‘Rebuttal team’ to fight attacks on Hong Kong’s national security law, city leader John Lee says
- Lee promises that clear explanations will be given to businesspeople, diplomats and international chambers of commerce to dispel any misgivings
- He predicts that ‘hostile forces’ will again try to derail the legislation as happened in 2003
Hong Kong’s leader will set up a “rebuttal team” to counter online attacks on the city’s home-grown national security legislation and has promised to make sure clear explanations will be given to businesspeople, diplomats and international chambers of commerce.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Thursday told the legislature that by “putting a perfect full stop” to the national security framework issue, the city would be able to devote its attention to growing the economy and tackling livelihood problems.
“In the past, we have seen hostile forces carry out a lot of publicity work to slander and distort facts, especially on the internet,” he said. “I believe this will happen again in our legislative work this time.
“We will set up a rebuttal team in this area, especially on social media, to tell people the truth.”
Lee made the pledge during a question and answer session that focused on boosting the economy with major events and Article 23 of the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s mini-constitution, which requires the city create its own national security law.
