John Lee: New National Security Department Possible

Secretary for Security John Lee on Saturday set out more details of how the SAR is preparing for new security law Beijing is implementing, saying a new department could be given responsibility for implementing the legislation.

Speaking on a radio programme, Lee also defended a pledge by the Ministry of Public Security, the national police force, to "guide and support the Hong Kong police to stop violence and restore order", saying mainland agents here would be subject to local laws.

Lee said one possibility his bureau is studying is whether a new department should handle national security matters, and whether there's a need to find new recruits or implement special training to enforce the legislation.

Late on Thursday, the public security ministry in Beijing said it would take a role in directing and supporting the Hong Kong police, a remark analysts said was a clear sign that mainland organs would take a direct role in implementing the security legislation here.

However Lee said this would simply be a form of exchange between law enforcement agencies and would not breach the Basic Law, which limits the activities of mainland bodies in Hong Kong.

He said any mainland agent who was assigned to work in Hong Kong would be subject to the SAR's laws.

And he downplayed fears that media outlets will get into trouble for reporting on the opinions of Hong Kong independence advocates or mainland dissidents.

He said press freedom was guaranteed by the Basic Law and journalists won't be deemed to have "the intention to commit such a crime" if, as he put it, they report the news "truthfully".

Lee was speaking hours after US President Donald Trump pledged to sanction officials from Hong Kong and the mainland if they press ahead with implementing the national security law.

He said "the US won't win" by threatening SAR officials because he and his colleagues believe in what they're doing.