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Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Mr Ho Tsu-kwok, a former Standing Committee Member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and extended deep condolences to his family.

     Professor Lo said today (June 12), “Mr Ho will be remembered for his unreserved commitment to the country and to Hong Kong, as well as his outspokenness. Even though he suffered from a critical illness caused by tobacco, he generously and courageously shared his own experiences to raise public awareness on tobacco hazards. He made every effort to support the Government in promoting tobacco control and urged members of the public to stay away from tobacco hazards, in particular to protect young people from being enticed by ‘sugar-coated poison’ to try smoking. His sincere words have inspired many people. May he rest in peace and free from the suffering caused by tobacco. He will be sorely missed.”

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Justice Paul Lam today officiated at the opening ceremony of the “5th Anniversary of Promulgation & Implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law Thematic Exhibition” at the Museum of History.

Mr Lam reiterated the three “must-nots” – must not forget history, turn a blind eye to reality and stand idly by.

He said traditional Chinese wisdom has it that “history, if not forgotten, can serve as a guide for the future”.

“We all surely remember the 2019 legislative amendment turmoil, which posed a grave threat to national security and severely undermined the peaceful and stable environment we took for granted.”

Mr Lam also stated that “remain vigilant in times of peace” is another traditional Chinese wisdom.

“Although Hong Kong society has restored stability and national security, threats are often not immediately visible. It is obvious that hostile states and forces continue to try to suppress our country’s development.

“Since national security is closely related to individuals’ well-being, people must naturally take concrete steps and shoulder responsibilities in safeguarding national security.”

Mr Lam pointed out that a robust legal system has long been the cornerstone of Hong Kong’s success. It is the prerequisite for the city to thrive as an international financial, trade, and shipping centre.

On the foundation of three “must-nots”, Hong Kong must uphold the rule of law in safeguarding national security, he added.

Also officiating at the ceremony, Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung said safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests is not only a constitutional duty of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, but also a fundamental obligation of every citizen.

Mr Tang further stated that hostile forces have not given up and he reminded citizens to remain vigilant against the risks.

The security chief explained that external hostile forces continue to attempt to undermine national security through smears and “sanctions” while anti-China destabilising elements in the city who have fled overseas continue to engage in activities and behaviours that threaten national security.

Local terrorism and “soft resistance”, where individuals with ulterior motives exploit fake news and misinformation to divide society and incite hatred are the other risks, Mr Tang added.

The exhibition is now open, with the aim to facilitate the public’s understanding of and appreciation for the hard-won situation that Hong Kong is now enjoying, and to motivate all to work together to help the city shine on the global stage.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The International Conference on Roads and Railways 2025 co-organised by the Highways Department and the Hong Kong Institution of Highways and Transportation opened today (June 12). Themed on “Building Smart and Green Transport Infrastructure”, the conference takes place on two consecutive days at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, with over 30 Mainland, overseas and local experts in road and railway development and industry leaders leading nearly 700 participants to jointly explore the latest worldwide practices and technological advancements of smart and green transport infrastructure, as well as the development direction of future major transport infrastructure in Hong Kong through thematic speeches and panel discussions. Representatives from various consulates, industry leaders, scholars and government officials also attended the conference this morning.

     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, officiated at the ceremony and said that roads and railways have long been the backbone of economic growth and social advancement. In the era of rapid technological advancement and growing climate urgency, the infrastructure has to be built smarter and greener, and the key strategy amidst is the planning approach of transit-oriented development which integrates high-density urban development with efficient public transport systems. Mr Chan also said that Hong Kong is happy to share the experiences on professional knowledge and expertise in transport infrastructure with the world. Taking the Northern Metropolis as an example, he mentioned that the development of this future major innovation and technology hub of Hong Kong with a projected population of 2.5 million and over 650 000 new jobs will be “infrastructure-led” and “capacity-creating”. He indicated that Hong Kong is committed to making the transport systems smarter and greener, and the Government also invests heavily in technology areas, including AI and robotics, new energy and new materials, and more; they will contribute to enhancing the efficiency and reliability of the transportation system. He also pointed out that Hong Kong is Asia’s leading green bond market, accounting for nearly half of the region’s total issuance. The city is also pioneering innovative financing models to unlock capital for global infrastructure development.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Department of Justice (DoJ) today held the first round of LexGoTech Roundtable to explore the opportunities and challenges brought about by lawtech and artificial intelligence.

Deputy Secretary for Justice and Chairman of the Consultation Group Cheung Kwok-kwan noted that the legal sector in Hong Kong is welcoming a new era, with lawtech reshaping the delivery of legal services.

He said lawtech will strengthen the long-term competitiveness of Hong Kong’s legal professional services and solidify the city’s position as the centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region.

The department established the Consultation Group earlier this year, comprising representatives from the legal and dispute resolution sector, law schools and experts on lawtech applications, to explore ways to promote the integration of legal services and lawtech in Hong Kong.

To further enhance the sector’s understanding of the application of lawtech, Mr Cheung said the DoJ organised the roundtable following the Consultation Group’s recommendations and plans to hold a series of related events this year.

In the long term, the department will promote the connection between lawtech service providers and legal practitioners, enhance the capabilities of legal professionals in lawtech, and disrupt traditional work models in the legal sector to create an ecosystem conducive to the development of lawtech in Hong Kong.

Mr Cheung highlighted that the DoJ has been sparing no effort to promote lawtech and support the development of online dispute resolution and transaction platforms.

The department has also launched the LawTech Fund and the Hong Kong Legal Cloud services to subsidise small and medium-sized law firms and chambers in enhancing their information technology capabilities, benefitting over 4,000 local legal professionals to date, he added.

The roundtable engaged legal professionals from the Law Society of Hong Kong and the Small & Medium Law Firms Association of Hong Kong.

They exchanged views on the risks associated with the use of lawtech and discussed how to embrace the era of artificial intelligence through policies, hardware and software upgrades, and capability building.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The total number of reported drug abusers in the first quarter of 2025 was 1,644, lower than the figure of 1,738 for the same period in 2024, the Action Committee Against Narcotics announced today.

According to data from the Central Registry of Drug Abuse, the number of reported drug abusers aged under 21 in the first quarter of 2025 was 285, with 128 of them having abused “space oil”.

“Space oil” has replaced cannabis to become the most common type of drug abused by young drug abusers, followed by cannabis and cocaine. 

The Government has listed the drug’s main ingredients – etomidate and its three analogues metomidate, propoxate and isopropoxate – as dangerous drugs, as regulated under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (DDO).

The Government also plans to list the remaining etomidate analogues as dangerous drugs, and consulted the Legislative Council Security Panel on the matter earlier this month.

Action Committee Against Narcotics Chairman Donald Li said the committee fully supports the Government’s proposal.

“Apart from the legislation, the committee will continue to carry out relevant publicity and education work,” he said.

On the enforcement front, the total number of people arrested for drug offences in the first quarter of 2025 was 940. Of these, 140 are youngsters aged under 21.

“Space oil”, cannabis and cocaine were the main drugs involved in these arrests. In court cases concluded in the same period, the conviction rate of those prosecuted for drug offences was as high as 86%.

With the summer holidays approaching, the Security Bureau reminded youngsters not to participate in drug trafficking out of greed or by way of gambling on their luck.

Youth is not a valid mitigating factor for drug offences, and pleas of ignorance are no way to avoid legal liability, the bureau added.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The following is issued on behalf of the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region:

     The Chief Executive announced in the 2024 Policy Address that a thematic exhibition will be held at the National Security Exhibition Gallery to mark the fifthth anniversary of the promulgation and implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law. The opening ceremony of the thematic exhibition was launched today (June 12) at the Hong Kong Museum of History, and the exhibition is now open to all Hong Kong citizens.  
 National security is the bedrock of national rejuvenation, and social stability is a prerequisite for building a strong and prosperous China. The overarching principle of “one country, two systems” is to safeguard national security, sovereignty and development interests.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region