Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Court of Appeal of the High Court today delivered its judgment on the appeals in a case of conspiracy to commit subversion, dismissing the appeals against convictions or sentences lodged by 12 defendants.

Regarding one defendant against whom the evidence was insufficient for the trial court to be sure of his participation in the conspiracy offence, the Court of Appeal upheld the trial court’s verdict.

In its judgment on the appeals in the case, the Court of Appeal rejected each of the grounds of appeal against convictions or sentences raised by the defendants.

Regarding the appeals against convictions, the Court of Appeal noted that provisions of the Basic Law establish an executive-led system headed by the Chief Executive, recognising that the Chief Executive, the Government, the Legislative Council and the Judiciary have different constitutional roles.

The judgement added that interaction and co-ordination between them are inevitable in areas where both the executive and legislative authority are required.

It also pointed out that LegCo’s primary function under Article 73(2) of the Basic Law is to evaluate the merits of the budget through fiscal considerations before granting approval.

The judgement clarified that LegCo must exercise its powers and functions in accordance with the Basic Law. It cannot contravene the fundamental provisions establishing the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s constitutional order, nor can its members violate their constitutional duty under the LegCo oath to uphold that order.

The Court of Appeal said that, in this case, as envisaged and publicised by the first defendant Tai Yiu-ting and known to any participant who chose to join it, “Project 35+” was a “constitutional mass destruction weapon” that aimed to compel the Chief Executive to resign, paralyse the Government and force the Central People’s Government to declare an end to the “one country, two systems” policy, which constituted an unlawful means of subverting the constitutional order of the Hong Kong SAR.

The Court of Appeal said that pursuing that aim under the pretext of examining budgets necessarily amounted to a breach of a LegCo member’s duty to uphold the Hong Kong SAR’s constitutional order.

The judgement also noted that the defendants agreed to join “Project 35+” and participate in conduct aimed at achieving subversive consequences, and therefore constituted the offence of conspiracy to commit subversion.

The Court of Appeal upheld the trial court’s findings based on the totality of the evidence adduced. It added that when considered in context, the conclusion that each defendant joined the conspiracy was sound and that the trial proceedings were conducted fairly.

Regarding the appeals against sentences, the Court of Appeal upheld the trial court’s decision to categorise the defendants in the “primary election” as “active participants”. It found that “Project 35+” sought to undermine the Hong Kong SAR’s constitutional order through the defendants’ election bids.

The Court of Appeal further noted that the defendants exploited the system to bring about potentially devastating consequences to the Hong Kong SAR. Accordingly, it ruled that “ignorance of the law” was not a valid mitigating factor, and any sentencing discounts given by the trial court on this basis were entirely gratuitous.

In a statement, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government noted 45 defendants were convicted in this case. The trial court’s verdict clarified that by early 2020, the clear objective of “Project 35+” was to undermine, destroy or overthrow the Hong Kong SAR’s existing political system established under the Basic Law and the “one country, two systems” principle.

 

The statement highlighted that the court pointed out that the defendants, led by Tai Yiu-ting, spent considerable time and money planning the “primary election”, while other defendants actively worked to ensure the success of “Project 35+”.

The statement added that had the plan been fully implemented, it would have resulted in profoundly negative consequences as severe as the overthrow of the Government.

The Government also noted that the trial had revealed that the people concerned put forward the “10 Steps to mutual destruction” which would bring Hong Kong society to a standstill through large-scale street riots and other means. Coupled with international political and economic sanctions, “mutual destruction” would be achieved, causing suffering to the public.

The Government clarified that the severity of the crime was supported by irrefutable evidence and the convicted individuals deserved their punishment.

It added that the Court of Appeal’s dismissals of relevant appeals against convictions and sentences demonstrate that any person who intends to subvert and endanger national security will be punished in accordance with the law.

As for the decision to uphold the verdict for a defendant against whom there was insufficient evidence for the trial court to be sure of his participation in the conspiracy, the Department of Justice will study the judgment carefully and consider whether to lodge an appeal.

The Government emphasised that Hong Kong is a society underpinned by the rule of law. The Hong Kong National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance clearly stipulate that the principle of the rule of law shall be adhered to in preventing, suppressing and imposing punishment for offences endangering national security.

The statement said the court’s judgment in this appeal case shows that the Judiciary of the Hong Kong SAR exercises judicial power independently in accordance with the law, and everyone charged with a criminal offence will receive a fair trial in accordance with laws applicable and as protected by the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights.

The statement noted that courts decide cases strictly based on evidence and applicable laws. It clarified that legal proceedings are never influenced by the profession, political beliefs or backgrounds of those involved.

It added that the prosecution must prove an offence beyond reasonable doubt for a defendant to be convicted.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

    Following is the speech by the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, at the Hong Kong Reception of the Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) 2026 Conference and Exhibition today (February 23):

Professor Dennis Lo (Vice-Chancellor and President of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Convenor of the Heads of Universities Committee), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Happy Chinese New Year and Happy Birthday! Tonight’s gathering is especially auspicious as it falls on the seventh day of 正月, the first month of the traditional Chinese calendar. This day is known as 人日 which legend says is “everyone’s birthday”. It is fitting that we celebrate this day of shared humanity here, as we come together to shape the future of education for our youths. 

It is a great pleasure to join you this evening at the Hong Kong Palace Museum, one of our city’s iconic cultural landmarks. I am pleased to welcome educators and friends from across the globe to Hong Kong for the APAIE 2026 Conference and Exhibition. We are honoured that Hong Kong once again has the privilege of hosting this important gathering of leaders and practitioners in international higher education.

Over the coming days, the APAIE will serve as a platform for meaningful global dialogue on the future of international education, while also offering participants a special opportunity to experience Hong Kong during the vibrant Chinese New Year period. I hope you can feel the positivity and energy that the Chinese New Year brings – a spirit that also guides our approach to education – to groom our next generations with innovative ideas and future-ready skills.

Tonight, I would like to highlight Hong Kong’s evolving role as an international education hub, and how we can deepen our collaboration with you at all levels – from undergraduate education, postgraduate study, research and beyond. As a super-connector of global education networks, we have been maintaining our academic environment highly internationalised and diversified. Under the “one country, two systems” principle, Hong Kong enjoys the distinctive advantages of being part of China with strong support from our Motherland and at the same time being centrally located in Asia. Our universities are globally recognised, with five of them within the world’s top 100 and the Asia’s top 20. Hong Kong claimed all top four spots in the ranking of the world’s most international universities last year. Indeed, one in every four of our students come from outside Hong Kong. The proportion is even higher for academic staff, with around 70 per cent from elsewhere. 

To further promote higher education in Hong Kong to the world, we are dedicating this week as the “Study in Hong Kong” Week, during which we will share our success stories and connect more closely with partners worldwide. The key highlight is of course the APAIE. Our Economic and Trade Offices (ETOs) around the world will also promote “Study in Hong Kong” at their Chinese New Year celebratory events worldwide. We warmly encourage our overseas partners to approach our ETOs if you need support or facilitation in exploring new opportunities to study, teach, or collaborate with institutions in Hong Kong.

At the post-secondary level, we will continue to promote quality and expand opportunities for non-local students to pursue our high-quality and internationally recognised programmes in Hong Kong. We are welcoming more non-local students whose number has been growing and developing deeper research collaborations with institutions from around the world. We certainly appreciate the support from our partner universities, especially those of you present here tonight. While Hong Kong is highly popular among students from the Chinese Mainland, those from other parts of the world, especially in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Belt and Road countries or regions, have increased significantly in recent years. Hong Kong is also playing a pivotal role as a knowledge and innovation hub through our extensive research partnerships in the Chinese Mainland as well as North America and Europe. Meanwhile, we have expanded collaborations with institutions in African and Central and South American regions. 

At the same time, the Government is extending Hong Kong’s role as an international education hub with a more comprehensive approach. We are recruiting more non-local students in our primary and secondary Direct Subsidy Scheme schools to enrich our classrooms by bringing in more students from Asia and other regions, as well as providing more schooling options for expat families. We are therefore building up a larger pool of students with more diverse backgrounds for higher education opportunities here. As we welcome more non-local students to our schools and universities, we hope Hong Kong can serve as a springboard for them to engage with the Chinese Mainland and the wider Asia-Pacific, and as a pathway to widen collaborations across this vibrant region. 

In a moment, you will see a short video that encapsulates the essence of “Study in Hong Kong” – a place where world-class education, cultural diversity and opportunities in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area converge. The tagline of the video is “Live the Future”, and it speaks directly to the aspirations of our students. By choosing Hong Kong, overseas students are not just selecting a university, they are securing a front-row seat to the rapid growth of Asia. They are equipping themselves with the networks and insights necessary for a glorious career, ensuring they do not just witness what comes next, but actively live and shape the future. I invite your students, your faculty and your institutions to embark on an exciting journey together with us in the years ahead.

I would like to thank the Heads of Universities Committee for bringing us together in this magnificent setting tonight. To all our guests, thank you for your support, your partnership and your commitment to international education. We look forward to working with you beyond the exciting activities this week at the APAIE and our “Study in Hong Kong” Week to build even stronger and more impactful partnerships for our students and our shared future.

Finally, let me wish you a most enjoyable evening and a rewarding week at the APAIE and in Hong Kong. Thank you.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Court of Appeal of the High Court today (February 23) delivered its judgment on the appeals in a case of “conspiracy to commit subversion”, dismissing the appeals against conviction or sentence lodged by 12 defendants. Furthermore, with regard to one defendant against whom the evidence was insufficient for the trial court to be sure of his participation in the conspiracy offence, the Court of Appeal upheld the trial court’s verdict.

     The Court of Appeal, in its judgment on the appeals in this case, rejected each of the grounds of appeal against conviction or sentence raised by the respective defendants. With regard to the appeals against conviction, the Court of Appeal noted that the relevant provisions of the Basic Law establish an executive-led system headed by the Chief Executive (CE), recognises that the CE, the Government, the Legislative Council (LegCo), and the Judiciary have different constitutional roles. Interaction and co-ordination between them is inevitable in areas where both the executive and legislative authority are required. As seen from the budgetary process, examining the merits of a budget by reference to fiscal considerations to see if it warrants approval must form the core of the LegCo’s powers and functions under Article 73(2) of the Basic Law. The LegCo must exercise its powers and functions in accordance with, and not in contravention of, the provisions of the Basic Law. In particular, it cannot act in contravention of the fundamental provisions of the Basic Law which establish the constitutional order in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), and the LegCo members cannot contravene the constitutional duty to uphold the constitutional order in the HKSAR under the LegCo Oath. In this case, as envisaged and publicised by the first defendant Tai Yiu-ting and known to any participant who chose to join it, the “Project 35+” was a “constitutional mass destruction weapon” aiming to compel the CE to resign, to paralyse the Government and to force the Central People’s Government to declare an end to the “one country, two systems” policy, which constituted an unlawful means of subverting the constitutional order of the HKSAR. Pursuing that aim in the pretext of examining budgets necessarily amounted to a breach of a LegCo member’s duty to uphold the constitutional order in the HKSAR. The defendants agreed to join the “Project 35+” and participate in the relevant course of conduct with the intent to achieve the subversive consequences, and therefore constituted the offence of “conspiracy to commit subversion”.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Highways Department promulgated the Hong Kong Railway Standards and also announced the official establishment of the Railway Checking Unit today to expedite implementation of new railway projects.

The establishment ceremony was officiated by Director of Highways Tony Yau, with numerous railway experts and representatives of relevant government departments in attendance.

In his address, Mr Yau remarked that capitalising on the opportunities brought by two cross-boundary railway projects, namely the Northern Link and the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Rail Link, we formulated the Hong Kong Railway Standards in collaboration with relevant government departments and railway experts.

In addition to retaining the prevailing railway standards in the city, the Hong Kong Railway Standards have introduced suitable railway standards of the nation and various places in the world, including European Norm, Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers’s standards, International Electrotechnical Commission’s standards and International Organization for Standardization’s standards, with adaptation to local circumstances, as a result of detailed analyses and comparisons on the premise of ensuring railway safety, quality, and performance‑based outcomes.

He further stated that the new Hong Kong Railway Standards could facilitate the use of a broader selection of advanced construction technologies, construction materials, equipment, and railway systems for railway projects, provide clear technical specifications as the approval basis of the supervisory authorities, and also facilitate the development and optimisation of work processes by the industry.

This move helps to leverage and introduce the extensive experience and world-leading technologies in railway construction of our nation, as well as the recognised standards in other parts of the world, with a view to driving the new railway projects of Hong Kong with enhanced speed and efficiency, and striving for shorter construction times and lower costs, Mr Yau added.

Under the Hong Kong Railway Standards, the industry could flexibly apply suitable standards to different railway projects on account of their individual needs and characteristics, after holistic consideration of factors such as cost-effectiveness, technical requirements, supply chain conditions, site environment and labour and machinery resources.

The standards encourage the use of innovative construction machinery, technologies and materials, such as use of larger or more extensive use of standardised prefabrication technology, high-strength structural steel and ultra-high-performance concrete, as well as advanced equipment and construction specifications, such as the model selection, design, construction, and control of tunnel boring machines.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Department of Health’s Centre for Health Protection (CHP) announced today that the Tsing Yi Nature Trails would reopen from this evening following the completion of environmental remediation work.

Owing to the fact that five local cases of Chikungunya Fever (CF) were contracted on the Tsing Yi Nature Trails or surrounding areas in late November, the CHP announced the temporary closure of the trails to the public on December 9.

The CHP highlighted that the last CF patient to contract the disease in the area visited the trails on November 30 and that no subsequent local cases have been recorded.

It also confirmed that infections connected to the trails did not result in the further transmission of CF in the community. 

Over the past two months, relevant government departments have conducted multiple inspections to eliminate potential mosquito breeding sites and remove waste conducive to mosquito breeding.

In addition, intensive fogging operations have been conducted to eliminate adult mosquitoes and mosquito trapping devices have been installed along the trails.

Moreover, the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department has been monitoring mosquito infestation levels using mosquito traps along the trails. Data recorded over the past month indicates infestation levels remain at a low level.

The CHP today held an interdepartmental meeting to assess the situation. After evaluating environmental hygiene on the trails, it believes that they no longer pose a threat to public health.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong, held a press conference with the Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho and Deputy Secretary for Housing, Ms Estrella Cheung today (February 21) to announce the long-term housing arrangements for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. Following are the remarks by Mr Wong at the press conference:

Reporter: Firstly, the Government said that only nine per cent of residents would not accept any other options than in-situ resettlement. Does the Government believe that this really is the minor opinion, given that there’s also 22 per cent that are also open to other options in addition to this in-situ redevelopment, and how will the Government address those who really strongly believe that they want in-situ redevelopment? Will there be any additional convincing? Secondly, the Government’s offer to repurchase these flats at $10,500 and $8,000 per square feet, depending on whether land premium is paid – how would you respond to some criticism from residents that the price paid is not enough to get a similar flat under the price being offered by the Government? Could you also talk about the public funds that are involved in the purchase, and what is the Government’s assessment on that spending to its fiscal health? And lastly, just asking about Wang Chi House as well – if there are some residents who no longer want to stay in Wang Chi House but are not offered the resettlement option under the current government resettlement programme, what else could they do? Do they have to, as other reporters have suggested, perhaps sell their apartments to other Wang Fuk Court residents? Or what is the option they have available?

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region