BBC: Pressure mounts on HK leader

Tuesday's rally was Hong Kong's biggest since its return to China

Mr Tung reiterated on Friday that his government was duty-bound to introduce the legislation, but hinted that there was room for compromise.

"I am weighing very carefully the views that have been presented to me, the suggestions that have been made to me. I will let you all know when a decision has been made," he told reporters.

Pressure has been mounting for Mr Tung to address citizens' concerns over the bill - known as Article 23 - since protests on Tuesday saw 500,000 people march through the territory's streets.

Mr Tung has been meeting with key advisers to try and decide whether to proceed with the legislation as it stands or address its critics' concerns.

Lawmakers gathered on Friday for a meeting requested by the opposition Democratic Party, to discuss how Hong Kong's authorities should answer the public's demands.

Democratic Party leader Yeung Sum said that Mr Tung's Government should make a public response if it wanted to "avoid a political crisis".

The opposition is also calling for a delay in the bill's passage into law - which could take place next week, after a final vote in the Legislative Council on Wednesday.

Government officials have so far indicated that the vote will go ahead as planned, even if a sizeable number of lawmakers are opposed to it.

A number of pro-democracy legislators have already called on the government to allow more time for public consultation before the bill is passed.

Others have suggested that the bill should be watered down in some areas, to allay the public's fears.

Protesters have planned to demonstrate again on Wednesday, if the vote takes place.

'Threat to freedom'

Tuesday's rally - timed to coincide with the sixth anniversary of the former British colony's return to Chinese sovereignty - was the biggest in Hong Kong since protests against Beijing's Tiananmen Square killings in 1989.

Many demonstrators claimed that the new security legislation was a threat to political, religious and media freedoms.

But protesters also demonstrated about a whole range of issues, from the dire state of the territory's economy, to the government's handling of the deadly Sars virus.

Article 23 is part of Hong Kong's mini-constitution - the Basic Law - which was negotiated on its handover from Britain to China.

According to the article, Hong Kong is required to introduce legislation against treason, sedition and the theft of state secrets, and certain political groups.

Religious groups, human rights organisations and journalists all fear that it gives the government power to suppress their activities.

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But Britain and the European Union have also criticised the bill, saying it could reduce the territory's autonomy from mainland China.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3043664.stm