The government on Wednesday tabled revised guidelines regarding the designation and disclosure of state secrets, in a bid to ease concerns that the controversial secrecy law will limit public access to information.
Under the secrecy law that the government aims to put into effect in December, the heads of government ministries and agencies can designate as special secrets any information deemed to be sensitive in the areas of diplomacy, defense, counterterrorism and counterespionage.
Leakers such as civil servants will face up to 10 years in prison and those who instigate leaks will be subject to a five-year prison term.