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Following is a transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Security, Mrs. Regina Ip, after attending the "Solar Project 2003" function today (July 6):

Secretary for Security: Yesterday the Government has announced three major amendments to the National Security (Legislative Provisions) Bill. First, removing the mechanism whereby Hong Kong organisations subordinate to a Mainland body banned on national security grounds which could be banned by the Secretary for Security. A lot of religious groups expressed concerns that this proscription mechanism could undermine religious freedom. Now that this mechanism has been removed, there are no grounds whatsoever for doubting the continuation of religious freedom in Hong Kong. Secondly, Hong Kong people have expressed concern about excessive Police powers. In view of this, we have withdrawn our proposals to give the Police the power to make emergency investigative entry and arrest without judicial warrant. So again there are no grounds for Hong Kong people to worry about the Police entering your home in times of emergency. Also in response to requests from the media, we have introduced a "public interest defence" for the offence of "unauthorised disclosure" applying to members of the public. This "public interest defence" was designed at the request of the media and based on the existing Prevention of Bribery Ordinance. We sincerely believe we have tried our best to address public concerns and we hope that the public will support the Government's proposal to resume second reading and third reading of the National Security Bill this Wednesday. Thank you very much.

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

End/Sunday, July 6, 2003

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