The covert surveillance order is necessary for law-enforcement agencies to bring criminals and corrupt officials to justice, Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee says, adding it has not removed any constitutional rights from citizens.

Mr Lee reiterated today the order aims to regulate existing procedures of covert surveillance.

"The Executive Order is to make the process more transparent and to give a clearer legal backing to our law-enforcement officers. The Executive Order, I must emphasise, does not impose any additional criminal liability on any individual. It has also not removed any constitutional rights from our citizens."

On Ching Cheong's case, Mr Lee said Mr Ching's family has put forth some requests which will be taken up with the Mainland authorities. Mr Ching is Singapore's The Straits Times' chief China correspondent.