You are here
RSS list
2026
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today welcomed the Legislative Council’s passage of the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area Bill. The bill’s passage marks a major milestone in implementing the central authorities’ authorisation. It provides a legal basis for the co-location arrangement at the redeveloped port and advances preparatory work for its opening. Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung said the redevelopment is a key project proactively aligning the Hong Kong SAR Government with the country's 15th Five-Year Plan. It will better integrate the city into national development and enhance the infrastructure connectivity of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. “Huanggang Port is also an important project to improve people's livelihoods,” Mr Tang said. “Getting the port ready for a smooth opening at an early date is the expectation of the general public and the common goal of the governments of Hong Kong and Shenzhen to facilitate cross-boundary travel and the two-way flow of people between the two places,” he added. The Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area Ordinance will be published in the Government Gazette on July 20 and take effect on July 31. The official establishment of the port area allows Hong Kong and Shenzhen to fully launch subsequent preparations. These tasks include joint system tests, trials and drills to ensure that all facilities and operational plans are ready. The Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to work closely with Guangdong and Shenzhen authorities to advance preparations. Once both sides confirm the port is ready for safe operation, the governments of Guangdong and Hong Kong will finalise and announce the official opening date.
Four young inmates have met the general entrance requirements for local universities in this year's Diploma of Secondary Education Examination, the Correctional Services Department announced today. Fourteen inmates, from correctional institutions at Sha Tsui, Pik Uk and Lai King, received results today. They sat a combined total of 83 examination papers and obtained level 2 or above in 66, or 79.5%, of these. A candidate at Sha Tsui Correctional Institution (STCI) scored 22 marks across five subjects – the highest score of the 14 inmates. This included achieving level 5* grades in Chinese Language and Tourism & Hospitality Studies and an “Attained” in Citizenship & Social Development. STCI Superintendent Poon Ho-lam highlighted that sitting their exams not only boosted the young inmates' self-confidence, but also helped them to find a clear direction in life. He urged them to maintain a proactive and earnest attitude, and to meet challenges ahead with determination. Mr Poon called on the public to give rehabilitated people fair opportunities and accept and support their reintegration into society.
The Police Force’s National Security Department (NSD) arrested five people in Mong Kok today on suspicion of committing seditious acts. The operation was launched following a referral from the Customs and Excise Department, which had earlier intercepted an overseas shipment containing a batch of books with seditious intent. Following investigations, NSD officers searched two shops in Mong Kok. They arrested two men, aged 37 and 57, and three women, aged between 30 and 59, on suspicion of “doing an act that has a seditious intention with a seditious intention”, contravening section 24 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. Police investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly displayed items with seditious intent and sold publications with seditious content inside the shops. These publications contained content inciting hatred against the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, the judiciary and law enforcement agencies. A batch of books was seized during the operation. All five individuals remain in custody for further investigation.
The Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area Bill was published in the Government Gazette today. The bill turns the central authorities’ recent formal authorisation for Hong Kong to exercise jurisdiction over the "Huangang Port Area and Related Extended Areas" (HKPA) into Hong Kong law, and provides the legal basis for running a joint checkpoint at the redeveloped port. It will be introduced into the Legislative Council (LegCo) for first and second readings tomorrow. On July 8, the State Council issued an Official Reply in relation to the commissioning of the HKPA, stipulating its co-ordinates and extent. The reply also spelled out that the HKPA is to be commissioned from 00.00 hours on July 31, and will be subject to the jurisdiction of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in accordance with its laws. As to the HKPA's official opening date, the reply said this will be agreed upon by the governments of Guangdong and Hong Kong. The Hong Kong SAR Government said it is obliged to complete relevant local legislative work before July 31, in order to ensure that central authorities' authorisation is duly implemented. The main provisions of the bill include: declaring certain Chinese Mainland areas of the Huanggang Port as the HKPA; providing for the application of Hong Kong laws in the HKPA and for the jurisdiction of Hong Kong courts in this connection; extending the territorial scope of certain pre-existing rights and obligations to include the HKPA; and making provisions to assist in the construction of certain future documents and court orders. At present, the superstructure of the Huanggang Port Building is substantially completed. Interior fitting-out works and the installation of required facilities are underway. The Government emphasised that the early passage of the bill will facilitate preparatory work to ensure that the port is ready for operation. It added that it will fully co-operate with LegCo to strive for early completion of the local legislative work, and work closely with the Guangdong and Shenzhen authorities to take forward all preparatory work at full steam.
Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Rosanna Law inspected a passing-out parade for 13 probationary inspectors and 131 recruit police constables at the Police College today, urging them to serve as the public's trusted guardians. Speaking at the ceremony, Miss Law highlighted that the country has officially entered a new phase under the National 15th Five-Year Plan this year, heralding unprecedented development opportunities for Hong Kong. She noted that Hong Kong serves as an important gateway for the nation's opening up. The city leverages the strong support of the motherland while maintaining close global connections under the "one country, two systems" principle. The city has been proactively aligning with the national development strategies and deepening its integration into the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Miss Law emphasised that a safe, stable and lawful society forms the foundation of all development. Therefore, the Police Force’s role in steadfastly upholding the rule of law and maintaining social order remains of paramount importance. Having worked closely with the Police Force across various government roles over the years, Miss Law observed that Hong Kong faces both new opportunities and challenges amid a complex, changing geopolitical environment. Safeguarding national security, she added, must remain the top operational priority for the Police Force. She expressed her hope that police officers will consistently uphold professionalism, impartiality, empathy and the highest standards of integrity, regardless of shifts in the social climate. Miss Law urged the graduates to act strictly in accordance with the law, safeguard social order, and think from the citizens' perspectives. By devoting themselves to public well-being, she said they will provide a solid security guarantee for the smooth implementation of the National 15th Five-Year Plan in Hong Kong.
The Government today launched a one-month public consultation on proposals to improve the laws on sexual offences in Hong Kong, aiming to fortify safeguards for victims while ensuring the laws keep pace with changing times. The Government stated that it attaches great importance to the well-being of the general public, particularly children and persons with mental impairment (PMIs), and to shielding them against sexual exploitation and abuse. Currently, numerous sexual offences in Hong Kong are based on similar provisions instituted in English laws back in 1956. The Government said that as social perceptions related to sexual offences evolve over time, the existing provisions show inadequacies. It therefore considers it necessary to address shortcomings in these provisions. Over several years, the Law Reform Commission (LRC) undertook a review of sexual offences and published four consultation papers on specific aspects. These were followed by two reports containing a total of 72 final recommendations. The Government subsequently crafted a range of legislative amendment proposals based on the LRC's recommendations and with reference to the development of relevant laws in other major common law jurisdictions. These proposals cover non-consensual sexual offences involving children, sexual offences involving PMIs, miscellaneous sexual offences, and other related amendments, to strengthen protections for victims of sexual offences. Members of the public are invited to submit their views by August 5 via email, fax to 2524 3762, or mail to Security Bureau A Division, 8th Floor, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar. Click here for the consultation paper.
The Greater Bay Area Foreign-Related Adjudication Talent Training Course, jointly organised by the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy and the High People's Court of Guangdong Province, started today in Guangzhou. During the opening ceremony, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam highlighted that the course is tailored for judges from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and nearby provinces. The initiative follows collaborations between the academy and the Supreme People's Court and the Shanghai High People's Court. Mr Lam noted that the course aims to deepen judicial exchanges between Hong Kong and the Mainland, aligning with the National 15th Five-Year Plan’s goals to strengthen co-ordination in regional development and boost the GBA’s role as an engine for high-quality development. This effort contributes to the construction of a collaborative mechanism for cultivating foreign-related legal talent within the GBA. The training course focuses on Hong Kong's common law system and the practical application of guarantee law in foreign-related hearings through lectures and dialogues. To enhance participants' cross-boundary case capabilities, judges from Hong Kong's Court of First Instance of the High Court and senior legal professionals have been invited to deliver lectures. More than 100 senior judges specialising in foreign-related and bankruptcy adjudication from 68 courts across 32 cities in Guangdong Province and neighbouring areas, such as Guangxi, Hainan and Hunan are taking part in the three-day training course.
The Department of Justice today held a workshop to promote an online platform for sports dispute resolution. The event was co-staged with the administering body and technology provider of the Pilot Scheme on Sports Dispute Resolution, as well as the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China. More than 120 representatives from Hong Kong's sports and legal sectors, including individuals from 30 sports organisations, attended the “Efficient Resolution for All: Sports Dispute Resolution Workshop”. Deputy Secretary for Justice and Chairperson of the Advisory Committee on Sports Dispute Resolution Cheung Kwok-kwan also attended the event and gave welcome remarks. Mr Cheung outlined that with the rapid development of sports and related industries, differences of opinion and disputes are inevitable. However, to settle these by traditional methods, such as internal rulings or adjudication within national sports associations, or litigation in courts, often leads to more complex problems and imposes a burden on parties in terms of time, mental energy, and finance. Therefore, Mr Cheung said, establishing an efficient, professional, and credible sports dispute resolution system that handles sports disputes through a “mediation first, arbitration next” approach can resolve disputes more flexibly and effectively. He added that resolving disputes through arbitration can help the parties concerned avoid the lengthy legal procedures and substantial legal fees that result from litigation. Mr Cheung revealed that following the launch of the pilot scheme’s online platform in February, it has received a number of inquiries and has begun processing cases, with the first of these being successfully resolved recently. He emphasised that the scheme’s successful implementation confirms that Hong Kong is on the right track in promoting a sports dispute resolution system, and encouraged attendees of the workshop to engage with the pilot scheme and promote the long-term development of sports in the city. Through various activities, the workshop explored how, under the pilot scheme's framework, sports disputes can be efficiently resolved by way of mediation and arbitration. Attendees were introduced to simulated mediation procedures, as details of actual cases are typically confidential under regulations,. Expert speakers outlined the fundamental principles of mediation and arbitration, the workflow under the pilot scheme, the operational procedures of the online dispute resolution platform, and various case studies of disputes that have been successfully resolved. In a sharing session, a representative from a national sports association and an athlete discussed the possible challenges in resolving sports disputes, and elaborated on the specific benefits of adopting the pilot scheme's model.
The Security Bureau today launched an interactive drama titled Community Chef Challenge: Security Brings Prosperity at the East Kowloon Cultural Centre to mark the sixth anniversary of the National Security Law’s implementation. Speaking at the launch ceremony, Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung emphasised that Hong Kong is an inalienable part of China. He stressed that safeguarding national security is both a constitutional duty of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and an obligation for every citizen. The production features national security comics characters Andy and Security Bear. It uses everyday examples to explain key national security concepts to the audience. Mr Tang pointed out that the format helps spectators, particularly young people, understand how every community member can contribute to national security. To highlight the theme that “security brings prosperity”, the drama introduces a new character to underscore the importance of a safe and secure home for everyone. The interactive drama runs today and tomorrow.
The Department of Justice today officially launched the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Legal Information Platform. The platform provides legal and policy information concerning business operations, employment and daily life within the GBA. It aims to support residents and businesses in the region while promoting the construction of the rule of law. It consolidates information across six major areas: housing, business, work, education, family and healthcare. The website features updates on rule-of-law developments, including GBA standards for lawyers, mediation and mechanisms allowing Hong Kong-invested enterprises to adopt Hong Kong law and choose Hong Kong as an arbitration seat. The platform implements initiatives from the Policy Address and the department’s Action Plan on the Construction of Rule of Law in the GBA. Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan said the platform uses a "one question, three answers" format to address common issues that area residents may encounter with concise, practical information. Mr Cheung expressed hope that the resource would facilitate the flow of people and economic exchanges within the GBA.