Hong Kong’s John Lee pledges to enact local security law
ABC News
Hong Kong’s only candidate for the upcoming leadership elections, John Lee, is pledging to increase the city’s competitiveness and to enact a long-shelved local security law upon taking office
HONG KONG -- Hong Kong’s only candidate for the upcoming leadership elections pledged Friday to enact a long-shelved local legislation to protect against security threats and vowed to increase the city’s competitiveness upon taking office.
John Lee, formerly the city's No. 2 official, revealed his 44-page manifesto Friday, vowing to strengthen governance, increase public housing supply, boost the city’s competitiveness and build an inclusive society focused on upward mobility.
As part of improving governance, Lee said he would “fulfill the constitutional responsibility of legislation” under Article 23 of Hong Kong's mini-constitution, the Basic Law. Article 23 stipulates that the city shall enact its own laws to prohibit “any act of treason, secession, sedition, subversion against the Central People’s Government," as well as “theft of state secrets.”
Hong Kong attempted to enact such laws in 2003, but it faced resistance from residents. Plans to implement such a security law were shelved following massive protests.
