Page:Witness Protection Ordinance (Cap. 564).pdf/12

WITNESS PROTECTION ORDINANCE :(a) a participant has been provided with a new identity or has been relocated under the witness protection programme; and
 * (b) an officer under the Commissioner’s authority or another law enforcement agency in or outside Hong Kong notifies the approving authority that the participant has been arrested or is liable to arrest for an arrestable offence,

the approving authority may—
 * (i) release to the officer or law enforcement agency the new identity or new location of the participant;
 * (ii) provide the officer or law enforcement agency with the criminal record of the participant and the participant’s fingerprints;
 * (iii) release to the officer or law enforcement agency such other information relating to the witness protection programme as the approving authority considers appropriate in the circumstances; and
 * (iv) if the approving authority considers it appropriate to do so in the circumstances, allow officers of the law enforcement agency to interview him, or any officer working with him in the witness protection programme, in relation to the participant.

16. Officers protected from suit in respect of decisions under Ordinance

The approving authority, officers working with him and any other public officer or person performing functions in relation to the witness protection programme are not liable to any action, suit or proceedings (including criminal proceedings) under a law in force in Hong Kong in respect of an act done or omitted to be done in good faith in the exercise or purported exercise of a power conferred by this Ordinance.

17. Offences

(1) A person shall not, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, disclose information—
 * (a) about the identity or location of a person who is or has been a participant or who has been considered for inclusion in the witness protection programme; or
 * (b) that compromises the security of such a person.

(2) A person who is or has been a participant, or a person who has undergone assessment for inclusion in the witness protection programme as a participant, shall not disclose—
 * (a) the fact that he is or has been a participant or has undergone assessment for inclusion in the witness protection programme;