Acting Permanent Secretary for Security Timothy Tong expressed satisfaction with the record high number of submissions, saying the consultation exercise has achieved its purpose of soliciting full public participation in the process.

He pointed out that the vigorous debates over the proposals in the past few months fully demonstrate Hong Kong's robust freedom of speech, which critics claim the law threatens.

"Hong Kong, being an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China, has both moral and constitutional obligations to protect national security," Tong said, adding that public consultation on proposals to implement Article 23 is a step toward fulfilling its constitutional obligation.

Tong stressed that all views expressed during the consultation exercise would be carefully studied and taken into account before formulating the draft legislation.

"We will consider how best we can improve on our proposals and allay as far as possible worries raised by different sectors, such as those over the possession of seditious publications, increased police powers and unauthorized access to protected information. We believe there will be some adjustments to our proposals in the light of the views received," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency December 24, 2002)