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2024
The Immigration Department announced today nationals of Georgia who are holders of valid diplomatic, official and ordinary passports may visit Hong Kong visa-free for a stay of up to 30 days starting from September 30. Noting that Georgia is along the Belt & Road, the department said the visa-free arrangement will provide travel convenience for visitors from Georgia and strengthen the tourism, cultural and economic ties between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Georgia. Currently, Hong Kong SAR passport holders may also visit Georgia visa-free for a stay of up to 30 days.
The Immigration Department today said it estimates that around 10.03 million passengers will pass through Hong Kong's sea, land and air control points during the upcoming National Day festive period from September 28 to October 7. In consultation with the Shenzhen General Station of Exit & Entry Frontier Inspection, the department added that it estimates around 8.54 million passengers will transit through land boundary control points. The number of outbound and inbound passengers using land boundary control points will be relatively higher on October 1, with around 523,000 and 632,000 passengers respectively. Passenger traffic at the Lo Wu Control Point is expected to reach a daily average of about 208,000 passengers, while the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point and the Shenzhen Bay Control Point are forecast to handle around 185,000 and 118,000 passengers respectively. To cope with the anticipated heavy traffic during the festive period, the department has minimised leave for frontline officers for the flexible deployment and operation of extra clearance counters and kiosks. Additional security guards will also be deployed to provide crowd management support. Apart from setting up a joint command centre at the Lo Wu Control Point with Police, Customs and the Mass Transit Railway Corporation to closely monitor passenger conditions, the department will establish close communication with Mainland authorities. Appropriate traffic diversion plans will also be adopted when necessary to ensure a smooth passenger traffic flow. Travellers are advised to plan in advance and avoid making their journeys during busy times. They can check the expected busy times at boundary control points on the department's website and find the estimated waiting times at all land boundary control points via its app.
Secretary for Justice Paul Lam started his visit programme to three countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) today by visiting government officials and engaging with the legal and dispute resolution sectors. Mr Lam arrived in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, yesterday. He had lunch with Supreme Court Chief Justice of Brunei Darussalam Dato Seri Paduka Steven Chong Wan Oon, to exchange views on further co-operation opportunities for facilitating development of the dispute avoidance and resolution services in Brunei and Hong Kong, pursuant to the memorandum of co-operation signed by the Department of Justice and Brunei Darussalam’s Supreme Court last year. In the afternoon, Mr Lam attended a meeting with Brunei Darussalam’s Attorney General Datin Paduka Dayang Hajah Nor Hashimah binti Haji Mohammed Taib. He then met President of the Law Society of Brunei Darussalam Nur 'Azizah Ahmad, to explore opportunities to foster legal collaboration and other exchange activities for the legal professions of the two places. This was followed by a meeting with Brunei Darussalam’s Arbitration Centre Chairperson Radin Safiee bin Radin Mas Basiuni, to gain a better understanding of the dispute resolution services provided there and discuss potential co-operation between the two sides. Mr Lam also visited the Royal Regalia Museum to learn more about the history and development of Brunei, and viewed its newest museum Balai Khazanah Islam Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah for an insight into the rich Islamic heritage and culture. Mr Lam will also visit the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien mosque. The justice chief will depart for Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, tomorrow morning to continue his visit to the ASEAN countries.
The Security Bureau Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum held its annual review today, giving youth members the chance to present research topics and reflect on their learning experiences over the past year, and to set a course for the forum's development over the coming year. Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki remarked at the event that nearly 30 activities had been undertaken during the forum's second term, giving members diverse training opportunities. He said members also took part in study tours to places such as the Greater Bay Area and Henan Province, to experience the country’s history, culture and social development, and that these tours enhanced their sense of national identity. He added that in the coming year, the bureau will deepen co-operation with Shenzhen University, and collaborate with Macau to promote youth exchanges between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau, strengthening the mutual cohesion of youths in the theee places and encouraging them to contribute to the country. Youth members shared their experiences and insights from the past year at the event. Three outstanding alumni shared their experiences of participating in the 2024 UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs Youth Forum in Vienna and, as Hong Kong youth volunteers, in the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2024 in Hainan. Other members shared their internship experiences at the Palace Museum in Beijing, well-known enterprises and government institutions. A group of representatives collaborated with students from Shenzhen University to present the findings of research related to youth in the Greater Bay Area, and received feedback from guests Concluding the event, Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung said members had undergone significant growth after a year of learning, and that he is pleased that some alumni and members will join the Government as administrative officers and members of disciplinary forces. The Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum was established in October 2022 to enhance youth work.
Secretary for Justice Paul Lam will depart tomorrow for visits to three member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – namely Brunei, Vietnam and Malaysia – to promote Hong Kong's legal and dispute resolution services, and enhance co-operation with ASEAN. In Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, Mr Lam will call on relevant government officials and engage with the legal and dispute resolution sectors to enhance bilateral collaboration and explore further opportunities for legal co-operation. He will then lead a delegation comprising representatives from the Law Society of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Bar Association and alternative dispute resolution organisations to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. They will meet representatives of local authorities and the countries' legal and dispute resolution sectors to discuss various aspects of legal co-operation. During the trip, the Secretary for Justice and the delegates will also address the legal and business sectors in Ho Chi Minh City at a forum and a networking dinner, and in Kuala Lumpur at a seminar and a networking reception aimed at promoting Hong Kong's legal and dispute resolution services. Mr Lam will return to Hong Kong on September 28. During his absence, Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan will be Acting Secretary.
The Magistrates' Court today sentenced a defendant to 14 months' imprisonment for "doing with a seditious intention an act or acts that had a seditious intention" under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. The defendant had earlier pleaded guilty to the offence. The magistrate clearly pointed out in the reasons for sentencing that the content of the seditious words in this case involved advocating divesting the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government from the lawful governance of the central authorities, and putting his agenda into action by undermining social tranquility and public order, seriously endangering the unity and territorial integrity of the state. The magistrate also stated that the defendant intended to bring other people into hatred and contempt against the Hong Kong SAR Government and law enforcement agencies, resulting in social rift and division. If the law does not intervene in time, it will make society once again fall into chaos, the magistrate added. In a statement, the Hong Kong SAR Government said the conviction and sentencing of the defendant demonstrates that any person intending to endanger national security or incite social hatred can never escape sanctions of the law. Hong Kong is a society underpinned by the rule of law, where laws must be obeyed and lawbreakers be held accountable. People who break the law must face legal sanctions for their malicious acts, it added. The statement also noted that the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights guarantee fundamental rights such as the freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, procession and demonstration. It added that clear lines have been drawn between unlawful seditious acts and expressions, and lawful constructive criticisms under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. The Hong Kong SAR Government stressed that the relevant provisions are unambiguous and reminded members of the public not to defy the law.
The Customs & Excise Department today said it attaches great importance to protecting personal data privacy and its officers will not collect passengers' personal mobile phone numbers during customs clearance. The department made the statement in response to a press conference and press release by the Hong Kong Journalists Association today which mentioned that reporters started to receive anonymous messages ever since customs officers conducted searches on their baggage during arrival clearance, suspecting that a leakage of personal data was involved. Customs stressed that it has all along applied risk assessment and intelligence analysis to select passengers, cargo, postal packets and conveyances for checks and clearance, and worked closely with relevant departments through intelligence exchanges and joint enforcement actions to combat the smuggling of contraband, and activities of conveying or bringing controlled articles into and out of Hong Kong illegally. The department added that it shall endeavour to ensure the collection, use, retention, transfer and access of personal data in operations, investigations and services is executed in accordance with the requirements of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance, and all officers must strictly follow the relevant regulations.
Customs announced today that they have arrested two directors of a chain fitness and beauty group suspected of wrongly accepting payments when selling fitness and beauty services in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO). Customs explained that in response to the sudden announcement of the temporary business suspension by the chain fitness and beauty group on September 6, both Customs and Police set up an interdepartmental dedicated investigation team to conduct a probe into offences under the TDO regarding unfair trade practices and whether other criminal offences are involved. After receiving information alleging that the chain fitness and beauty group failed to provide prepaid fitness and beauty services purchased by customers, the investigation team discovered that the chain group still accepted payments for prepaid services from customers even before the announcement of its business suspension. As a result, customers who had paid in advance were unable to use the services and did not receive any refunds. Subsequent to a follow-up investigation, Customs officers conducted enforcement operations for two consecutive days and arrested two directors, a male and a female, of the fitness and beauty group, aged 67 and 68 respectively. Customs stressed that the investigation is ongoing and called on those affected by the case to contact their department and provide them with relevant information. Additionally, Customs pointed out that as of noon today, they have received 900 reports regarding the fitness and beauty group, involving fitness and beauty service contracts amounting to about $39 million. Members of the public may report any suspected violations of the TDO via Customs’ 24-hour hotline at 2545 6182, or its dedicated crime-reporting email account, or by filling out an online form.
Businessman Simon Manning travelled to Shenzhen for a meeting using his new Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong & Macao Residents (non-Chinese Citizens). He praised the travel permit, describing it as providing him easy access to the Mainland and a smooth clearance process. Mr Manning said: “I always kept my employees waiting for me while I went through the other channel. Now, I do not hold anybody up.” Apart from lauding the travel permit as being super convenient, Mr Manning highlighted that as Hong Kong serves as an international business hub, there will always be huge demand among the business community here for travel to the Mainland. He added that the advantages of the new arrangement for business travellers from many different sectors are therefore vast. The new arrangement, implemented on July 10, allows non-Chinese permanent residents of Hong Kong to apply for a five-year multiple-entry travel permit to the Mainland. In recognition of the convenience the new permit brings, Mr Manning said he hopes its validity period can be extended to 10 years.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today strongly disapproved of and rejected the fact-twisting remarks and baseless smears by “Media Freedom Coalition” against the verdict in a “conspiracy to publish and/or reproduce seditious publication” case and the safeguarding of press freedom in the Hong Kong SAR. The coalition claimed that their members are from foreign countries including the US and the UK. In a statement this evening, the Hong Kong SAR Government said it has emphasised time and again, and it is necessary to reiterate that Hong Kong citizens enjoy freedom of the press and freedom of speech as protected under the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights. The Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL) and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance clearly stipulate that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security. The rights and freedoms, including the freedoms of the press, of speech and of publication, enjoyed by Hong Kong people under the Basic Law and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social & Cultural Rights as applicable to the Hong Kong SAR, are protected in accordance with the law. It stressed that like all other places in the world, such rights and freedoms are not absolute. Journalists, like everyone else, have an obligation to abide by all the laws. Their freedom of commenting on and criticising government policies remains uninhibited as long as they do not violate the law. The court, in its reasons for verdict, has analysed in detail the duties and responsibilities of the media, specifically highlighting that, according to ICCPR Article 19(3), when the media and relevant personnel publish opinions, information and articles, they must observe and discharge “special duties and responsibilities”, including protection of national security or public order. The reasons for verdict have also pointed out clearly that the ideology of Stand News was localism which excluded China, and that it even became a tool to smear and vilify the central authorities and the Hong Kong SAR Government during the “anti-extradition amendment bill incidents”. The court found that the relevant articles, without any objective basis, attacked the NSL and the Crimes Ordinance and relevant law enforcement and prosecutorial process; spread hatred and anti-government sentiment with disinformation; attacked the law enforcement by Police and glorified the behaviour of rioters - in other words, they were not based on facts. The court further cited precedents from the European Court of Human Rights regarding press freedom, pointing out that the European Convention on Human Rights does not guarantee a wholly unrestricted freedom of speech even with respect to press coverage on matters of serious public concern. The most crucial point is that journalists must act in good faith and on accurate factual basis and provide reliable and precise information in accordance with the tenets of “responsible journalism” in order to enjoy the protection of their rights to freedom of speech and press freedom. The Hong Kong SAR Government also pointed out that in the past, the US and some Western countries had also carried out law enforcement actions against the dissemination of disinformation, incitement of hatred, and glorification of violence in their own countries. Recent examples include a British journalist reportedly being arrested by the UK police for allegedly violating the UK Terrorism Act while working on coverage related to Palestine. The disparagement of the Hong Kong SAR District Court’s verdict by the relevant countries only exposes their double standards. The Hong Kong SAR Government noted that Hong Kong is a society underpinned by the rule of law and has always adhered to the principle that laws must be obeyed and lawbreakers held accountable. The city’s law enforcement agencies have been taking law enforcement actions based on evidence and strictly in accordance with the law in respect of the acts of the persons or organisations concerned, which have nothing to do with press freedom, or the background of any person or organisation. The Hong Kong SAR Government said it will continue to resolutely discharge the responsibility of safeguarding national security and effectively prevent, suppress and impose punishment for acts and activities that endanger national security in accordance with the law. At the same time, it will also safeguard the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong people in accordance with the law.