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2026
The Hospital Authority today reported a suspected case of unauthorised access to patient data after the information was found leaked on a third-party platform. The authority’s routine monitoring system detected the breach at around 2am on April 3. The matter was promptly reported to Police and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data yesterday morning. The authority will fully co-operate with the Police investigation. Involving more than 56,000 patients from the Kowloon East Cluster, the leaked data includes names, gender, Hong Kong identity card numbers, hospital file numbers and details of surgical procedures. The authority sincerely apologised to the affected patients and pledged to take all practicable measures to minimise the impact on the patients. It will notify the affected patients as soon as possible via the “HA Go” mobile application, mail and phone calls. The Kowloon East Cluster has established a dedicated hotline at 5215 7326 for patient enquiries. The hotline operates from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Sunday. Patients may also leave messages outside of these hours. Upon discovering the incident, the authority conducted a thorough review of its internal network systems. It confirmed that all systems are operating normally and securely, with no indication of a cyberattack. The authority has immediately suspended the contractor's system maintenance work.
The Government today filed an application with the Court of First Instance of the High Court for forfeiture of Lai Chee-ying’s offence-related properties, to achieve the important objectives of preventing and suppressing acts and activities endangering national security. The Court of First Instance earlier convicted Lai Chee-ying of three charges of offences endangering national security. In a statement, the Government said the application was made in accordance with the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKNSL) and the Implementation Rules for Article 43 of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (Implementation Rules). According to Article 32 of the HKNSL, proceeds obtained from the commission of an offence under the Law including financial aid, gains and rewards, and funds and tools used or intended to be used in the commission of the offence shall be seized and confiscated. The application for and issuance of a forfeiture order must comply with the strict conditions set out in Schedule 3 to the Implementation Rules. The Court of First Instance may order the forfeiture only if it is satisfied, after an application is made by the Secretary for Justice, that the property to be forfeited meets relevant conditions. The Government said the Hong Kong SAR is a society underpinned by the rule of law and has always adhered to the principle that "laws must be obeyed and lawbreakers be held accountable". It noted that applying to the court for a forfeiture order is one of the effective means to combat serious crimes and protect the public interest, adding that laws and mechanisms for forfeiture of offence-related properties are commonly found around the world. The statement also pointed out that a forfeiture order made for the purpose of safeguarding national security can prevent persons convicted of offences endangering national security, their accomplices or agents from continuing to use their offence-related properties to engage in acts and activities endangering national security, so as to cut off the funding chains for offences endangering national security and to weaken their capacity to commit offences endangering national security. The Government reiterated that it will, as always, steadfastly and strictly adhere to the principle of the rule of law, stay committed to ensuring that laws are observed and strictly enforced to bring offenders to justice. The Government will also effectively prevent, suppress and impose punishment for acts and activities endangering national security in accordance with the law, while protecting the lawful rights and interests of Hong Kong residents and other people in Hong Kong, the statement added.
The Immigration Department estimates that around 6.44 million passengers will pass through Hong Kong’s sea, land and air control points during the upcoming Easter and Ching Ming festive period from April 3 to 7. In consultation with the Shenzhen General Station of Exit & Entry Frontier Inspection and other Mainland authorities, the department also estimates that around 5.43 million passengers will pass through land boundary control points. Releasing the information in a statement today, it said the number of outbound and inbound passengers using land boundary control points will be highest on April 3 and April 7, with around 712,000 passengers and 671,000 passengers anticipated on those days respectively. The department also expects passenger traffic at the Lo Wu Control Point, the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point and the Shenzhen Bay Control Point to be heavy, with daily average forecasts of about 240,000, 220,000 and 184,000 passengers respectively. To cope with the anticipated heavy traffic, the department has minimised leave for frontline officers to allow flexible deployment and operation of additional counters, temporary counters and channels. To ensure smooth passenger traffic flows, the department, the Police Force, Customs and the MTR Corporation will set up a joint command centre at the Lo Wu Control Point. The department will also establish close communication with Mainland authorities including the Shenzhen General Station of Exit & Entry Frontier Inspection. Residents and visitors can visit Easy Boundary, a one-stop information platform on immigration clearance launched by the Security Bureau, to obtain useful information. This includes average waiting times for passengers and private cars at land boundary control points, as well as for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge cross-boundary shuttle bus and the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus. To further enhance passenger clearance efficiency, 12 additional new e-channels, equipped with the “Face Easy e-Channel” function, were installed at the Hong Kong International Airport arrival hall today. When using the function, eligible Hong Kong residents need only face the camera, instead of presenting any documents or a QR code. Upon successful identity verification via facial recognition, immigration clearance will be completed.
Police today announced that the issuance service of the Certificate of No Criminal Conviction (CNCC) will be further enhanced from tomorrow, in which eligible applicants may complete the application procedure without the need to submit fingerprints. The issuance of the CNCC is a charged service provided by the Police Force, solely for the purpose of applications for various types of visas, such as visit, student or resident visas, or for the adoption of children. Currently, all applicants are required to schedule appointments for fingerprinting at the CNCC Office or nine designated police stations. From tomorrow, if an applicant is submitting the application via the Hong Kong Police Force Online Applications Platform using their “iAM Smart” account and the purpose of the application is not related to matters concerning children or mentally incapacitated persons, the application procedure can be completed without submitting fingerprints. The processing time will be reduced to 15 days from 28 days.
The Government Flying Service Aviation Inspiration International Academy (GAIIA) has been established, marking Hong Kong's first aviation initiative to unite the eight universities funded by the University Grants Committee, to provide aviation professional training for young people and inspire them to serve the city with their aviation expertise. Officiating at the inauguration ceremony today, Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung said Hong Kong’s strategic importance as an aviation gateway continues to grow as the city deepens its integration with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. He pointed out that the academy arrives at precisely the right moment, grooming dedicated professionals for maintaining Hong Kong's competitive edge, further excelling Hong Kong's public aviation service, while contributing to the broader development of the nation's aviation capabilities. The academy connects the youth with the aviation industry through the Government Flying Service (GFS) professional resources and operational expertise. It also offers students exposure to search and rescue, emergency medical services, hill fire-fighting, law enforcement support, etc. Over 500 teachers and students from local, Mainland and international universities joined the ceremony. The GFS also held an open day at its Kai Tak Division today to promote National Security Education Day. The event aims to raise public awareness of national security and deepen their understanding of GFS services, as well as its work and achievements in safeguarding national security. More than 1,600 visitors joined the open day, including Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong and Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung. Interactive exhibition boards, national security-themed game booths, virtual-reality and augmented-reality games, as well as a discovery zone hosted by the GAIIA, were set up to give members of the public a better understanding of the GFS' operation. The concluding performance featured a helicopter search-and-rescue flight demonstration, which simulated a maritime rescue operation, to illustrate emergency response efforts by the GFS during life-saving missions.
The Security Bureau said a Hong Kong resident earlier detained for illegal work in Myanmar was rescued and transferred to Thailand yesterday, and will return to Hong Kong as soon as possible. The bureau's dedicated task force received a request for assistance earlier. The bureau immediately liaised with the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Chinese Embassy in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Chinese Embassy in the Kingdom of Thailand, the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Bangkok (Bangkok ETO), as well as the relevant Thai authorities, and launched a joint rescue operation promptly. Representatives of the Hong Kong SAR Government arrived in Thailand yesterday to follow up on the incident. Yesterday, the dedicated task force arranged for the Hong Kong resident to meet his family in Thailand once he was in good mental and physical condition. The Hong Kong resident said he felt like he was experiencing a horror movie in the past few days and thanked the task force members for visiting Thailand to save him from detention. Pleased with the reunion, his family members commended the speedy and effective rescue mission. The dedicated task force members will make arrangements for the Hong Kong resident’s return to the city as soon as possible, and will continue to follow up on investigating his case. While in Thailand, the dedicated task force met the Commander of Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division, Central Investigation Bureau of Royal Thai Police, to discuss the support arrangements for the Hong Kong resident after his rescue. The dedicated task force also met personnel from the Chinese Embassy in the Kingdom of Thailand to thank them for their continued efforts on the case, as well as their appropriate and practicable assistance for the individual and his family. In addition, the dedicated task force had a meeting with officials of the Bangkok ETO to learn about the latest local situation. The bureau thanked various parties including the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong SAR, the Chinese Embassy in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Chinese Embassy in the Kingdom of Thailand, the Bangkok ETO, as well as the relevant Thai authorities, for their support and assistance, resulting in a prompt and smooth operation. Since 2024 to date, law enforcement agencies have received a total of 32 request-for-assistance cases in relation to Hong Kong residents alleged to have been detained in Southeast Asian countries and not being able to leave. Apart from the above-mentioned case, 28 of them have already returned to Hong Kong and two needed no further assistance and follow-up. The bureau stressed that its dedicated task force will continue to actively follow up on the remaining request-for-assistance case and provide appropriate advice and practicable assistance to the assistance seeker and their family.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government said today it strongly condemns untruthful remarks, slanders and smears contained in the United Kingdom’s “six-monthly report on Hong Kong: July to December 2025”. In a press statement, the Hong Kong SAR Government said it rejects the UK’s attempt to interfere in the city’s governance by making misleading remarks about Hong Kong matters. Emphasising that the core essence of the Sino-British Joint Declaration concerns China’s resumption of sovereignty over Hong Kong, and that the declaration does not authorise the UK to interfere in Hong Kong’s affairs following its return to China, the Hong Kong SAR Government urged the UK to respect international law and basic norms governing international relations, and to stop intervening in Hong Kong matters, which it said are purely China’s internal affairs. The Hong Kong SAR Government said it steadfastly safeguards the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong people, as protected under the law, and that the city’s media landscape has remained vibrant since the implementation of the National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. It added that it rejects false content in the UK’s report in relation to Hong Kong’s laws and efforts to safeguard the SAR’s national security. In this regard, it highlighted that the UK, pursuant to its national security and counter-terrorism laws, arrested over 3,000 people in 2025, but nevertheless smeared the Hong Kong National Security Law and the city’s efforts to enforce it as “undermining rights and freedoms”. The statement said such double standards and hypocritical behaviour are ugly and despicable. It further stated that the implementation of the National Security Law has brought freedom, stability, a resumption of economic activity and improvements to the business environment in Hong Kong, with the city being recognised as the world’s freest economy in the world. Stressing that Hong Kong is a society underpinned by the rule of law, the Hong Kong SAR Government said any suggestion that certain individuals or organisations should be immune from the consequences of acting illegally runs contrary to the spirit of the rule of law. As to the UK report’s mention of the verdict in the Lai Chee-ying case, the Hong Kong SAR Government emphasised that he and other defendants were found guilty only after a fair trial, and that to suggest otherwise is a malicious smear. It said the court made it clear that Lai Chee-ying was not on trial for his political views of beliefs, and that there was absolutely no question of “political prosecution”. Regarding the UK report’s claim that the Hong Kong SAR Government exerted “political pressure” on the judiciary as the court deferred to judgements made by the executive branch regarding national security matters, the Government said differing to such judgements is established practice in many locations, including the UK.
The Correctional Services Department today announced that an IT system security incident involving illegal access to one of its IT systems maintaining staff personal data was found on Tuesday, however there was no evidence indicating that relevant data had been leaked or disclosed. The department immediately reported the incident to Police. After a preliminary investigation, the department believes that the incident involved illegal access to the internal Knowledge Management System by a hacker, through which the hacker then illegally accessed another IT system maintaining the personal data of its staff. Relevant data included the names, genders, dates of birth, academic qualifications, information of employment history in the department and email addresses of about 6,800 serving and departing staff. The department took immediate action after the incident, including isolating the internal Knowledge Management System, notifying users to change passwords, thoroughly reviewing all systems under the department's purview and activating back-up procedures, as well as requesting the outsourced service provider to commence an investigation. Apart from reporting the incident to Police, the department has also reported it to the Security Bureau, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) and the Digital Policy Office (DPO). The department added that although there is no evidence indicating that relevant data has been leaked, it has started informing all possibly affected individuals of the situation for prudence sake. In case of suspicious circumstances, they should report to Police as soon as possible. The department is very concerned about the incident and is consulting the PCPD and the DPO, with a view to conducting a comprehensive review of the incident and taking further enhancement measures for personal data protection to prevent a recurrence of similar incidents.
To mark the 11th National Security Education Day, the Fire Services Department will host an open day at the Fire & Ambulance Services Academy in Tseung Kwan O on April 12. The event, which runs from 10am to 2pm, aims to enhance public understanding of the Constitution, the Basic Law and the Hong Kong National Security Law. It will also showcase the department's role in safeguarding national security, maintaining public order and safety and professional personnel training. Highlights include a parade of fire appliances, a rescue demonstration and displays of specialised equipment and training facilities. The event will also feature a fire-safety exhibition, interactive games and a demonstration of Fire Services working dogs. In addition, the Fire & Ambulance Services Education Centre & Museum will be open to visitors throughout the day. People can apply for up to four admission tickets via the Fire Services Department mobile app from today until Sunday. Tickets will be allocated by computer ballot and successful applicants will be notified through the mobile app on April 1. Tickets are not required for children aged three or below. Call 2411 8773 for enquiries.
Secretary for Justice Paul Lam today met Mainland officials in Shanghai and Hangzhou. Mr Lam and his delegation, comprising about 40 representatives from the Law Society of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Bar Association, and local and international law firms, visited Shanghai yesterday and today before travelling onwards to Hangzhou. This morning, Mr Lam met Vice President of the Shanghai High People's Court Wang Guangxian. They discussed their respective experiences of judicial practice and ways to strengthen talent training. He then met Shanghai Vice Mayor Lu Shan to learn about developments in the city and to highlight the unique advantages stemming from Hong Kong's robust common-law system and its being connected both to the Mainland and the world under the "one country, two systems" principle. He said this can provide Shanghai enterprises with support, through legal and other professional services, in their overseas expansion. Arriving in Hangzhou this afternoon, Mr Lam met Vice Governor of Zhejiang Province Yang Qingjiu to discuss strengthening co-operation and exchanges between Zhejiang and Hong Kong. Mr Lam's itinerary in Shanghai began yesterday with a visit to the headquarters of an Internet and technology company. He then visited the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Justice to meet Secretary of the CPC and Director-General of the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Justice Gu Quan. They exchanged views on strengthening professional co-operation in the legal, arbitration and mediation sectors, and on training for foreign-related legal professionals. Together with his delegation, the justice chief also attended a roundtable meeting and networking dinner for Shanghai and Hong Kong lawyers and enterprises. He promoted Hong Kong's strengths as an international financial centre and international legal hub in being able to leverage its common law system and legal and dispute resolution services to assist Mainland enterprises in "going global".