Photo taken on June 29, 2020 shows a billboard on the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Central area in Hong Kong. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

HONG KONG – The Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region met on Wednesday and decided to support moves to amend the Legal Practitioners Ordinance “as soon as possible”.

The committee met to discuss the implementation of the interpretation and relevant explanations of Article 14 and Article 47 of National Security Law for Hong Kong by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on Dec 30, 2022, according to a government statement.

The committee said it will fulfil the obligations stipulated in the contents of the NPCSC interpretation and carry out its duties and functions under Article 14 of the National Security Law

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“(The committee) supports the HKSAR government to introduce amendments to the Legal Practitioners Ordinance as soon as possible, so as to handle the matter concerning the participation of overseas lawyers who are not qualified to practise generally in Hong Kong in cases involving national security issues in an appropriate manner,” the statement reads.

The committee said it will fulfil the obligations stipulated in the contents of the NPCSC interpretation and carry out its duties and functions under Article 14 of the National Security Law.

It will do so by analyzing and assessing developments, making work plans, and formulating policies for safeguarding national security in the HKSAR, according to the statement.

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It will also advance the development of the legal system and enforcement mechanisms of the HKSAR and coordinate major work and significant operations for safeguarding national security.