Hong Kong, July 05: Hong Kong's leader said today that he would tone down an anti-subversion bill that came under massive attack when 500,000 people took to the streets and called it a threat to their civil liberties. Chief executive Tung chee-Hwa said he would scrap a provision that allows some groups to be banned, add protections for journalists who publish classified information and delete a provision that would let police conduct searches without warrants.

Tung acknowledged the massive outpouring of public sentiment had forced the embarrassing retreat from parts of the National Security Law and said "my colleagues and myself have to do better".
Tung has found himself in the biggest political crisis since Hong Kong was returned from Britain to China.


Tung wants Hong Kong's legislature to pass the law on schedule next week. The law was required under its mini-constitution that took effect at the handover on July 1, 1997.
Tung called it "a sacrosanct duty of the people of Hong Kong'' and predicted that the bill can pass because his changes mean "the controversy is no longer there".

The bill outlaws subversion, treason, sedition and other crimes against the state, imposing life prison sentences for some offenses.

Bureau Report