Hong Kong Basic Law Article 23 is the basis of a
security law proposed by the
Government of Hong Kong. It states: On 24 September 2002, the government released its proposals for the anti-subversion law. It is the cause of considerable controversy and division in
Hong Kong, which operates as a separate
legal system in accordance with the
Sino-British Joint Declaration. Protests against the bill resulted in a massive demonstration on 1 July 2003. In the aftermath, two Executive Committee members resigned and the bill was withdrawn after it became clear that it would not get the necessary support from the
Legislative Council for it to be passed. The bill was then shelved indefinitely.