Tung made the remarks during his routine question and answer session at the HKSAR Legislative Council Thursday, when he faced councilors' questions on various issues.

"As a matter of fact, legislating to protect the national security is your and my and every one's responsibility," he said.

"I also want to emphasize that such responsibility is the very foundation stone underlying the successful implementation of the principle of 'one country, two systems,'" Tung said, stressing that now is the right time for the HKSAR government to consider legislating.

Such a move is considered a priority on the part of the HKSAR government, he said.

Article 23 of the Basic Law stipulates that the HKSAR shall enact laws on its own to prohibit any act of treason, secession, sedition, subversion against the Central People's government, or theft of state secrets.

Such laws should also prohibit foreign political organizations or bodies from conducting political activities in the HKSAR, and to prohibit political organizations or bodies of the region from establishing ties with foreign political organizations or bodies.

Tung stressed the legislating on the article will be conducted in a way consistent with the common law system, as well as the existing ordinances, the Basic Law, the Human Rights Ordinance and the two international covenants of which Hong Kong is a signatory, that is, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

The chief executive reassured the councilors and the public that there will be no curtailing of freedom as a result of legislating on the article, adding that the reality speaks for itself that people here have been enjoying increased freedom here since Hong Kong's return to the motherland on July 1, 1997.

(People's Daily October 11, 2002)