'No intention to ban social media under Article 23', says HK official

Hong Kong has no plans to ban certain social media platforms under Basic Law Article 23 national security legislation, according to secretary for justice Paul Lam (pictured).  

Speaking at the Legislative Council meeting on Article 23 yesterday, Lam said the government is addressing the misuse or abuse of social media platforms by certain people who spread harmful or potentially jeopardising statements that pose a threat to national security. 

“I can firmly say that the government has no intention to ban any social media platform. It is crucial to understand that social media is a tool, and we do not aim to impede the existence of any tool,” Lam said. 

He added that Hong Kong is an international hub that relies on freedom of information and it is essential to consolidate and protect this advantage. 

This comes after Bloomberg reported that social media platforms such as Facebook and YouTube would be banned under Article 23 legislation. 

The reports were initially titled "HK says Telegram should be prohibited in Article 23 proposal" and “HK says Signal should be prohibited in Article 23 proposal”. 

In a statement, a government spokesperson expressed strong dissatisfaction and condemnation regarding Bloomberg's reporting, which has resulted in misunderstandings and panic concerning the legislative proposals of Article 23. The headline of Bloomberg’s report has been changed to “Hong Kong official says city won’t ban popular messaging apps”. 

Lawmaker Regina Ip said during the Legco meeting that she received numerous panicked responses, including inquiries from friends in Dubai asking if YouTube and Facebook are also banned. “Some have expressed that their children will not return and talented individuals will no longer come to Hong Kong,” Ip added.  

The consultation on the legislative proposals of Article 23 concluded on 28 February. Secretary for security Chris Tang said over 13,489 submissions were received. 98.6% support the legislation and the opposition accounted for 0.72%. 

Don’t miss: HK to form 'rebuttal team' to refute false claims against Article 23 online 

Back in January, chief executive John Lee established 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. 

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