Deputy justice minister Horace Cheung said on Friday that he’s met with managerial staff of foreign media organisations on the sidelines of United Nations meetings, telling them that some overseas reports on security laws in Hong Kong were very biased and inaccurate.

Cheung was in Geneva to attend the UN’s human rights council meeting, during which he spoke about the enactment of Article 23 of the Basic Law.

Speaking to reporters after returning to Hong Kong, the deputy justice chief said some foreign media reports were problematic.

"For example, the media reports listed out the maximum penalties of national security crimes in Hong Kong, and the reports were repetitive," he said at the airport.

"The message they tried to bring out is that Hong Kong's laws are harsh, and that offenders could be subject to life imprisonment. This is very one-sided and inaccurate."

He said the maximum penalties for security crimes in Hong Kong are similar, if not more lenient, than other jurisdictions like the UK, Australia and Canada.

He added that people do not automatically get the maximum penalty if they breach the relevant laws.

Cheung described the UN meeting as a suitable and timely occasion for the SAR government to set the record straight on an international platform, by refuting remarks made by some countries.

He said it is important for the international community to understand the legislation's background and principles, and the reasons for its enactment.