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2024
Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung today led participants of a six-day study tour to Henan Province for a better understanding of the country's history and culture as well as its modern development. A group of 28 people who are members of the Security Bureau (SB) Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum and students of Shenzhen University, the forum's partner, joined the study tour. They visited Yue Fei Temple in Kaifeng City this morning, to learn more about the national hero and promote the virtue of patriotism. The group paid a visit to the historical magisterial authority at Kaifeng Fu and met CPC Kaifeng Municipal Committee Secretary Gao Jianjun in the afternoon. Mr Tang and the study tour arrived on July 20. In the past two days, they have visited places in the vicinity of the cities of Zhengzhou and Luoyang and met provincial and municipal leaders of Henan Province, Zhengzhou City and Luoyang City. The security chief thanked the provincial and municipal leaders as well as SB Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum Chairman Cheng Cheung-ling for their full support and co-ordination in various aspects of the arrangements for the excursion. The group also took in the night view of Zhengzhou City to learn more about its latest urban planning and keep abreast of the country’s development of new quality productive forces. They also toured famous scenic spots including the Shaolin Temple, Longmen Grottoes and Luoyi Ancient City to appreciate Chinese martial arts and visual aesthetics, and learn more about Chinese history. Over the next three days, the study tour will visit the Zhengzhou Yellow River Cultural Park, the Yellow River Museum and the Henan Museum to further understand the history and culture of the country. They will also view public security facilities to learn about the system’s operation of maintaining public security in the country. The rest of the itinerary also includes visits to the Zhongyuan Science & Technology City and key local enterprises in various areas. Mr Tang will return to Hong Kong tomorrow afternoon, while Under Secretary for Security Michael Cheuk will lead the study tour to continue the remaining itinerary.
Secretary for Justice Paul Lam attended the opening ceremony of the first Practical Legal Training for Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Lawyers in Guangzhou today. The Practical Legal Training for GBA Lawyers is being held at the Guangdong Judges College today and tomorrow. Around 100 GBA lawyers are participating in the training, which is organised by the Supreme People's Court and the Ministry of Justice, and hosted by the High People's Court and the Department of Justice of Guangdong Province. Experts and lawyers with ample practical experience from the people's courts, arbitral institutions and commercial mediation institutions on the Mainland are giving lectures on topics including civil and commercial litigation, arbitration and mediation. Mr Lam said the Department of Justice has been actively working to facilitate the GBA Legal Professional Examination and the provision of practical legal training for GBA lawyers with the Mainland authorities. This is to take forward the measures to enhance the interface of talent under the Action Plan on the Construction of Rule of Law in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area released by the department earlier, he added. The justice chief also looks forward to maintaining close liaison with the relevant Mainland authorities to discuss future training work for the professional development of GBA lawyers, thereby contributing to the construction of the rule of law in the bay area.
Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung will lead 28 members of the Security Bureau Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum and students of Shenzhen University to visit Henan Province on July 20. The study tour will last for six days to enable the participants to gain a better understanding of the country's history and culture as well as its modern development. Mr Tang will return to Hong Kong on July 23, while Under Secretary for Security Michael Cheuk will lead the members on July 24 and 25 to participate in the remaining part of the tour. During Mr Tang's absence, Mr Cheuk will be Acting Secretary for Security.
The Immigration Department announced today that eligible Hong Kong residents can use the automated immigration clearance service in Macau with an encrypted QR code from tomorrow. The “Mutual Use of QR Code between HKSAR & Macao SAR Clearance Service” aims at providing a faster and more convenient immigration clearance service for eligible Hong Kong residents and Macau residents. Under the new measure, Hong Kong residents aged 11 or above holding a valid Hong Kong permanent identity card or Hong Kong identity card containing the “*”, “***” or “R” symbol who have successfully registered for using the Automated Immigration Clearance Service in the Macao Special Administrative Region are eligible for the service. They can activate the service with the “Contactless e-Channel” mobile application. After successful activation, they can generate an encrypted QR code through the mobile app for using automated immigration clearance. Meanwhile, eligible Macau permanent residents can generate an encrypted QR code through the “Macao One Account” mobile app for using e-Channels in Hong Kong.Click here for details. Call 2877 7711 for enquiries.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today strongly condemned and opposed the US Congress' Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the US & the Chinese Communist Party and the US Congressional-Executive Commission on China for making untruthful, slandering and smearing remarks against Basic Law Article 23 legislation and its efforts in safeguarding national security. In a statement, the Hong Kong SAR Government noted that the committee and the commission made these remarks in a letter to the US Government, adding that they also demanded the US Government to impose so-called "sanctions" on its officials, judges, prosecutors and police officers as well as made slandering remarks and despicable threats against the relevant personnel. The so-called “sanctions” mentioned in the letter smack of despicable political manipulation to intimidate the Hong Kong SAR officials safeguarding national security and grossly interfere in Hong Kong affairs which are China's internal affairs, violating international law and the basic norms governing international relations. Hong Kong despises such “sanctions” and is not intimidated by such despicable behaviour. It will resolutely discharge the duty of safeguarding national security. Enacting legislation on Article 23 of the Basic Law and refining the laws concerning safeguarding national security are the constitutional responsibilities of the Hong Kong SAR. In accordance with international law and practice based on the United Nations Charter, safeguarding national security is an inherent right of all sovereign states. It is each and every sovereign state's inherent right and international practice to enact laws safeguarding national security. The US has at least 21 pieces of law safeguarding national security and is therefore not in a position to point its finger at Hong Kong for legitimately legislating to safeguard national security. The statement said US politicians once again targeted the Hong Kong SAR Government's work on safeguarding national security and made slandering, smearing, misleading and erroneous remarks against the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO), showing their despicable political manoeuvre and hypocrisy with double standards. The SNSO clearly specifies that the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Basic Law and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social & Cultural Rights as applied to Hong Kong are to be protected in accordance with the law. US politicians neglected the relevant provision and lashed out wantonly, the statement added. As regards the case on the conspiracy to commit subversion mentioned in the letter, the statement said the verdict delivered by the court clearly stated that the criminal acts in the case aimed at undermining, destroying or overthrowing the existing political system and structure of the Hong Kong SAR established under the Basic Law and the “one country, two systems” principle. Such criminal acts endangering national security had nothing to do with the so-called fight for democracy and human rights, it added. In the 318-page judgment, the court has clearly set out the rationale and consideration underlying the conviction, and confirmed that the offence of conspiracy to commit subversion had taken place. Forty-seven people were charged in the case. Apart from two defendants against whom the evidence was found insufficient to be sure of their participation in the conspiracy offence, the remaining defendants were convicted, indicating the scale and seriousness of the criminal plan. The Hong Kong SAR 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 people or entities concerned, and have nothing to do with their political stance, background or occupation, the statement said. The suggestion that certain individuals should be immune from the legal consequences for their illegal acts, including those involved in subversion, is no different from advocating a special pass to break the law, totally running contrary to the spirit of the rule of law, it added. As guaranteed by the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights, all defendants charged with a criminal offence shall have the right to a fair trial by the Judiciary exercising independent judicial power. The courts shall exercise judicial power independently, free from any interference. The Hong Kong SAR Government will resolutely, fully and faithfully implement the National Security Law, the SNSO and relevant laws safeguarding national security in Hong Kong to effectively prevent, suppress and impose punishment for acts and activities endangering national security. It strongly demands US politicians to immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs which are purely China's internal affairs, and stop maliciously smearing the laws safeguarding national security in the city as well as the law enforcement, prosecution and adjudication of the relevant cases.
Four young inmates have met the general entrance requirements for local universities in this year’s Diploma of Secondary Education, the Correctional Services Department announced today. They are among 14 young inmates from Sha Tsui Correctional Institution (STCI), Pik Uk Correctional Institution and Lai King Correctional Institution who received their exam results today. They took a total of 86 examination papers and obtained level 2 or above in 80 of them, or 93% of the papers taken. One candidate at STCI scored 22 marks in five subjects, including level 5 in Economics and Physics, and “Attained” in Citizenship & Social Development. The exams sat included the four core subjects of Chinese Language, English Language, Mathematics and Citizenship & Social Development, as well as two electives, namely Economics and Tourism & Hospitality Studies. STCI Superintendent Chan Man-yat encouraged inmates to maintain a proactive and positive attitude to meet the challenges ahead. The department provides education to help inmates below the age of 21 gain accredited qualifications and develop positive values with the hope that they can further their studies, find jobs and reintegrate into society after release.