Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee said today the newly enacted Interception of Communications & Surveillance Ordinance struck a fine balance between protecting individuals' privacy rights and the rights of the community to law and order.

Mr Lee was speaking in Canberra, where he met Australia's Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs, Senator Amanda Vanstone, and Minister for Justice & Customs, Senator Christopher Ellison.

Mr Lee said that in formulating the regime under the ordinance, Hong Kong had referred to other comparable common law jurisdictions, including Australia.

He said Hong Kong's newly enacted law compares favourably with similar laws in other common law jurisdictions as far as protecting people's freedom and privacy is concerned.

Hong Kong's law also provides stringent safeguards for privacy for all stages of the operation, including the appointment of an independent Commissioner on Interception of Communications & Surveillance to oversee law-enforcement departments' compliance with the ordinance, the code of practice and terms and conditions of the authorisations.

Mr Lee also exchanged views with Senator Vanstone on immigration issues including the increasing number of asylum seekers in Hong Kong.

At his meeting with Senator Ellison, Mr Lee noted the close cooperation between the law-enforcement agencies of both places in combating transnational crimes such as terrorism, drug trafficking, human smuggling and money laundering.