The Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (the Committee) held a meeting today (January 11) to discuss the implementation of the interpretation and relevant explanations of Article 14 and Article 47 of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (National Security Law) by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC) on December 30, 2022.

     The Committee stated that:

     (1) it will fully fulfil the obligations as stipulated in the contents of the interpretation by the NPCSC, and carry out its duties and functions as prescribed in Article 14 of the National Security Law in accordance with the law, which are:

(i) analysing and assessing developments in relation to safeguarding national security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), making work plans, and formulating policies for safeguarding national security in the HKSAR;
(ii) advancing the development of the legal system and enforcement mechanisms of the HKSAR for safeguarding national security; and
(iii) co-ordinating major work and significant operations for safeguarding national security in the HKSAR.

     (2) it supports the HKSAR Government to introduce amendments to the Legal Practitioners Ordinance as soon as possible, so as to handle the matter concerning the participation of overseas lawyers who are not qualified to practise generally in Hong Kong in cases involving national security issues in an appropriate manner.

Ends/Wednesday, January 11, 2023
Issued at HKT 19:13

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