More transparency: Chief Executive Donald Tsang says the covert surveillance order makes existing procedures more transparent.

The order on covert surveillance clarifies the power exercised by law-enforcement bodies and has nothing to do with the enactment of Basic Law Article 23, Chief Executive Donald Tsang says.

Mr Tsang said today the Law Enforcement (Covert Surveillance Procedures) Order, gazetted yesterday, regulates law-enforcement agencies' use of covert surveillance. Only very senior officers will be able to invoke this particular power.

"More importantly, this order does not affect the rights and privileges of citizens. It only regulates the behaviour of public servants. It does not regulate, it does not make any particular additional restrictions on citizens at all."

Mr Tsang said the order makes existing covert surveillance procedures more transparent so the public can see whether there is any misbehaviour on the part of law enforcement agencies.

He hopes legislative work on the issue will start in the coming year, adding the public and lawmakers will be informed of the proposal.