hung

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