"There are already existing powers under the Ordinance to prohibit an unlawful society (sections 18 to 20 of the Ordinance)" and that "The Secretary for Security is effectively given "pre-emptive" power to proscribe on the ground of national security." i.e. to make a society illegal before they have done anything wrong.
The Law Society also stated that "There are certain unusual features in the appeal procedure where a society is proscribed”, referring to the scandalous secret trial provision proposed in the blue bill.
The Law Society concluded on this issue: "The requirements of Article 23 are already met by the other proposals in the Blue Bill and there appears to be no need to enact this additional power to proscribe and the extreme measures contained in the proposed appeal procedure."
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