Hong Kong security chief can now freeze assets in national security cases until end of court proceedings
- Earlier limit under national security law capped period at two years unless High Court authorised extension
- Security chief Chris Tang also warns fugitives should not assume they are protected by foreign governments
Hong Kong’s security chief has been empowered to freeze the assets of suspects involved in national security cases until legal proceedings have ended, removing an earlier limit that capped the period at two years unless the High Court authorised an extension.
“If you are aware that a person has violated, or is suspected of violating, crimes that endanger national security, donating money to them could potentially be considered a criminal act,” Tang said.
The government said the expanded powers of the security chief were needed to clear up legal uncertainties relating to Article 43 of the national security law.
“The amendments are technical in nature and the scope … is extremely narrow: it only aims at making clear provisions in respect of the validity period of [the] freezing notice, without changing the basis or principle for issuing such notice,” a spokesman said. “If the related proceeding [has] not yet concluded, it is only natural that the notices should remain valid in the meantime.”
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and the Committee for Safeguarding National Security had decided to make the chang, which took effect immediately, he added.
