Hong Kong began a four-week public consultation on Jan 30 on the Article 23 legislation of the Basic Law. Western media have criticized the legislation, saying it will harm Hong Kong's international status. In an interview with China Daily, Leung Chun-ying, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, points out that Singapore has even stricter security legislation. However, Western media have not criticized Singapore in the same harsh manner that they have been doing to Hong Kong. Foreign media should offer an explanation for this "double standard", Leung said.