Article 23 legislation: Bill fast-tracked through first and second readings less than three hours after gazetting; clause-by-clause scrutiny this afternoon, Tang thanks LegCo for full cooperation
【23條立法】刊憲不足3小時全速首二讀 下午逐條審 鄧炳強感謝立法會充份配合
The Government gazetted the Safeguarding National Security Bill this morning. The bill is 212 pages long. It proposes that a conviction for rebellion or treason be punishable by life imprisonment, while publicly expressing an intention to commit treason could carry a 14-year prison sentence. Espionage could carry up to 20 years’ imprisonment. Inciting public officers to turn against the Government—that is, abandoning support for the Basic Law and allegiance to the Government—could carry seven years’ imprisonment, or 10 years if foreign forces are involved. Unlawfully disclosing state secrets could carry 10 years’ imprisonment, unlawfully obtaining them five years, and unlawfully possessing them three years. Unlawful possession when leaving Hong Kong could carry up to seven years’ imprisonment. The bill also includes defence provisions granting exemption from liability.
政府今早刊憲《維護國家安全條例草案》，全長212頁。《草案建議》叛亂罪、叛國罪一經定罪，可被判處終身監禁，公開表明意圖犯叛國罪可判囚14年。間諜活動罪可判監20年，煽惑公職人員離叛，即放棄擁護《基本法》及效忠政府可判囚7年，如涉境外勢力就判囚10年。非法披露國家秘密可囚10年，非法獲取則囚5年，非法管有就囚3年，離境時非法管有就大幅升至囚7年，條例加入免責辯護條款。