The government said on Thursday people won't violate national security laws if they simply take pictures of or go near six Office for Safeguarding National Security locations that have been declared as prohibited places this week.

The prohibition placed on the six locations took effect on Tuesday in line with new subsidiary legislation tabled under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.

At a Legco subcommittee scrutinising the subsidiary laws by negative vetting, lawmaker Kitson Yang asked if it's a crime to take a picture of the office when people walk by.

He's also concerned that two of the prohibited places which are in Tai Kok Tsui are located next to schools, saying students may enter the places inadvertently.

DAB chairman Gary Chan added that some of the premises are "just a step next to passageways" used by the general public, saying that "people could drop a coin into the prohibited places" [and then look for it].

Security minister Chris Tang told Yang that the public need not worry about inadvertent violations of the law.

"Criminal intent is required as, for example, when one enters the area for espionage activities," he said.

"Just passing by and taking a photo doesn't constitute a criminal intent."

Tang added there are clear signs next to the banned places, and if needed, police officers can liaise with schools to explain the laws to students and teachers.

For his part, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam said the places are guarded by officers, who are empowered under the law to ask anyone to leave immediately after an inadvertent entry.

He said it would be a crime if the person ignores such an order.

Business and Professionals Alliance lawmaker Jeffrey Lam asked what firms should do when they're asked to give information based on a legal instrument served by the Office for Safeguarding National Security, but that they're bound by contractual confidentiality rules.

Lam said the companies must comply with the office's request, noting that cases it handles are of the most serious nature.

He pointed out that the law already states that firms or individuals would be immune from civil liability under such circumstances.

The justice minister also explained to subcommittee chair Martin Liao why SAR authorities have extraterritorial jurisdiction only for the crime of giving false or misleading testimony or information.

Lam said this is an exemption clause under the subsidiary laws made in the event that a person gives false testimony in a security trial on the mainland.

The subcommittee was formed under the House Committee on Thursday morning, comprising the same 15 lawmakers who vetted the security bill under Article 23 of the Basic Law last year.

Committee chair Starry Lee said the deadline for lawmakers to propose changes to the laws is June 11, and the minimum notice period for such proposals is seven days.
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Last updated: 2025-05-15 HKT 17:24