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2025
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today issued a strong condemnation of remarks by Consul General of the US to Hong Kong Gregory May, stating that they are untrue, biased and deliberately intended to mislead the public and smear the Hong Kong National Security Law and the Hong Kong SAR’s work to safeguard national security. In a statement, the Hong Kong SAR Government stressed that as legal proceedings in the case involving Lai Chee-ying are still ongoing, it is inappropriate for any person to comment on the details of the case. It urged US politicians to immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong’s internal affairs and the independent exercise of judicial power by its courts. The statement emphasised that governments have an inherent right to enact laws safeguarding national security, in accordance with international law and international practice based on the UN Charter. It added that as the US has at least 21 laws safeguarding national security, US politicians who point fingers at the Hong Kong SAR’s legal system and enforcement mechanisms display only hypocrisy and double standards while entirely disregarding the constitutional and practical needs of Hong Kong, as well as the positive effects brought about by Hong Kong’s national security legislation on its economic development and protection of human rights. The Hong Kong SAR Government highlighted that Hong Kong’s law enforcement agencies take actions based on evidence and strictly in accordance with the law, and that such actions have nothing to do the political views, backgrounds or occupations of persons or entities concerned. It added that anyone charged with a criminal offence in Hong Kong will receive a fair trial as protected by the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights. The statement charged that attempts by any country, organisation, or individual to interfere with the judicial proceedings in Hong Kong to procure a defendant’s evasion of criminal justice amount to blatant acts undermining the rule of law and should be condemned. It said the notion that people or organisations with certain backgrounds should be immune from legal sanction for their illegal acts is tantamount to granting them privileges to break the law, perverts the course of justice, and runs contrary to the spirit of the rule of law. The Hong Kong SAR Government also outlined that extraterritorial effect for offences under the National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO) fully aligns with the principles of international law and international practice, and is both necessary and legitimate. It added that absconders hiding in the US and other Western countries are wanted because they continue to blatantly engage in activities endangering national security, such as inciting secession and requesting that foreign countries impose “sanctions” or blockades and engage in other hostile activities against the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong. Such persons, it emphasised, continue to collude with external forces to cover their evil deeds, making it necessary for Hong Kong’s law enforcement agencies to take all lawful measures to combat these acts. The Hong Kong SAR Government said that that it will resolutely, fully and faithfully implement the National Security Law, the SNSO and other relevant laws safeguarding national security to prevent, suppress and impose punishment for acts and activities endangering national security. It added that it will concurrently uphold the rights and freedoms of its people in accordance with the law so as to ensure the steadfast and successful implementation of the principle of “one country, two systems”.
The Immigration Department announced today that the Automated Immigration Clearance e-Channel service will be extended to eligible People's Republic of China (PRC) passport holders from tomorrow. Those aged 11 or above who hold a valid PRC electronic ordinary passport can use the e-Channel service, via face recognition technology, when transiting through Hong Kong to or from another country or territory without prior enrolment for the service. The new arrangement does not apply to PRC passport holders entering Hong Kong on the strength of an “Entry Permit for Hong Kong” issued by the overseas Chinese Diplomatic and Consular Missions. Such passport holders will still have to complete arrival clearance at immigration counters.
The Government today announced that from September 8 the Immigration Department will revise fees for some services, including the issuance of visas/entry permits and travel documents, as well as despatch services for delivery of travel documents to places outside Hong Kong. The Government sets and reviews various fees and charges according to "cost recovery" and "user pays" principles, and fees charged should in general be set at levels adequate to recover the full cost of providing the goods or services. In view of this, fees for the services concerned will be increased by 3% to 51% with the aim of achieving full cost recovery gradually. The fees will have little impact on most people's daily expenses and have limited impact on general business activities. The department's measures are being enacted to control the cost of providing the services. Proposed legislative amendments relating to the fee revisions will be tabled at the Legislative Council for negative vetting on July 2. The revisions will take effect after completion of the necessary legislative procedures. Click here for details of the fee revisions.
The Government has welcomed the Legislative Council’s passage today of the Trade Unions (Amendment) Bill 2025, which amends the Trade Unions Ordinance. It said the bill fulfills a duty to safeguard national security and improves the trade union regulatory regime. The amendments strengthen the statutory powers of the Registrar of Trade Unions to supervise and regulate unions. The Government stressed that the amendments give due regard to the freedom and right of Hong Kong residents to form and join trade unions and will not adversely affect the operation of law-abiding trade unions. It added that the amended ordinance will ensure that trade unions uphold the principal object of safeguarding and promoting the occupational interests of their members, which will be conducive to unions’ healthy development. The Trade Unions (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 will be published in the Government Gazette on July 4, and will come into operation on January 5 next year. The Labour Department will step up publicity efforts and publish reference materials to help trade unions understand and comply with the new requirements.