You are here
RSS list
2023
Chief Executive John Lee today appointed Kan Kai-yan as head of the department for safeguarding national security of the Hong Kong Police Force upon the retirement of the force’s Deputy Commissioner (National Security) Edwina Lau. Pursuant to Article 16(2) of the National Security Law, the appointment took effect today, and Mr Kan took the oath of office on the same day. At the same time, Mr Lee appointed Li Kwai-wah as Chief Superintendent of Police (National Security) in accordance with Article 48(7) of the Basic Law. The appointment also took effect today. Mr Lee said Mr Kan has been with Police for 32 years and has demonstrated an outstanding performance, professionalism and exemplary commitment to serve. “He has a high awareness of national security and is familiar with national security affairs. He is capable of leading the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force to shoulder the important responsibility of safeguarding national security.” The Chief Executive also noted that Mr Li is a senior police officer serving in the force's National Security Department since the National Security Law’s promulgation and implementation. “He has displayed loyalty and dedication as well as unwavering commitment to discharging his duties in safeguarding national security, resulting in outstanding accomplishments. “Even though both Mr Kan and Mr Li face the US’ bullying act of gross imposition of so-called ‘sanctions’, they are fearless, firm and dedicated to their duties. “I recognise their work and have confidence that they will take on more responsibilities in their new positions and make greater contributions to safeguarding national security.” On the same day, Assistant Commissioner of Police (National Security)(2) Kelvin Kong was appointed Senior Assistant Commissioner by the Commissioner of Police, succeeding Mr Kan as Director of National Security.
The Immigration Department announced today that with effect from April 29, eligible people aged 11 or above may use the e-Channel service. At present, holders of electronic Exit-Entry Permits (e-EEP) for travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macau can use the e-Channel service if they are at least 16 years old. To enhance the clearance efficiency of control points and allow more visitors to use the e-Channel service, the department decided to adjust the applicable age of the e-Channel service for e-EEP holders. Eligible individuals aged 11 or above can use the e-Channels for self-service immigration clearance at all control points.
Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung today called on the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department and the Shenzhen Municipal Public Security Bureau in Guangzhou and Shenzhen respectively. After concluding his visit to Beijing yesterday, Mr Tang departed for Guangzhou where he called on Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department Director Wang Zhizhong this morning to exchange views on issues involving the two places. The topics they discussed involved talent flow, joint efforts to combat cross-boundary criminal activities, cross-boundary smuggling and parallel trading activities as well as illegal immigrants. Mr Tang said he hoped that the two places will build on the existing solid foundation to take forward collaboration on all fronts to support the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s work to safeguard national security and social stability. In the afternoon, he left for Shenzhen to tour the Shenzhen Municipal Public Security Bureau. While there, he discussed with Director General Liu Guozhou the talent flow, emergency rescues and collaboration on combatting various cross-boundary crimes. They also shared with each other their experience with combatting crimes, especially deception offences.
Police announced today that they received a notification on the cancellation of a public order event scheduled for May 1 on Hong Kong Island and warned people not to participate in any illegal public processions or meetings that day. Police explained that they received a notification from a citizen earlier that a public order event would be held on Hong Kong Island on May 1. While the force met the individual concerned on April 21 to learn more about the arrangement for such an event, they received a notification today that the event would be cancelled. Police said they emphasised that the public order event organiser should ensure good order and public safety could be maintained and that the event complies with the laws of Hong Kong, adding that the organiser is legally liable for the event. It would be a responsible act for a public event organiser to cancel the event if the individual assessed that he was unable to comply with the relevant legislation, Police stressed. Police further stated that any persons who continue to participate in an illegal public procession or meeting on Hong Kong Island on May 1 may commit the offence of taking part in an unauthorised assembly in accordance with the Public Order Ordinance and maybe liable to a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment.
Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung embarked on the third day of his trip to Beijing today. Mr Tang this morning called on Minister of Emergency Management Wang Xiangxi, Vice Minister of Emergency Management Xu Jia’ai, National Fire & Rescue Administration Political Commissar Xu Ping, and National Fire & Rescue Administration Director Chongsai to exchange views on deepening overall co-operation in emergency management, mutual exchanges and training, and cross-boundary rescue collaboration. Noting that the search and rescue teams deployed by the country and Hong Kong joined hands for the first time to carry out search and rescue operations in the earthquake-stricken areas in Türkiye in February, Mr Tang thanked the country’s search and rescue team for its support during the operations, enabling the Hong Kong team to rescue four survivors. He added that he looked forward to establishing regular exchanges and training between the two teams to enhance collaboration during such operations. In the afternoon, the security chief met Minister of Justice He Rong and discussed technology application and rehabilitation work in correctional institutions. They also witnessed the signing of a new co-operation agreement to strengthen mutual visits, training and academic collaboration which aims to boost the Correctional Services Department’s prison management and rehabilitation services. Mr Tang departed for Guangzhou this evening and will visit Guangzhou and Shenzhen tomorrow.
(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.) Chief Executive John Lee said public activity organisers have the responsibility to ensure the activities they manage proceed in an lawful manner. Mr Lee made the remarks ahead of this morning’s Executive Council meeting and explained why rally requests should be carefully scrutinised. “Regarding organising public activities, I think we should be careful when the organiser wants to organise such activities. And they should think of their responsibilities of ensuring that such activities will be carried out in a lawful manner. That means, it will not contravene national security, public security, or public order, but it will respect the rights and freedoms of others. “So the organiser has that responsibility.”
(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.) Chief Executive John Lee said he will not allow district councils to be the platform to promote Hong Kong independence. Mr Lee made the statement while responding to questions from the media before today's Executive Council meeting. He noted that the aim of the district administration review is to ensure that future arrangements will be in conformity with the Basic Law, in adherence to the principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong” and conducive to enhancing governance efficacy at the district level. The Chief Executive stressed that more needs to be done to safeguard national security and prevent district councillors from behaving in a way that causes damage to society. He referred to former district councillors who had misbehaved. He said: “As regards the outrageous behaviours of many district councillors, it is not just unsatisfactory, it is blatantly unacceptable because they behaved in such a way which advocated Hong Kong's independence, acting against the Government's governance, insulting officials and causing destructions to the council's convention of meetings. “A lot of the district councillors refused to take the oath. That reflects that they do not accept the PRC (People's Republic of China) as the sovereign state of Hong Kong and the PRC exercising sovereignty over Hong Kong. They are the root of the problem and they had behaved in such a way that causes damage to society - upsetting everybody's expectation of what a district councillor should do.” Mr Lee emphasised that the former district councillors set a very bad example for Hong Kong and the Government will not tolerate such unacceptable behaviour.
Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung today called on the CPC Central Committee's Commission for Political & Legal Affairs and witnessed the signing of two Letters of Intent, among others, as he continued his visit to the capital. Mr Tang, together with the heads of disciplined services departments and the Hong Kong Disciplined Services Cultural Exchange Delegation currently on an Mainland exchange visit, watched the flag-raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square early this morning. The security chief then met the CPC Central Committee's Commission for Political & Legal Affairs Secretary Chen Wenqing and thanked the central government for its support for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s law enforcement work during the black-clad violence period in 2019. He also briefed Mr Chen on the National Security Law’s implementation and the Security Bureau's work progress in safeguarding national security. In the afternoon, Mr Tang called on Minister of the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) Yu Jianhua, where he noted that Hong Kong Customs will continue to strengthen co-operation with Mainland Customs on intelligence exchange and real-time notification of cases as well as the conduct of joint and special operations. He added that Hong Kong Customs will also collaborate with the GACC on smart customs to strengthen its application and promotion. Mr Tang then called on the Ministry of Transport, where he met Vice-Minister of Transport Dai Dongchang and Director General of the Rescue & Salvage Bureau Wang Lei. The security secretary witnessed the signing of two Letters of Intent that are set to strengthen technical co-operation and the exchange of rescue experiences to enhance professional standards of both sides on a five-year basis. The letters were signed by Director of Fire Services Andy Yeung and Government Flying Service Controller West Wu respectively with Mr Wang. Mr Tang also paid a visit to the State Council’s Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office Director Xia Baolong to brief him on the Hong Kong SAR’s work on safeguarding public security and national security, and thanked him for affirming and supporting the work of the disciplined services.
Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung called on the Ministry of Public Security and met State Councillor & Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong during the start of his visit to Beijing today. In the course of the meeting, Mr Tang gave an account of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s efforts in safeguarding national security, the overall crime situation in the city as well as the co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong on enhancing talent exchanges and training. He said he hopes both places will continue co-operation on combatting cross-boundary criminal activities. Mr Tang also expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Public Security for providing strong support to enhance the two-way flow of talent in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Noting that the launch of the bay area exit endorsement for talent in February to enable six categories of Mainland talent in the bay area to travel southbound to Hong Kong has achieved significant results, he said he is hopeful that measures to facilitate the flow of talent for Hong Kong can be further promoted.
Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung will leave Hong Kong tomorrow for a four-day visit to Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Joining him will be the heads of Police, the Immigration Department, the Customs & Excise Department, the Correctional Services Department, the Fire Services Department and the Government Flying Service. While in Beijing, Mr Tang will call on the CPC Central Committee's Commission for Political & Legal Affairs, the State Council's Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Emergency Management, the Ministry of Justice, and the General Administration of Customs. He will depart for Guangzhou on the evening of April 26 and call on the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department and the Shenzhen Municipal Public Security Bureau the next day. The security chief will return to Hong Kong on April 27. During his absence, Under Secretary for Security Michael Cheuk will be Acting Secretary.