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Following is a reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee, to a question by the Hon Margaret Ng on disclosure of official secrets in the Legislative Council today (July 4):
Question:
Early last month, a former Financial Secretary confirmed to the media that in 2002, during his tenure as the Financial Secretary, the top echelon of the Government had studied whether the linked exchange rate system should be abandoned. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether it intends to investigate if that person has improperly disclosed official secrets; and
(b) of its policy regarding the breach of the rule of confidentiality by former principal officials?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) The Administration has set very stringent rules to prevent any leakage of classified information. If there are leaks of classified information, the Administration will take appropriate action to follow up and investigate.
(b) The Administration has set very stringent rules to prevent any leakage of classified information. Incumbent and former principal officials are required to comply with these rules.
As far as the law is concerned, principal officials are included in the category of "public servants" as defined by the Official Secrets Ordinance (OSO). Therefore, they are subject to the provisions applicable to "public servants".
Moreover, the Code for Principal Officials under the Accountability System issued by the Chief Executive's office in 2002 reaffirms the above statutory provisions. The Code also stipulates that principal officials are still required to comply with the relevant provisions in the OSO after they have left the service.
Ends/Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Issued at HKT 14:57
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