Basic Law Article 23 bill to be gazetted Friday
The government's bill on Basic Law Article 23 national security legislation will be gazetted on Friday, with a full Legco meeting scheduled the same day for its first and second readings.  The moves will come nine days after the conclusion of a month-long public consultation exercise on the legislative proposals. Chief Executive John Lee on Thursday said he had written to Legco president Andrew Leung, urging the legislature to vet the bill at full speed.  "The HKSAR has to enact the Basic Law Article 23 legislation as soon as possible – the earlier the better,” the CE said in a statement. “Completing the legislative work even one day earlier means we can more effectively safeguard national security one day earlier. The HKSAR can then focus its efforts on developing the economy, improving people's livelihood and maintaining the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong,” he added. Leung informed lawmakers that he was convening a full council meeting at 11am on Friday for the bill's first and second readings, citing the matter's urgency and necessity.  Earlier, lawmakers formed a subcommittee to study matters relating to Article 23, deciding that the subcommittee would be turned into a bills committee once the bill is submitted to Legco. The bill outlaws crimes including treason, inciting insurrection, theft of state secrets and foreign interference.