Transcript of remarks by S for S after FCC meeting
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     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee, at a media session at Central Government Offices, Tamar, after the Fight Crime Committee meeting this afternoon (August 30):

Reporter: Mr Lee, how would police officers enforce the national anthem law to be enacted in Hong Kong and are you worried that there will be a lot of accusations that officers are trying to politically prosecute some people?

Secretary for Security: If the national anthem law is going to be enacted in Hong Kong, first of all, there will obviously be a debate in the LegCo (Legislative Council). All the details will be discussed. Views can be expressed. So eventually, what will be enacted in the law will be clear in its meaning so that people of Hong Kong will understand how they should behave in regard to the provision. As regards how the law is to be enforced, it is a matter of the wording of the law and then how the law enforcement agencies collect evidence and present the evidence in court. It has to be according to the circumstances of the case itself.
 
Reporter: Are you worried on the accusation about political prosecutions?
 
Secretary for Security: I have said many times any prosecution that the law enforcement agencies take, or the Department of Justice takes, aims at the act committed by the offenders. If the act is against the law, what is the motive, what is the political belief is not the key. It is whether the act contravenes the law. Whether he is supporting the Government or against the Government, if the act contravenes the law, then the law has to apply. And that should be a clear message to everybody. Whatever we do when we try to express our opinion, it should be conducted in a lawful and peaceful manner.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

Ends/Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Issued at HKT 19:33

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