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The Security Bureau will further study international standards and the latest technologies to enhance immigration control.
Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee told legislators today that the move will boost the confidence of other countries in the anti-forgery features of Hong Kong passports, and encourage the continued granting of visa-free access to the passport's holders.
Mr Lee said the bureau will also continue to work on the implementation of Basic Law Article 23.
"We appreciate that public understanding and support are of paramount importance to our work in implementing our constitutional duty. We will re-examine the issues involved. There is no fixed timetable for the legislative exercise," he said.
Other legislative work included making the Independent Police Complaints Council a statutory body. To strengthen the existing system of handling complaints against Police, the work, functions, powers and related matters of the council will be clearly laid down in law.
Other areas looked at
The bureau will work to meet the needs of cross-boundary infrastructure projects, like the new boundary control point on the HK-Shenzhen Western Corridor. It will continue to press ahead with other preparatory work, including the necessary legislative amendments for the co-location arrangement.
On terrorism and transnational organised crime, he said the Legislative Council Bills Committee is now scrutinising the United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures) (Amendment) Bill 2003. The bureau will work with the committee to take the bill forward.
The bureau is formulating legislative proposals to implement the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime. It will also continue discussions with other regions and countries to enhance co-operation with other jurisdictions in criminal matters relating to Mutual Legal Assistance, Surrender of Fugitive Offenders and Transfer of Sentenced Persons.
The bureau will also study the revised set of 40 recommendations issued by the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering last June to make our financial system more consistent with the latest international standards in combating money laundering and terrorist financing.
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