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2025
The Security Bureau’s dedicated task force will continue to follow up on cases in relation to Hong Kong residents alleged to have been detained in Southeast Asian countries and not being able to leave, Acting Secretary for Security Michael Cheuk said at the Legislative Council meeting today. In response to lawmaker Yung Hoi-yan’s questions, Mr Cheuk explained that from 2023 to January 2025, law enforcement agencies received 28 such cases. Among them, 19 people have already returned to Hong Kong. For the remaining nine individuals, the Security Bureau believes that eight are in Myanmar while one is in Cambodia. Last month, Mr Cheuk led the task force, comprising members from the Security Bureau, Police and Immigration Department, to Bangkok, Thailand, to meet Thai authorities. The task force then established direct contacts with relevant Thai authorities to enhance future communication and exchange of intelligence, with a view to handling the cases more effectively, Mr Check highlighted. Separately, he noted that from 2023 to January 2025, Police arrested 11 people in connection with job scam cases where victims were lured to Southeast Asian countries and detained to engage in illegal work. The suspects were involved in offences such as conspiracy to defraud, money laundering and obtaining property by deception. During the same period, two individuals charged with conspiracy to defraud were convicted and sentenced to 36 months’ and 56 months’ imprisonment respectively. In view of the recent scam cases, Mr Cheuk stressed that the Government will continue to strengthen publicity, including a promotion on social media platforms, distribution of anti-scam leaflets to travellers heading to Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia, and making good use of media reports. He added that in light of cases where suspects met victims in bars and entertainment venues, Police have also sent officers to hand out leaflets in such places across the city.
In view of the recent abuse situation of etomidate, the main active ingredient of the “space oil drug”, the Security Bureau announced today that etomidate and its three analogues will be listed in the Gazette as dangerous drugs starting this Friday. The move aims to enhance deterrence and enable effective law enforcement actions against the “space oil drug”, the bureau said in a press release. It explained that the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (Amendment of First Schedule) Order 2025 Order will add six substances - butonitazene, bromazolam, etomidate, metomidate, propoxate and isopropoxate to the First Schedule to the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance. Among them, metomidate, propoxate and isopropoxate are analogues of etomidate. The order will take effect upon gazettal on Friday. Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking and illicit manufacturing of these substances are liable to a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of $5 million; possession and consumption of these substances will be subject to a maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment and a fine of $1 million. To tie in with the legislative work, the Government will launch on Friday a new TV Announcement in the Public Interest titled Don’t fall into “space oil drug” traps! and will continue placing both online and offline advertisements to promote the relevant message. Furthermore, as young people are the target of “space oil drug” sellers, the Security Bureau’s Narcotics Division and the Education Bureau will jointly launch an “anti-space oil drug week” in schools at the end of the month, during which talks, anti-drug video broadcasts and drama shows will be staged. The Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (Amendment of First Schedule) Order 2025 as well as the Control of Chemicals Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 2) Order 2025, both to be gazetted on Friday, are subject to the Legislative Council’s negative vetting procedure.
A total of 94,747 crimes were reported in 2024, representing an increase of 5% compared to the figure for 2023, Police said today. The upsurge was mainly attributed to an increase in deception cases. The overall detection rate was 30.4%, similar to that of 2023. Leaving deception cases aside, the overall crime figure recorded a drop of 185 cases last year, while the detection rate rose by 1.7 percentage points to 47.9%. There were 10,485 cases of violent crime, registering a rise of 3.6% - primarily driven by the rise in “naked chat blackmail” cases. Apart from deception and blackmail, another major crime of rape recorded an increase. A number of traditional crimes record a lower case load in 2024, with the detection rate for robbery and snatching cases hitting a record high. Deception cases rose 11.7% year-on-year in 2024 to 44,480, accounting for 46.9% of the overall number of crimes. Among them, 61.8% were Internet-related. The rise in deception cases was mainly attributed to the emergence of the new modus operandi of telephone deception involving “Impersonating Customer Service” since early last year. A total of 5,575 cases of such modus operandi were reported in 2024. As to the national security situation, since the National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance came into force, as at the end of December 2024, Police's National Security Department arrested a total of 316 people, with 60% having been charged. Looking forward, Police will focus this year on safeguarding national security, working to combat deception cases and ensuring that the 15th National Games will be conducted in a safe and orderly manner.
The Consultation Group on LawTech Development held its first meeting today to discuss development strategies and policies to promote the use of lawtech in the legal and dispute resolution industry. The consultation group, established by the Department of Justice in January, is chaired by Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan and comprises representatives from the legal and dispute resolution sector, law schools and experts on the application of lawtech. The consultation body will provide advice and assistance to the department regarding the promotion and development of lawtech in Hong Kong. Mr Cheung explained that lawtech can enhance efficiency and productivity of Hong Kong's legal and dispute resolution industry, noting that it can improve efficiency and service quality, save costs and enhance competitiveness with the use of artificial intelligence, document automation and electronic file management. This would advance the city's position as a major international legal and dispute resolution services centre in the Asia-Pacific region, he added. The Deputy Secretary for Justice also said that the Government will actively consider the recommendations of the consultation group to formulate and implement strategies to promote the use of lawtech.
The Police Force's National Security Department today charged a 26-year-old woman with one count of committing an act or a series of acts tending and intended to pervert the course of public justice. The woman was arrested yesterday in Kowloon after a holding charge was brought against a 26-year-old man for one count of the same offence on February 7. She had been wanted in connection with the case. The case will be mentioned at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts tomorrow.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government said today that it condemned and rejected interference by the US Department of State in Hong Kong's judicial proceedings, stressing that comments on the case of Lai Chee-ying are inappropriate as legal proceedings in the case are still ongoing. The statement was made in response to remarks made today by the US Department of State's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, & Labor which attempted to exert pressure and demand Lai Chee-ying's unconditional release. The Hong Kong SAR Government said it strongly urges external forces to immediately stop interfering in the Hong Kong SAR's internal affairs and the exercise of independent judicial power by the courts. It iterated that all cases are handled strictly on the basis of evidence and in accordance with the law, adding that all defendants will receive a fair trial in accordance with laws applicable to Hong Kong, including the Hong Kong National Security Law, and as protected by the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights. It also stressed that attempts by any country, organisation or individual to interfere with judicial proceedings in the Hong Kong SAR by means of political power, thereby resulting in a defendant not being able to have a fair trial, constitute reprehensible acts that undermine the rule of law of Hong Kong and should be condemned. The Hong Kong SAR Government stated that it will continue to resolutely discharge its duty of safeguarding national security, and act to prevent, suppress and punish in accordance with the law acts and activities that endanger national security. It will also continue to safeguard the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong people in accordance with the law.
The Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Ordinance 2023 (Commencement) Notice was published in the Government Gazette today. The new “no case to answer” appeal mechanism under the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Ordinance 2023 will come into operation on April 14. The Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill 2023 was passed by the Legislative Council on July 12, 2023. The amendment ordinance provides for a “no case to answer” appeal mechanism, which allows the prosecution to appeal against rulings of no case to answer made by the Court of First Instance of the High Court in criminal trials with a jury. The new appeal mechanism has since awaited enactment of the Criminal Procedure (Appeal against Ruling of No Case to Answer) Rules before it commences. The rules, which set out the procedural matters for the new appeal mechanism to facilitate its smooth operation in practice, were made by the Criminal Procedure Rules Committee under the Criminal Procedure Ordinance on November 14, 2024. The rules were approved by LegCo on January 8, 2025. With a view to bringing the new appeal mechanism into operation as soon as practicable, the Secretary for Justice, under the amendment ordinance, has appointed April 14, 2025, as the day on which the relevant provisions come into operation. The rules will come into operation on the same day. The Department of Justice explained that the new “no case to answer” appeal mechanism addresses the lacuna in the criminal appeal system due to the prosecution's inability to appeal against erroneous rulings of no case to answer made by judges of the Court of First Instance in jury trials and prevents possible miscarriage of justice. The commencement notice will be tabled at LegCo on February 12 for negative vetting.
Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung today officiated at the opening ceremony of a series of activities to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN). Co-organised with the Security Bureau, the activities include an interactive roving exhibition in education institutions and competitions to consolidate anti-drug awareness in the community. Mr Tang said at the ceremony that the Government plans to gazette the listing of etomidate, the main ingredient of the “space oil drug”, as a dangerous drug with immediate effect on February 14. Possession, vaping or drug trafficking will then be liable for very serious criminal punishment, he stressed, adding that the law enforcement agencies are well-prepared for anti-narcotics work. One of the events commemorating ACAN's 60th anniversary is a roving exhibition for people to learn about anti-drug work in the past, present and future. The exhibition features a theme zone displaying anti-drug posters produced between 1960 and 2025. The poster collection not only provides a review of various publicity campaigns but also reflects the changes in communication strategies in response to society's development over the years. Precious historical photos, videos and TV announcements are displayed at the theme zone, reviewing the changes in Hong Kong's anti-drug work as the times evolved. Including the elements of science, technology, engineering and mathematics as well as multimedia, the roving exhibition also comprises games, digital panels and photo booths to provide information about criminal liability for drug offences and ways of seeking help. The first stop of the roving exhibition is being staged until February 10, from 10am to 8pm at Hong Kong City Hall. Click here for details.
The Police Force's National Security Department yesterday arrested a 26-year-old man and today charged him with one count of committing an act or a series of acts tending and intended to pervert the course of public justice. The case will be mentioned at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts tomorrow.
A policy incorporating mediation clauses in government contracts came into effect today. The Department of Justice (DoJ) explained that the clauses outline that contract parties agree to use mediation to resolve disputes first before resorting to arbitration or litigation. In addition, the DoJ today promulgated “The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Mediation Rules (2025 Edition)”. It stressed that these shall not affect the operation of “The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Construction Mediation Rules (1999 Edition)”. The implementation of mediation clauses follows the issuance of a Policy Statement on the Incorporation of Mediation Clauses in Government Contracts on November 6 last year. The DoJ said it anticipates that private organisations will make reference to and adopt similar mediation clauses in their own contracts, thereby deepening a “mediate first” culture.