Legco special committee completes review of NSL subsidiary legislation

A special committee under the Legislative Council completes its review of the latest national security subsidiary legislation one day after its establishment.

Having come into effect after it was gazetted days prior, the national security subsidiary legislation grants the chief executive the authority to issue certificates to classify certain cases as national security offences.

Other charges related to the certified case could also be listed as a breach of national security.

Legislated under a "first enacted, then reviewed" system, the Legislative Council establishes a special committee dedicated to the subsidiary legislation, which held a meeting on the matter this afternoon.

Some lawmakers are drawing attention to the law permitting the chief executive to certify certain criminal cases committed prior to the implementation of the NSL to be placed under national security procedures.

This as Secretary for Justice Paul Lam denies the legislation is in conflict with the "no penalty without law" legal formula, stressing it is only a procedural issue.

Lawmaker Peter Douglas Koon, meanwhile, questions if a person wearing black clothes on certain days will be classified as a case involving national security.

Secretary for Security Chris Tang responded saying such incidents should not simply be grouped together, adding that certain actions related to national security may have already been dealt with under the NSL.

The Legco meeting completed its review of the legislation after more than two hours.

Authorities reiterate the legislation does not expand the authority of the chief executive nor the scope of the National Security Law.

The secretary for justice notes the subsidiary legislation aims to clarify the law, and condemns those making such accusations as hoping to stoke the flames of sedition and hate towards the government. He emphasises the legislation will rarely be used.