HK to form 'rebuttal team' to refute false claims against Article 23 online

The Hong Kong government will set up a "rebuttal team" (反駁隊) to counter false allegations and malicious attacks against the Article 23 legislation on social media.

It comes as chief executive John Lee highlighted in the 2023 Policy Address that the government was striving to draw up effective legislative options and would complete the legislation process by the end of 2024.

During an interactive Q&A session with legislators yesterday (25 January), Lee said the government would establish a "rebuttal team" dedicated to providing accurate information and facts to counter false claims and malicious attacks on social media. He also encouraged lawmakers to report any instances of such incidents or attacks to the government for appropriate action.

“Based on past experiences, we have witnessed hostile forces engaging in extensive propaganda efforts, particularly through the internet, to smear and distort facts. I believe that we will encounter similar challenges in our legislative work this time,” Lee said.

Furthermore, Lee plans to set up task forces to promote and explain Article 23 to the business sector and international community. The teams will be formed by the secretary for justice, the secretary for security, as well as chief secretary for administration and the financial secretary.

Lawmakers Regina Ip, Starry Lee and Lai Tung Kwok were also appointed as core team members responsible for rebuttal work. Ip previously served as secretary for security during the 2003 legislative period of Article 23. She said she is delighted to be given the opportunity to fulfil the unfinished responsibility.

MARKETING-INTERACTIVE has reached out to the government for a statement. 

Back in December last year, John Lee said on a seminar for Constitution Day that, the government was fully committed and actively preparing to complete local legislation of Article 23 by 2024.

According to Article 23 of the Basic Law, Hong Kong 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, to prohibit foreign political organisations or bodies from conducting political activities in the region, and to prohibit political organisations or bodies of the region from establishing ties with foreign political organisations or bodies.

The government is expected to begin a public consultation process on Article 23 before the Lunar New Year, according to HK01.

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