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The National Security Bill is in full accord with the One Country, Two Systems principle and international human rights standards.
This was the Government's response today to a statement issued by Amnesty International HK.
The Government stressed that there is no extension of Mainland laws to Hong Kong, adding that there is no question of the bill being rushed through.
It said that it has proposed in the bill that all its provisions must be interpreted, applied and enforced in accordance with Chapter 3 of the Basic Law.
This mandates strict compliance with international standards on rights and freedoms, including the International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights.
The proposed law represents a liberalisation of existing laws on treason, sedition and protection of official secrets and compare favourably with similar legislation in other common law jurisdictions.
Additional safeguards such as a right to jury trials for all Basic Law Article 23 offences are provided, it added.
The bill is now under detailed scrutiny by the Legislative Council Bills Committee. Some 110 individuals and groups have expressed views on the bill during public hearing sessions.
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