'Govt will explain clearly Article 23 legislation'
Secretary for Security Chris Tang has stressed the need for the government to explain clearly to the public upcoming Article 23 national security legislation. He also said officials will conduct public consultation on the matter at an appropriate time. Chief Executive John Lee had announced in his Policy Address that national security legislation would be enacted before the end of next year. Speaking at a press conference on Friday on the policy blueprint, Tang said Article 23 is important, given the unrest here four years ago. "When we look back at what happened in 2019, when the petrol bombs were thrown around the city, when the people were assaulted because they just simply have a different political opinion, or just simply because they speak Mandarin, so I think national security is important in ensuring the society develop and also economic development,” he said.  Tang added that the upcoming legislation will be different from the 2003 version because national security risks have changed. Also on Friday, Secretary for Education Christine Choi said patriotic education will help students recognise the advantages of Hong Kong as a gateway between China and the rest of the world. The Policy Address highlighted the need to incorporate patriotic education into the city's education system to enhance national identity and appreciation of traditional Chinese culture. "For our young people, we have to provide them enough opportunities to know more about their motherland – China, so that they can catch the opportunities [from] the rapid development of the Greater Bay Area, and also the Belt and Road Initiative," said Choi.