Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Today marks the fifth anniversary of the promulgation and implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL).

 

In a statement, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government said the HKNSL’s implementation over the past five years has shown the law to be a “guardian” in upholding the principle of “one country, two systems” and in safeguarding the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.

 

It added the HKNSL is an important and timely piece of legislation with profound historical significance.

 

The statement stressed that the HKNSL has enabled Hong Kong to make a major transition from chaos to order and has laid a solid legal foundation for safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests.

 

National security, it said, forms the basis for a country’s existence and development; however, after reunification, Hong Kong had long been “undefended” with regard to national security, with anti-China elements and external forces continuously challenging the principle of “one country, two systems”, and even attempting to seize the power of governance.

 

The Hong Kong SAR Government iterated that unprecedented crises were brought to Hong Kong by the “anti-national education” incident in 2012; the illegal “Occupy Central” movement in 2014; and the Mongkok riot in 2016; as well as the “black-clad violence” and Hong Kong’s version of a “colour revolution”, which lasted for more than 10 months from June 2019, severely damaging Hong Kong’s societal, economic and business environment and causing the public to live in fear.

 

The central authorities acted decisively at a critical moment for Hong Kong, the statement added. The National People’s Congress (NPC) made a decision on May 28, 2020, on the basis of which the NPC Standing Committee enacted the HKNSL on June 30, 2020. The law was then listed under Annex III to the Basic Law for local promulgation and implementation in the Hong Kong SAR.

 

The statement outlined that the HKNSL addressed shortcomings and plugged loopholes in the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security in Hong Kong, playing the role of a stabilising force that immediately stopped violence and curbed disorder. It said the HKNSL’s implementation was a “watershed moment” in Hong Kong’s transition from chaos to order, as stability and safety in the city have been restored by the law.

 

It added that thanks to the concerted efforts of the Hong Kong SAR Government, the Legislative Council and all sectors of the community, the Hong Kong SAR fulfilled its constitutional duty last year by completing the legislation of Article 23 of the Basic Law.

 

The Hong Kong SAR Government emphasised that the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO), which took effect on March 23, 2024, improved the city’s legal system and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security.

 

It said the HKNSL and the SNSO are compatible and complementary, building a strong line of defence to safeguard national security in Hong Kong.

 

The Hong Kong SAR Government emphasised Hong Kong’s laws safeguarding national security firmly adhere to the principle of the rule of law, while protecting rights and freedoms in accordance with the law.

 

The business environment, it said, has continuously improved. Hong Kong is the world’s freest economy, ranks third among global financial centres, and recently returned to the global top three economies in the world in terms of competitiveness, demonstrating that it is advancing at full steam “from stability to prosperity”.

 

The statement continued that Hong Kong’s laws safeguarding national security also protect human rights, with respect and protections for human rights being embodied both in the provisions of the HKNSL and the SNSO and in their implementation.

 

Both HKNSL Article 4 and SNSO Section 2 stipulate that human rights shall be respected and protected and that the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents under the Basic Law and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social & Cultural Rights as applied to Hong Kong shall be protected in accordance with the law. These include the rights to freedom of speech, of the press, of publication, of association, of assembly, of procession and of demonstration.

 

The Hong Kong SAR Government said that the laws’ various provisions are in line with international standards, striking a reasonable balance between safeguarding national security and protection of fundamental rights and freedoms.

 

It added that the Hong Kong SAR has a solid, resilient foundation of rule of law that is well-recognised by the international community, and that the city’s law enforcement agencies take actions based on evidence and in accordance with the law.

 

It also outlined that the Department of Justice, by virtue of Basic Law Article 63, controls criminal prosecutions, free from any interference, while independent prosecutorial decisions for each case are made in a rigorous and objective manner, based on evidence and applicable laws and in accordance with the Prosecution Code.

 

Articles 2, 19 and 85 of the Basic Law specifically provide that the Hong Kong SAR enjoys independent judicial power, including that of final adjudication, and that the courts of the Hong Kong SAR shall exercise judicial power independently, free from any interference.

 

The statement stressed that cases will never be handled any differently owing to the occupation, political stance or background of the persons involved.

 

In addition, HKNSL Article 5 and SNSO Section 2 stipulate that the principles of the rule of law shall be adhered to in preventing, suppressing and imposing punishment for offences endangering national security. These include the principles of conviction and punishment only by the application of the law, the presumption of innocence, the prohibition of double jeopardy, the right of accused persons to defend themselves, and other rights in judicial proceedings that criminal suspects, defendants and other parties in judicial proceedings are entitled to under the law.

 

The statement highlighted that governments have an inherent right to enact laws safeguarding national security, and that this is established international practice.

 

It added that the HKNSL and the SNSO clearly define the elements of offences and related penalties, and precisely target an extremely small minority of people and organisations who commit acts that endanger national security, while protecting the lives and property of the general public. It stressed that law-abiding persons will not engage in acts that endanger national security and will not unwittingly violate the law, and therefore have no reason to be concerned.

 

Since the promulgation and implementation of the HKNSL, the statement highlighted, stability has been quickly restored in society. With the SNSO in effect, it said, the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong SAR residents and of other persons in Hong Kong are even better protected, while the economy of Hong Kong is picking up.

 

The Hong Kong SAR Government reiterated that safeguarding national security is an ongoing and endless commitment.

 

Citing the “White Paper on China’s National Security in the New Era”, published by the central authorities on May 12, it said external forces have been meddling more and more in China’s affairs, and have attempted to blockade, suppress and contain China through so-called “Hong Kong issues”.

 

As geopolitical risks continue to escalate, the Hong Kong SAR Government said it will strive steadfastly to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, and to improve its legal system and enforcement mechanisms under the robust protection of the HKNSL and the SNSO, so as to address evolving national security risks and challenges more effectively.

 

The Hong Kong SAR Government will also ramp up its efforts in publicity and education, so as to raise public awareness around safeguarding national security, thereby forming a societal shield to fend off external intervention. It said this will ensure high-quality development with high-level security, contributing to a new chapter in the practice of “one country, two systems”.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
     
     The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (July 2) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, the Second Reading debate on the Import and Export (Amendment) Bill 2025 will resume. If the Bill is supported by Members and receive its Second Reading, it will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bill and its report is adopted by the Council, the Bill will be set down for the Third Reading.
 
     Meanwhile, the Betting Duty (Amendment) Bill 2025 will be introduced into the Council for the First Reading and the Second Reading. The Second Reading debate on the Bill will be adjourned.
 
     On Members’ motions, Dr Wendy Hong will move a motion on establishing innovative institutional mechanisms to move full steam ahead with the development of the Core Area of the Northern Metropolis. The motion is set out in Appendix 1. Mr Louis Loong, Ms Chan Yuet-ming, Mr Michael Tien, Mr Lau Kwok-fan and Mr Gary Zhang will move separate amendments to Dr Hong’s motion.
 
     Ms Doreen Kong will move a motion on developing a personal data protection regime framework to address the challenges in the age of artificial intelligence. The motion is set out in Appendix 2. Mr Duncan Chiu, Mr Lam San-keung and Mr Lee Chun-keung will move separate amendments to Ms Kong’s motion.
 
     Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.
 
     The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk). Members of the public can watch or listen to the meeting via the “Webcast” system on the LegCo Website. To observe the proceedings of the meeting at the LegCo Complex, members of the public may call 3919 3399 during office hours to reserve seats.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Director General David Cheng-Wei Wu and colleague were pleased to meet with Dr. Lin Yu-Ju from the Department of Family Medicine at Taichung Veterans General Hospital and Dr. Hsu Chia-Yun from the Department of Pediatrics at National Taiwan University Hospital, who are currently in Sydney for further training. They gained insights into the rigorous training process of Taiwan’s outstanding doctors and expressed deep admiration for the young physicians’ dedication to continuous learning and their pursuit of excellence in medical knowledge and skills.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today reiterated that the import of aquatic products from 10 higher-risk Japanese prefectures has been banned since August 24, 2023, adding that a public announcement will be made if there is any adjustment to the policy.

 

The statement came in response to media enquiries on the relaxation of import control measures on Japanese food products by the Mainland.

 

The General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China yesterday issued a “Notice on Conditional Resumption of the Import of Aquatic Products from Certain Regions in Japan”, announcing that imports of some aquatic products of Japanese origin – except for those from 10 specified prefectures – will resume with immediate effect.

 

According to the notice, imports must comply with relevant national laws, regulations and food safety standards, and the Japanese authorities must effectively discharge their official regulatory responsibilities.

 

In its statement, the HKSAR Government said imports of aquatic products from Tokyo, Fukushima, Chiba, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Gunma, Miyagi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama have been banned since August 24, 2023, to safeguard food safety and protect public health in Hong Kong.

 

The measure was taken in response to the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water from the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station into the sea by the Japanese government.

 

The HKSAR Government said it must act in a prudent manner, given that the duration and scale of the discharge are unprecedented.

 

It also outlined that it has maintained communication with the Japanese authorities on relevant issues. This has included requesting that Japan provide information on the latest situation, as well as scientific evidence concerning the discharge, to assess whether there may be conditions for relaxing the current precautionary measures.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, at the opening ceremony of the 26th International Sports Press Association (AIPS) Asia Congress today (June 30):
 
President Gianni Merlo (President of AIPS), Mr Timothy Fok (President of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China), President Jung Hee-don (President of AIPS Asia), Kenneth (President of the Hong Kong Sports Press Association, Mr Kenneth Fok), Winfried (Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
Good morning and a big welcome to Hong Kong. It gives me great pleasure to join you today for the opening ceremony of the 26th AIPS Asia Congress. First of all, I would like to thank AIPS Asia and the Hong Kong Sports Press Association for bringing this important event to Hong Kong for the first time.
 
This year 2025 marks a landmark chapter for Hong Kong as a premier sports events hub. In March, we proudly opened the Kai Tak Sports Park, a world-class sports infrastructure. I am sure some of you have already attended thrilling international sports events like the iconic Hong Kong Rugby Sevens, as well as the fascinating concerts that took place at the Kai Tak Stadium. In four weeks’ time, the Hong Kong Football Festival 2025 will bring Liverpool (FC) vs AC Milan, and the first ever North London Derby outside London, Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur, to the Kai Tai Stadium. These sold-out matches of course promise to be an extravaganza for football fans in this part of the world. 
 
In November this year, Hong Kong will join hands with Guangdong Province and Macao SAR (Special Administrative Region) to co-host the 15th National Games of the People’s Republic of China. You know, to quote Ma Long, our ping pong captain of China, for many of the sports, ping pong in particular, winning a National Games gold medal is harder than winning an Olympic gold, because the athletes usually have the accolade of a world champion somewhere. All these events are more than just games and competitions. They showcase Hong Kong as a centre for major international sports events and create a festive atmosphere all through our city.
 
To all our sports journalist friends here, we are going to keep you busy. You will be our partners to capture the many thrilling moments on the stage as well as the compelling human stories behind. Your work will bring all these events to life for audiences around the world, and I look forward to seeing you all at our sports venues, chronicling these defining moments.
 
Before I close, I cordially invite you to immerse yourself in the unique charm and the iconic attractions of Hong Kong during your stay. I wish the Congress every success and I eagerly anticipate seeing your coverage of our mega events on your platforms. Thank you very much.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

In response to media enquiries about the relaxation of import control measures on Japanese food products by the Mainland, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government issued the following statement today (June 30):
 
The General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China issued on June 29, 2025 the “Notice on Conditional Resumption of the Import of Aquatic Products from Certain Regions in Japan” (the Notice), announcing that the import of some aquatic products of Japanese origin will be resumed with immediate effect, except for 10 metropolis/prefectures. According to the Notice, the import must comply with the relevant national laws and regulations, and food safety standards, and that the Japanese authority must effectively discharge its official regulatory responsibilities.
 
In response to the discharge of the nuclear-contaminated water from Fukushima into the sea by the Japanese government, the HKSAR Government has since August 24, 2023 banned the import of aquatic products from 10 higher-risk metropolis/prefectures, including Tokyo, Fukushima, Chiba, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Gunma, Miyagi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, to safeguard food safety and protect public health in Hong Kong. 
 
The duration and scale of the discharge of the nuclear-contaminated water from the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station are unprecedented. Therefore, we must act in a prudent manner.
 
The HKSAR Government has been maintaining communication with the Japanese authority on the relevant issues, including requesting Japan to provide information on the latest development and scientific evidence concerning the discharge of the nuclear-contaminated water, to assess whether there are conditions for relaxing the current precautionary measures. The HKSAR Government will make a public announcement if there is any policy adjustment.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee and senior government officials will attend a flag-raising ceremony and a reception on July 1 to celebrate the 28th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
 
Community leaders and members of uniformed groups will attend the flag-raising ceremony, which will be held at 8am at Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai. No public viewing area will be set up.
 
The Police Band will perform at the ceremony and a choir from Clementi Secondary School will sing the national anthem under the lead of singers Chen Yong and Song Yuanming, followed by a fly-past and a sea parade by the disciplined services.
 
The celebration reception, led by the Chief Executive, will be held at the Grand Hall on Level 3 of the Convention & Exhibition Centre after the flag-raising ceremony.
 
Police will implement special traffic arrangements at Golden Bauhinia Square and the nearby area during the celebration events.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region