National Security Cops To Operate Secretly: John Lee

Secretary for Security John Lee says a new police unit he is creating to implement Beijing's national security law in the SAR will have to keep its operations secret because they relate to the country's security.

Speaking on a TVB programme on Sunday, Lee said officers selected for the unit would also have to undergo character checks, including tests of their loyalty to Hong Kong.

"Confidentiality is important, this is really needed," Lee said. "Because it involves national security, you have to understand that people targetted [by this law] could be very smart people, they may be specialists."

Amid speculation on whether the central government's security organs would set up bases in Hong Kong, Lee said that was for Beijing to decide.

He said the central authorities had more experience in collecting relevant intelligence and were better at it than their counterparts in Hong Kong.

Lee said there was only one standard for national security that would apply in the SAR and it was for Beijing to specify what it was.

Lee had said previously that he was already in the process of setting up a specialist unit in the Hong Kong police which would be ready to take responsibility for national security as soon as the legislation is promulgated.

The National People's Congress voted to approve the legislation last month, but the NPC Standing Committee has yet to meet to debate the details of the law.