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2025
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today said it strongly opposes and disapproves of smears by government officials and politicians from the US, Canada and Australia, and by anti-China organisations, regarding its lawful acts to pursue individuals wanted in connection with national security offences who have absconded from Hong Kong. Nineteen people suspected of involvement in a subversive organisation named the “Hong Kong Parliament”, in breach of Article 22 of the National Security Law (HKNSL), have been put on the city’s wanted list. In a statement, the Hong Kong SAR Government explained that the HKNSL is applicable to Hong Kong permanent residents, and to incorporated or unincorporated bodies set up in Hong Kong, if such residents or bodies commit offences under the HKNSL outside the Hong Kong SAR. Additionally, it said, the HKNSL is applicable where offences under it are committed elsewhere against the Hong Kong SAR by individuals who are not Hong Kong permanent residents. The Hong Kong SAR Government stressed that the Hong Kong Police Force therefore has a responsibility to pursue, in accordance with the law, people suspected of committing offences under the HKNSL outside of Hong Kong. Acts smearing Hong Kong’s work to safeguard national security are hypocritical and irresponsible, and will not win any public support, it added. The statement iterated that both the HKNSL and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance clearly stipulate that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security in the Hong Kong SAR, but clarified that the Hong Kong SAR Government will not condone criminal acts, and will not give up pursuing them those who commit them. Emphasising that absconders should not think that they can evade criminal liability by absconding from Hong Kong, the Hong Kong SAR Government also remarked that no country or organisation should harbour criminals or try to exonerate absconders. Any attempt by foreign countries or external forces to undermine Hong Kong’s situation will be doomed to fail, the Hong Kong SAR Government added, reiterating that it will continue to discharge its duty in safeguarding national security unwaveringly.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, the National Development & Reform Commission (NDRC) and relevant central ministries held the eighth Joint Conference on Advancing Hong Kong's Full Participation in & Contribution to the Belt & Road Initiative in Beijing today. NDRC Vice Chairman Zhou Haibing attended the conference, together with representatives from the commission, the Hong Kong & Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the State-owned Assets Supervision & Administration Commission of the State Council, and the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong SAR. Secretary for Justice Paul Lam, in his capacity as chairperson of the Working Group on Belt & Road Development under the Steering Group on Integration into National Development, led Hong Kong officials to attend the conference. He pointed out that the Hong Kong SAR Government has been taking forward Belt-Road collaboration to go deeper and deliver outcomes, fully participating in and contributing to the initiative under the guidance of the major steps the country has taken to support high-quality co-operation, so as to facilitate Hong Kong's integration into overall national development. With the country's support, Hong Kong will deepen international exchanges and actively utilise its advantages to exert a greater role in the nation's high-level opening up to the world, Mr Lam added. The justice chief also said the Hong Kong SAR Government is exploring emerging markets such as the Middle East, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and other Belt & Road countries, while making full use of the city’s professional services, thereby building it as a gateway between the country and the world. He expressed gratitude to the central government for the staunch support of hosting the International Organization for Mediation headquarters in Hong Kong, which will strengthen its roles as an international dispute resolution services centre and a hub for international mediation. Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau, who was also at the conference, noted that the Hong Kong SAR Government will fully capitalise on the 10th Belt & Road Summit to showcase the city’s roles as an active participant and the premier platform to the Mainland and overseas. At the meeting, Mr Yau reported on Hong Kong's progress in carrying out Belt & Road work, including the ongoing pursuit of Hong Kong's early accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, pursuit of early conclusion of ongoing negotiations for free trade and investment agreements, and more. Today’s session also covered the work proposals on further promoting the Belt & Road Initiative put forward for consideration by central ministries. Relevant Mainland ministries introduced their work in supporting Hong Kong's participation in and contribution to the initiative and provided feedback on the work proposals.
Police’s National Security Department today announced that 19 people suspected of committing offences under the National Security Law have been put on the wanted list, with a reward in respect of each wanted person being offered. These individuals are suspected of being involved in organising, establishing or participating in, outside Hong Kong, a subversive organisation named the “Hong Kong Parliament”, Police explained. Among them, nine people, including male Yuan Gong-yi, male Victor Ho, male Fok Ka-chi, male Choi Ming-da, female Chan Lai-chun, male Feng Chongyi, female Gong Sasha, male Ng Man-yan and male Tsang Wai-fan allegedly organised, outside the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, a “Hong Kong Parliament” election to establish a so-called “Hong Kong Parliament”. The other 10 people, including female Chin Po-fun, male Paul Ha, male Hau Chung-yu, male Ho Wing-yau, male Keung Ka-wai, male Tony Lam, female Agnes Ng, male Wong Chun-wah, male Wong Sau-wo and female Zhang Xinyan, are alleged to have participated as candidates in the “Hong Kong Parliament” election and, upon being elected, taken an oath to serve as so-called “members of the Hong Kong Parliament”. Police said the “Hong Kong Parliament” aims to subvert state power - its objectives include promoting “self-determination”, promulgating a so-called “Hong Kong Constitution”, and overthrowing or undermining the basic system of the People’s Republic of China or overthrowing the body of the central power of the People’s Republic of China or the body of power of the Hong Kong SAR with unlawful means. The 19 individuals are thereby suspected of committing the offence of subversion, contrary to Article 22 of the National Security Law, Police pointed out. The force applied to the court for arrest warrants in accordance with the law and put the 19 people on the wanted list. The court then issued arrest warrants against the suspects. Police remarked that Yuan Gong-yi, Victor Ho, Fok Ka-chi and Choi Ming-da, also suspected of committing offences endangering national security, have already been put on the wanted list with a reward of $1 million each. Exercising powers conferred by section 89 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, the Secretary for Security, in June and December 2024, specified in the Gazette Yuan Gong-yi, Fok Ka-chi and Choi Ming-da as absconders, as well as the measures to be applied against them. Police stressed that they will continue to make every effort to bring all the wanted individuals to justice. For the remaining 15 people, a reward of $200,000 in respect of each of them is being offered by Police to any member of the public who can provide information on the wanted people or related cases. The investigation is ongoing, and more people will be put on the wanted list with rewards offered if necessary, Police added. The force further noted that if an offender voluntarily discontinues the commission of the offence; voluntarily surrenders himself or herself and gives a truthful account of the offence; or reports on the offence committed by other persons or provides material information which assists in solving other criminal cases, a lighter penalty may be imposed, or the penalty may be reduced. The above wanted individuals are urged to surrender to Hong Kong Police, so as to rectify their mistakes. It is illegal for anyone, no matter in what ways, including through the Internet, to aid, abet or financially assist other people for participating in any illegal activities related to the “Hong Kong Parliament” or to commit other offences endangering national security, Police added.
The Inland Revenue Department today issued an alert regarding fraudulent emails purportedly issued by the department, which invite recipients to claim tax refunds. Each fraudulent email provides a hyperlink to a website that seeks to obtain the recipient’s personal particulars and credit card information. Apart from stressing that it has no connection with such emails, the department said it reported the case to Police for further investigation. It also reminded the public not to open suspicious emails or visit the attached hyperlinks.
Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun today announced the official launch of a guide for mandated reporters' reference on child protection. The Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance, which mandates 25 categories of specified professionals from the social welfare, education and healthcare sectors to report serious child abuse cases, will commence on January 20, 2026, to create a wide and effective protection web for children. As such, the Government formed three professional consultative panels in each of these sectors in early 2024 for formulating the guide. Addressing the guide's launch ceremony, Mr Sun said that the three professional consultative panels comprise cross-disciplinary professionals. He noted that their professional exchanges on different cases not only have assisted in establishing a list of key factors that mandated reporters should take into consideration before deciding whether a report is necessary under different scenarios, but also laid an important foundation for the decision trees in the guide, which further helps mandated reporters make reporting decisions and serves as a practical reference for mandated reporters. The welfare chief said that an electronic system of the decision trees has also been specially developed by the Social Welfare Department to assist mandated reporters in making an analysis of the case scenarios in a swift and convenient manner only by answering simple questions. He added that the electronic system will also direct those cases that need mandatory reporting to the reporting page to ensure mandated reporters can make a report as soon as practicable. The features of the guide were introduced at the ceremony. A demonstration of the workflow of the electronic version of the decision trees to be rolled out was also featured. While formulating the guide, the professional consultative panels discussed 650 case scenarios and questions collected from their sectors in 33 focus group meetings. The valuable advice gathered from the 540 frontline professionals participating in these focus group meetings became a helpful and important reference for the professional consultative panels to finalise the details of the guide. The Government will roll out Module 2 of the online learning course for specified professionals in phases starting from next week, covering basic knowledge on the legal and reporting matters related to the ordinance, including the key content of the ordinance, a brief introduction to the guide, analysis of common scenarios, reporting procedures and post-reporting follow-up.
The Government is carefully studying the judgment handed down by the Court of First Instance on the judicial review concerning the provisions on segregation of the sexes under the Public Conveniences (Conduct & Behaviour) Regulation, and is seeking legal advice and considering lodging an appeal. The Environment & Ecology Bureau made the statement today, noting that members of the public must continue to use public toilets according to the principle of segregation of the sexes to avoid contravening the relevant laws. In the judicial review, the Court of First Instance ordered that provisions related to segregation of the sexes under the aforesaid regulation shall be struck down, and suspended the execution of the order for 12 months to allow the Government time to address the matter of transgender individuals with gender identity disorder using Food & Environmental Hygiene Department’s public toilets. The bureau said the establishment of sex-segregated public toilets under the regulation aims to protect the privacy and safety of the public when using public toilets and to reflect social norms and expectations, an arrangement that has been widely accepted by society. Currently, public toilets under the department’s purview are categorised into sex-segregated public toilets and gender neutral public toilets. Sex-segregated toilets follow the segregation of the sexes under the regulation. Concurrently, gender-neutral toilets are available near about half of the number of sex-segregated toilets. They include "Accessible Toilets" and "Unisex Toilets", available for use by all members of the public including transgender individuals.
The Working Family & Student Financial Assistance Agency today said Police arrested a total of six people for allegedly defrauding or intending to defraud the agency, involving an amount of about $30,000. The agency had recently conducted a joint operation with Police to combat fraudulent acts by those seeking to obtain the Working Family Allowance (WFA) illegally. The agency's Working Family Allowance Office, when processing WFA applications in April, detected suspicious documentary proof relating to employment and income submitted by some applicants. The agency swiftly reported the incident and referred the cases suspected of using false documents to Police for investigation. After a thorough investigation, Police recently carried out an operation and arrested a total of six people so far for allegedly defrauding or intending to defraud the agency. The agency will continue to render full assistance to Police in the investigation and recover the overpaid allowances from the relevant persons as appropriate in a timely manner. The agency pointed out that it scrutinises every WFA application in a stringent manner and has established a mechanism to identify and guard against fraud cases. It added that it will continue to examine WFA applications in a stringent manner to ensure the proper use of public funds. People are urged not to defraud the agency. The WFA Scheme aims to support low-income working households. Applicants are required to submit documentary proof of working hours, income and assets to the agency for assessing their eligibility. Anyone obtaining the WFA by deception will be disqualified for the WFA and are liable to a maximum penalty of 14 years' imprisonment.
The Police Force’s National Security Department (NSD) has laid a holding charge after arresting an 18-year-old local man over the alleged writing of seditious words in the toilet of a commercial building on three occasions. The charge involves one count of committing an act or acts with seditious intention and three counts of criminal damage. The case was due to be mentioned at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts this afternoon. The man was arrested on Monday in Kowloon in relation to acts committed with seditious intention, in contravention of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. The seditious words concerned involve provoking hatred, contempt or disaffection against the constitutional order and the executive, legislative or judicial authority of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, as well as inciting other persons to break the laws of the Hong Kong SAR. Police reminded members of the public that committing any act with seditious intention is a serious offence, and that offenders are liable to imprisonment for seven years on first conviction. It urged members of the public not to defy the law.
The Correctional Services Department said that in accordance with the law, it declined a visitor who is not on the declared visitors list of a person in custody (PIC) for a visit this morning. According to the established mechanism, visitors must be declared on the PIC's declared visitors list. The Prison (Amendment) Rules 2025 came into effect last Friday. The department has not invoked Rule 48 of the Prison Rules to prohibit any person from conducting visits, nor has it imposed restrictions or conditions on any visits.
Secretary for Justice Paul Lam, in his capacity as the chair of the sub-group on Belt & Road development under the Steering Group on Integration into National Development, will lead Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government officials in attending the eighth “Joint Conference on Advancing Hong Kong's Full Participation in & Contribution to the Belt & Road Initiative”, due to be held on Thursday in Beijing. The other officials attending include Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau, Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn, Permanent Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Maggie Wong, Under Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Joseph Chan and Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Lillian Cheong. During his stay in Beijing, Mr Lam and Law Officer (International Law) in the Department of Justice James Ding will visit the State Council’s Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to report on the progress of the Department of Justice’s major policy initiatives, including relevant work on the International Organization for Mediation and promoting Hong Kong’s position as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre. Mr Lam will also visit the Ministry of Commerce to exchange views on matters of mutual interest. He will return to Hong Kong on the afternoon of July 24. During Mr Lam’s absence, Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan will be Acting Secretary for Justice. In Mr Yau’s absence, Under Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Bernard Chan will be Acting Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development. During Ms Linn’s absence, Under Secretary for Development David Lam will be Acting Secretary for Development.