Deputy Secretary for Justice Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan gives an exclusive interview to China Daily on June 26, 2023. (JIANG JIAXUAN / CHINA DAILY)

Hong Kong’s deputy justice secretary said local legislation of Article 23 of the Basic Law of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is making smooth progress and the government is looking to other countries’ and region’s national security laws for inspiration and reference.

Speaking to China Daily in an exclusive interview on Monday, Deputy Secretary for Justice Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan said the timetable for the local legislation remains unchanged and that the work must be completed by next year at the latest. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has previously mentioned the target date on numerous occasions. 

The National Security Law was enacted in the aftermath of the social unrest in 2019 when the city was deeply embroiled in street violence

“The environment for local legislation of Article 23 has changed profoundly and we will also take note of what happened during the social unrest in 2019 so that Hong Kong can avoid leaving any loopholes when enacting Article 23,” Cheung said. 

READ MORE: Tang: HK still needs to enact Article 23 to close legal loophole

"It is our constitutional responsibility to legislate on the Article 23 of the Hong Kong Basic Law. We should not be discussing whether or not Hong Kong should enact it, but rather how to do this task well," Cheung said.

Article 23 of the Hong Kong Basic Law requires the SAR to enact laws on its own to prohibit seven categories of acts that endanger national security, including treason, sedition, subversion and theft of state secrets. Some national-security endangering acts are already covered by the National Security Law for Hong Kong, which took effect on June 30, 2020, prohibiting secession, subversion, terrorist activities and collusion with a foreign force or external elements to endanger national security.

READ MORE: Can Article 23 legislation be further postponed?

The National Security Law was enacted in the aftermath of the social unrest in 2019 when the city was deeply embroiled in street violence. The situation was quickly brought under control after the security law came into effect. Cheung revealed that experts are examining other countries' national security laws for inspiration and reference.

Cheung said legislation of Article 23 is a matter of concern for both Hong Kong society and the international community.

Cheung added that although there is likely to be some controversy over this issue, Hong Kong needs to get the message across that its legislation will be in line with international standards and no country in the world that lacks legislation on national security. 

(Contributed by intern Michael Wong)