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2025

27/01/2025
The Immigration Department today presented a review of its work in 2024, covering passenger traffic at control points and law enforcement, among other things. The department highlighted that a total of around 298 million passengers passed through Hong Kong's control points in 2024, representing an increase of about 41% over 2023 and a return to the 300 million level in 2019. During the year, the total number of visitor arrivals was around 44.5 million, constituting an increase of about 31% when compared with 2023. Meanwhile, the department conducted a total of 13,664 related inspection operations at various immigration control points and intercepted 32,551 passengers for enquiries. In 2024, the department determined over 2,700 non-refoulement claims. As at the end of last year, there were about 850 claims pending screening. Looking ahead, to enhance clearance efficiency, the department said that it will adjust the applicable age of the e-Channel service for Hong Kong permanent residents from the first quarter of this year onwards so that children aged seven or above holding a valid Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport and a Hong Kong permanent identity card can undergo self-service immigration clearance with a smart identity card using facial recognition technology at e-Channels. The department also plans to introduce the new e-Channel at the Hong Kong International Airport's arrival hall in the third quarter of this year, which will enable eligible Hong Kong residents to experience hassle-free self-service immigration clearance through verification of identity by facial recognition technology at the new e-Channel upon arrival. Additionally, the department fully supports the 15th National Games, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games to be held this year, whereby special immigration lanes will be provided in the closed areas of designated control points on the Hong Kong side to provide faster and more convenient clearance services for athletes from the Mainland and Macau.
25/01/2025
The Security Bureau today said that a Hong Kong resident who had been detained for illegal work in Myanmar, but was recently rescued and safely arrived in Thailand, will return to Hong Kong on Monday with the bureau’s dedicated task force. Members of the task force met the Hong Kong resident at a detention centre last night after his transferral to Bangkok. He was in good mental and physical condition. The task force members expressed sympathy to the individual, who expressed gratitude for their visit to Thailand to follow up on his case. He was also pleased to learn that he will be able to return to Hong Kong on Monday. Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung said he was relieved that one more Hong Kong resident was rescued and able to return to Hong Kong to reunite with his family before the Chinese New Year. Mr Tang thanked sincerely 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 Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Chiang Mai, the Consulate General of Myanmar in Hong Kong, the Royal Thai Consulate-General, Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Bangkok and the relevant Thai authorities for their support and assistance as well as importance attached to the case, enabling the return of the Hong Kong resident within a short period of time as far as practicable. The security chief also commended the dedicated task force for the committed efforts in following up the case and assisting the Hong Kong resident's return to Hong Kong as soon as possible. The task force, comprising members from the bureau, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Immigration Department, has been contacting and liaising with different parties since their arrival in Thailand on January 21 to discuss the arrangements for the rescued Hong Kong resident to return home as soon as possible and follow up on the 10 remaining request-for-assistance cases.
24/01/2025
With effect from today, the Government opened a section of road within the frontier closed area near Lin Ma Hang Village in Sha Tau Kok by exempting it from the requirement that passengers travelling on it by green minibus must apply for a closed area permit. The move is intended to make it easier for members of the public visit to Lin Ma Hang Village and Robin’s Nest Country Park, the Security Bureau explained. It outlined that residents and tourists can go to Robin’s Nest Country Park and areas nearby for sightseeing purposes and to experience Hong Kong’s rich heritage and geological features. From now on, people can take green minibus No. 59K from Sheung Shui MTR Station to reach Lin Ma Hang Village via the newly exempted section of road within the frontier closed area.  On alighting, they can visit the MacIntosh Forts and Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine by taking the Lin Ma Hang Country Trail. They can also head in the direction of Sha Tau Kok via the Robin’s Nest Country Trail in order to enjoy the scenery around Yan Chau Tong and Shenzhen Wutong Mountain. The bureau emphasised that the exemption is only applicable to people travelling by green minibus, and does not apply to private vehicles, taxis or other vehicles without a valid closed road permit, or to individuals using other means of travel such as walking or cycling.
22/01/2025
Police's National Security Department this morning charged a 36-year-old man with one count of knowingly publishing publications that had a seditious intention. The investigation revealed that the man was suspected of repeatedly publishing posts with seditious intentions on social platforms, with content provoking hatred towards the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, the Police Force and the Judiciary, calling for sanctions against government officials as well as inciting violence. The man was arrested in Eastern District yesterday on suspicion of knowingly publishing publications that had a seditious intention, contravening Section 24 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. The case is being mentioned at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts this afternoon.
22/01/2025
The Fire Services Department (FSD) said it received 37,828 fire calls in 2024, representing an increase of 4.8% over 2023. In addition, there were 5,222 damaging fires, a rise of 154 cases over 2023. In all, 95.6% of the building fire calls were responded to within the graded response time. At a media session today presenting the FSD's 2024 Year-end Review, Director of Fire Services Andy Yeung recalled that a No. 3 alarm fire that broke out at New Lucky House in Jordan on April 10 led to multiple casualties. He pointed out that the department subsequently formed a dedicated team to investigate the causes of the incident and factors which led to it. Separately, a No. 4 alarm fire broke out at a construction site on Hung Nga Road in Hung Shui Kiu on April 9. Mr Yeung noted that during this operation, the department used indoor locating equipment for the first time, enabling firefighters to monitor the real-time locations and safety conditions of frontline staff and show the locations of those awaiting rescue, so that the search time could be significantly reduced, while the safety of frontline staff could be enhanced. Mr Yeung also reported that the FSD conducted 460,400 inspections last year and issued 17,775 Fire Hazard Abatement Notices, with 4,967 cases brought to prosecution. In response to the tragic fire at New Lucky House, he said the department proactively conducted, under a risk-based principle, about 8,200 inspections of some 1,000 old composite buildings with relatively higher fire risk. A total of 8,661 notices were issued and over half of the cases were related to smoke stop door irregularities. Regarding the certification and acceptance inspection of fire service installation and equipment, the FSD plans to deploy internal resources and establish the One-stop Co-ordination Office for New Fire Protection Facilities Acceptance in March 2025. Mr Yeung hopes that upon establishment of the co-ordination office, the overall time required for acceptance inspections could be reduced to within 35 working days in respect of average-scale regular projects. To enhance the fire safety of old buildings, the department has completed the amendment to the Fire Safety (Buildings) Ordinance which came into force on December 13 last year. The main purpose of the amendment is to introduce the defaulted works mechanism, increase penalties as well as assist and drive target buildings to comply with the requirements, so that the fire safety standards of such buildings are enhanced to meet modern fire protection requirements, Mr Yeung explained. The department also plans to establish the Building Improvement Special Duty Team by the first quarter of 2025 to proactively carry out inspections of 1,800 old buildings every year, strengthen law enforcement and enhance fire safety education, he added.
21/01/2025
(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.) Chief Executive John Lee said today that Hong Kong will strengthen efforts on all fronts, including co-operating with relevant countries, to rescue Hong Kong people being detained in Southeast Asian countries. Mr Lee made the remarks before attending the Executive Council meeting this morning, explaining that the Government’s efforts to secure the safe return of 10 Hong Kong citizens who are still being detained in Southeast Asian countries will focus on four areas. “First, is a full and thorough investigation together with enforcement.“Second, to enhance co-operation with our partners. There are a lot of players in the whole fight against this crime, including the law enforcement agencies in the relevant countries. “The third thing we will do is to ensure that we will have the right outbound travel alert for Hong Kong citizens. So we have recently raised the outbound travel alert for Myanmar south-eastern regions to red. And also, we have regularly added new information on the Security Bureau’s webpage regarding those areas where this crime is serious and also the new modus operandi. “The fourth area is to continue to strengthen publicity education so as to alert innocent Hong Kong people of the seriousness of this crime, and also to ensure that they get updated information.”
20/01/2025
The same principles of law apply in national security cases as in others and the Judiciary is firmly committed to upholding basic rights while safeguarding national security, Chief Justice Andrew Cheung said today. Speaking at the Ceremonial Opening of the Legal Year 2025, Mr Cheung noted that the introduction of the Hong Kong National Security Law, complemented by local legislation enacted pursuant to Article 23 of the Basic Law, has brought with it cases that attract heightened attention due to their political sensitivity. “The presumption of innocence, the requirement that guilt be proved beyond reasonable doubt, and the right to a fair trial are all essential safeguards that remain firmly in place. Indeed, they are specifically affirmed under Article 5 of the National Security Law as well as section 2 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.” Noting that tension often exists between protecting basic rights and safeguarding national security, the Chief Justice said the Judiciary is firmly committed to upholding both. He outlined that the protection of basic rights involves a delicate balancing act between individual freedoms and collective security as well as between the rights of the person and the responsibilities of the state, adding that striking the right balance can be challenging and the outcomes in individual cases may be contentious at times. “Nor is the interpretation or application of newly enacted statutory provisions always straightforward. However, it is one thing to disagree with a legal provision or a court decision in applying it, but entirely another to suggest that the justice system has been undermined by political expectations or societal atmosphere.” Pointing out that national security cases only form a small fraction of the courts' work, Mr Cheung acknowledged concerns about the recent departures of some overseas non-permanent judges from the Court of Final Appeal (CFA). “The orchestrated harassment and pressures to which some of our overseas judges have recently been subjected are as deplorable as they are indicative of how politicised the office of an overseas non-permanent judge on the Court has now become. “And it is this broader context, reflective of the underlying geopolitical tensions, that must inform an impartial observer's understanding of the current situation.” Stating that it was unfortunate some of the judges felt unable to continue their service, Mr Cheung said their decisions ought be respected and that the CFA continues to include highly esteemed overseas and local non-permanent judges, and their continued participation alongside their full-time colleagues speaks to the enduring strength and resilience of the Court. “Far more important than all of this, the Judiciary is broader than any individuals. “Judges come and go. But our system is built on legal principles, judicial precedents, and a robust structure that will continue to function.” Also speaking at the event, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam noted that the participation of eminent foreign judges in the work of the CFA not only benefits Hong Kong but also the common law world. He said it was most regrettable that there were attempts from overseas to exert improper pressures on foreign judges to dissociate themselves from the Hong Kong court. “These attempts pose a threat to not only the rule of law in Hong Kong but also the development of common law in general. The Government is in full support of the Judiciary in its continuous efforts to appoint and retain foreign Non-Permanent Judges in future.”
17/01/2025
Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung and Shenzhen Municipal Government Vice Mayor Luo Huanghao co-chaired a task force meeting in Hong Kong today on the collaboration for the planning and development of Hong Kong-Shenzhen control points to continue taking forward relevant work in the planning and development of boundary control points (BCPs). Mr Tang welcomed the arrival of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government leaders as well as members of the Office of Port of Entry & Exit of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government and other relevant units, and their participation in the task force meeting to jointly provide innovative thinking to give new impetus to the development of the ports in the two places. He thanked all units of BCPs for their unremitting efforts, especially regarding the special boundary-crossing arrangements at Lo Wu Control Point and Shenzhen Bay Control Point on the recent New Year's Eve, to facilitate the passenger flow between Hong Kong and the Mainland for citizens and visitors to enjoy the festive season. During the meeting, the two delegations discussed the planning and development of land BCPs, including reporting progress and exchanging views on the redevelopment projects of BCPs in Huanggang and Sha Tau Kok, and the transfer of the food control function of Man Kam To Control Point. Other Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government officials attending the meeting included representatives from the Environment & Ecology Bureau, the Northern Metropolis Co-ordination Office, Customs, the Immigration Department, the Architectural Services Department, the Planning Department, the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department and the Transport Department.
17/01/2025
The Government today raised the outbound travel alert for Myanmar (south-eastern regions) to red, while maintaining an amber alert for the rest of the country. It pointed out that the Security Bureau has always attached great importance to cases where Hong Kong residents are suspected of being lured to Southeast Asian countries and detained to engage in illegal work. Since the second quarter of 2024, there have been signs of a resurgence in the situation where Hong Kong residents are suspected of being lured to Southeast Asian countries and detained to engage in illegal work. The Government advised residents who plan to visit south-eastern regions of Myanmar, including Myawaddy, Hpapun, Hpa-An and Kawkareik districts, to adjust their travel plans and avoid non-essential travel.  It added that those already there should monitor the situation, exercise caution and attend to their personal safety. Moreover, the bureau has already updated the outbound travel alert webpage regarding supplementary information for Cambodia with a view to reminding residents to exercise caution and beware of overseas job scams. The bureau will continue to closely monitor the situation in Myanmar and Cambodia, and issue updates through the media, the bureau's mobile app and the outbound travel alert webpage. Hong Kong residents in Myanmar and Cambodia who need assistance may call the 24-hour hotline of the Immigration Department's Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit at (852) 1868. They may also contact the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar at (95) 943209657 or the consular protection hotline in Cambodia at (855) 023210206.
16/01/2025
The Security Bureau announced that a Hong Kong resident who had sought assistance from the Immigration Department returned to Hong Kong from Myanmar via Thailand today. The individual concerned came back to the city with the assistance of Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Bangkok staff and relevant Thai authorities. Upon arrival, the bureau’s dedicated task force provided assistance to that person and followed up with investigation on the case. The bureau said it attaches great importance to cases where Hong Kong residents are suspected of being lured to Southeast Asian countries and detained to engage in illegal work. Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung met Consul-General of Thailand in Hong Kong Chaturont Chaiyakam this morning and thanked the Thai government for sending high-level officials to meet the task force, demonstrating great importance to these cases and offering positive feedback. The officials exchanged views on the cases and discussed follow-up work, with a view to assisting more assistance seekers in returning to Hong Kong safely as soon as possible.Since 2024 to date, law enforcement agencies received a total of 28 requests for assistance in relation to Hong Kong residents alleging to be detained in Southeast Asian countries and unable to leave. Together with the individual who returned to Hong Kong today, 17 of them have already returned. The remaining 11 cases reported restrictions on their movement but were still safe and able to contact their families or the task force.

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