Government to gazette United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures) (Amendment) Bill 2017
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The Government will publish in the Gazette on Friday (June 16) the United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures) (Amendment) Bill 2017.
United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2178 affirmed the need to combat, by any means, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts, including those perpetrated by foreign terrorist fighters. Furthermore, in the fourth follow-up report on the Mutual Evaluation of Hong Kong, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) pointed out that the freezing mechanism on terrorist property is insufficient. The Government therefore proposes to amend the United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures) Ordinance (Cap. 575) to implement certain requirements of UNSCR 2178 and the FATF's recommendations.
A spokesperson for the Security Bureau said today (June 14) that the Bill will introduce the following four prohibitions:
(a) Prohibition of any Hong Kong permanent resident from travelling to a foreign state for the purpose of the perpetration, planning or preparation of, or participation in, terrorist acts, or the provision or receiving of terrorist training (specified purpose);
(b) Prohibition of any person from providing or collecting any property to finance the travel of a person between states for a specified purpose;
(c) Prohibition of any person from organising or facilitating the travel of a person between states for a specified purpose; and
(d) Prohibition of any person from dealing with specified terrorist property or property owned or controlled by, held on behalf of or at the direction of a specified terrorist or terrorist associate.
The Bill will be introduced into the Legislative Council on June 28.
Ends/Wednesday, June 14, 2017
Issued at HKT 17:00
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