The point was made to SAR Secretary for Justice Elsie Leung when she met yesterday with Li Peng, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC).

"The major task of the first SAR administration is to secure a smooth transition," Leung quoted Li as saying.

But the central government stressed that the Hong Kong government has the obligation to make the laws under the Basic Law as soon as possible, said Leung.

According to Article 23 of the Basic Law, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region "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".

But Leung said that Hong Kong had not been given a clear timetable to create anti-subversion laws according to the 23rd article of the Basic Law.

Li and other officials showed their understanding of the SAR government delay in making the laws, and did not say when or how Hong Kong should pass the laws, Leung said.

On the second day of her two-day stay in Beijing, Leung yesterday visited Li Peng and Qiao Xiaoyang, deputy director of the NPC Legal Affairs Commission.

Asked by the media afterwards when such laws will come out, Leung said it was up to the Security Bureau.

The anti-subversion laws should also prohibit foreign political organizations or bodies from conducting political activities in the region, and prohibit political organizations or bodies of the region from establishing ties with foreign political organizations or bodies.

She said Hong Kong will also consult with the mainland before enacting relative laws, as article 23 includes the protection of national security.

When meeting Leung, Chairman Li Peng applauded the SAR government's achievement in implementing the Basic Law and "one country, two systems" principle.

"The central government is satisfied with your work," said Li. "I believe Hong Kong citizens are also satisfied."

Li said the popular support of Tung Chee-hwa in his nomination bid for a second term showed the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong.

Elsie Leung yesterday also met Minister of Justice Zhang Fusen. She asked why a separate regulation is needed for Hong Kong and Macao when the Ministry of Justice launched a regulation concerning foreign law offices in China last December.

Minister Zhang said Hong Kong and Macao need separate regulations because they are different tariff regions in China.

Foreign law firms, together with Hong Kong ones, are only allowed to open a restricted number of offices and handle limited legal functions on the mainland.

The draft regulation for Hong Kong is expected to come out next month, said Leung.

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