Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the third meeting of the Council for the Protection of Information at the Prime Minister's Office.
In the meeting, following an explanation outlining public comments regarding draft Cabinet orders and operating standards for the Act on the Protection of Specially Designated Secrets, the members exchanged views.
The Prime Minister said in his opening address,
“I would like to offer a few remarks upon the holding of the third meeting of the Council for the Protection of Information. First let me express my profound gratitude to all of the council members for attending today despite your busy schedules.
During the second council meeting, I set out a rough draft for operating standards that incorporate the concepts and systems needed to ensure the appropriate application of the Act on the Protection of Specially Designated Secrets. Following this, we solicited public comments for a one month period regarding the Cabinet orders and operating standards, and we received opinions from many members of the public.
During the second council meeting, council members requested that the Government respond seriously to the opinions gathered through the public comment process. The Government has thoroughly discussed each of these opinions one by one, and adopted those opinions that should be adopted. I would like to carefully explain the results of this process, including the reasoning. 
During today’s meeting, the Government will explain the results of the public comment process and the points for improvement identified based on those results. I would then like to ask for the opinions of the council members. Based on this, the Government will make the final adjustments for the compilation of a Cabinet decision.
Upon the implementation of the Act on the Protection of Specially Designated Secrets, the most important issue for earning the trust of the public will be preparing a comprehensive implementation system and the steady application of the Act in an appropriate manner. In order to establish Cabinet orders and operating standards and ensure the appropriate application of the Act, we intend to firmly establish systems such as a Cabinet Protection and Oversight Council  and an Independent Public Records Management Authority .
I wish to again express my gratitude for your tremendous hard work up to this point, and request your continued cooperation in order to ensure the appropriate application of the Act on the Protection of Specially Designated Secrets.”