Hong Kong, Sept 05: Hong Kong chief executive Tung Chee-Hwa said today his government had withdrawn plans to introduce controversial security legislation which sparked the territory's worst political crisis since 1997.
Tung said plans to revive the Bill with a second round of public consultation later this month had been put on hold because of widespread concern in the territory over the new law.
"In order to let give people enough time to understanding the law, we decided to postpone it," he said of the Bill, which critics and opponents say threatens Hong Kong's political, religious and media freedoms.

"We will legislate the law only until we have sufficient consultation," he said, pointing out that "there is no timetable."
The initial national security bill, drawn up under Article 23 of Hong Kong's post-1997 constitution, was shelved by Tung after more than 500,000 marched through the streets in a massive pro-democracy protest here on July 1.



The July 1 march was followed by a series of other demonstrations which ultimately led to the resignation of two of Tung's most unpopular ministers, Financial Secretary Antony Leung and Security Secretary Regina Ip.


Bureau Report