Hong Kong will consider whether a “public interest” exemption should be included in the theft of state secrets offence under a proposed new security law, security chief Chris Tang has said. Speaking at the Legislative Council (LegCo) on Tuesday afternoon, Tang said he had noted that some people thought leaks made in “significant public interest” should be exempted from prosecution. “We will give it thorough consideration after hearing from the public,” Tang said in Cantonese. Authorities released a consultation paper on the enactment of security legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law on…