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2025
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.
The Security Bureau today said that a Hong Kong resident who was recently rescued after being detained in Myanmar where she was forced to work illegally, has departed Thailand for Hong Kong this afternoon with the bureau’s dedicated task force. The task force met the Hong Kong resident concerned in Bangkok this morning, following the confirmation of her rescue in Myanmar and safe arrival in Thailand, and was delighted to find that she was in good mental and physical condition. She expressed gratitude for the task force’s active co-ordination and liaison with relevant units of the Thai authorities as well as for the assistance of different parties that enabled her to return home to reunite with her family as soon as possible. The bureau thanked 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; and the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Bangkok. The task force is actively following up on the remaining nine requests for assistance involving Hong Kong residents who have yet to return.
Police have reported that another large-scale stress test, held tonight with 50,000 spectators attending the Hong Kong Premier League U22 football match, ran smoothly at Kai Tak Sports Park's Main Stadium. The exercise was conducted to assess the operational readiness of the Main Stadium and its surrounding facilities for sports events with maximum attendance. Similar to the previous large-scale stress tests, the drill was co-ordinated by the force's Exercise Team, covering five major testing and evaluation areas: security screening and ticket checks; venue signage and designated seating arrangements; inter-agency co-ordination in response to emergencies; various crowd management measures; and passenger flow management by public transport operators. During the exercise, the Fire Services Department simulated two fire incidents of varying scales, aiming to test the communication and response capabilities of Fire Services personnel in co-ordination with Police, venue security and other emergency response teams. Police also simulated an emergency incident involving public safety and security to test the response of all stakeholders. The stress test was scheduled for a weekday evening, with a slight overlap between the entry time and rush hour after work. Meanwhile, the exercise concluded at a later time, with most participants choosing to leave the park immediately afterwards, thereby increasing the pressure on the transport system. Police implemented new crowd management measures, such as using large display panels along the exit routes to MTR stations to convey crowd management information, playing music and deploying police officers to provide real-time information on the spot to help participants leave safely. In the exercise, the public transport system and surrounding facilities were able to divert the large passenger flows within a short period of time, allowing participants to enter and leave the venue in an orderly manner. The Main Stadium's retractable roof was opened for the first time during the stress test, aligning the testing time and mode more closely to the actual conditions of sports events, and the volume of noise during the test was found to be within the acceptable sound level. A total of 50,000 civil servants, government employees and members of community groups simulated crowd flows during the test.
The Security Bureau tonight confirmed that one more Hong Kong resident who had been detained for illegal work in Myanmar has been rescued and smoothly arrived in Thailand. The bureau added that its dedicated task force has been maintaining communication with Thai authorities and the rescued Hong Kong resident, and will arrange for the individual’s return home as soon as possible.
The Security Bureau today said that a Hong Kong resident who was recently rescued after being detained in Myanmar, where he was forced to work illegally, returned to Hong Kong from Thailand with the bureau’s dedicated task force last night. The task force travelled to Bangkok on confirmation of the Hong Kong resident concerned having arrived there from Myanmar. Its co-ordination and liaison with various other parties resulted in the man being reunited with his family in Hong Kong before the Lunar New Year. The task force expressed gratitude to the Thai authorities for their humane handling of the case, saying it had allowed him to return to Hong Kong as soon as possible. The bureau also thanked 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; and the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Bangkok. The task force is following up on the cases of the remaining 10 cases of 10 individuals who have not yet returned to Hong Kong. It is exchanging intelligence with directors of special investigations and human trafficking in Thailand’s Ministry of Justice.
Principal officials, accompanied by District Officers, District Council members and District Services & Community Care Team members, paid visits to elderly and grassroots households in Kwun Tong, Eastern, Sham Shui Po and Wong Tai Sin Districts today. By distributing gifts in celebration of the Lunar New Year, the officials aimed to extend warmth and blessings from the Government to citizens. Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang spread festive joy by chatting with elderly individuals living in Kwun Tong District’s Lam Tin Estate. In Eastern District, Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung visited an elderly household living in Hong Tung Estate. Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin, meanwhile, met an ethnic minority grassroots family in Cheung Sha Wan, Sham Shui Po District, to learn more about their needs and everyday experience. Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Prof Sun Dong called on an elderly household and a grassroots family in Fu Shan Estate, Wong Tai Sin District.