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2026
The Task Force for Collaboration on the Northern Metropolis (NM) Development Strategy held its eighth meeting in Hong Kong today. Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong and Shenzhen Vice Mayor Tao Yongxin led delegations of the governments of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Shenzhen respectively. The Hong Kong SAR Government presented the latest progress of the development of the Northern Metropolis at today’s meeting. The progress updates include the setting up of Hung Shui Kiu Industry Park Company Limited, the tendering for the pilot large-scale land disposal sites of about 11 hectares within the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area, and the ongoing work to formulate dedicated legislation for the NM. The Hong Kong SAR Government also briefly introduced the findings of a planning study on the development of the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen modern logistics cluster. The Shenzhen Government presented its development plans for collaborating with the NM. Both sides also exchanged views on cross-boundary railway projects and the planning and development of boundary control points, as well as work relating to the 15th Five-Year Plan. After the meeting, both delegations visited the exhibition gallery at the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area Community Liaison Centre, followed by a site visit in Hung Shui Kiu to gain a better understanding of the overall planning of the new development area, and the works progress of the NM University Town sites. Mr Wong said the National 15th Five-Year Plan explicitly supports Hong Kong in accelerating the development of the NM. The Hong Kong SAR Government is pressing ahead with the formulation of Hong Kong's first five-year plan, in which the NM will be a key chapter. “Through the five-year plan, we aim to further promote industrial collaboration, enhance infrastructure connectivity and drive institutional innovation, thereby injecting new impetus into Hong Kong-Shenzhen co-operation and positioning the NM to become an important engine for high-quality development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.” Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn, Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung and Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan also attended today’s meeting.
The Immigration Department today announced that it will launch a Seamless e-Channel service at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HKZMB) Hong Kong Port on June 25. From that date, eligible Hong Kong permanent residents enrolled for the service can enjoy seamless “on-the-move” self-service departure clearance at the port’s departure hall. AI and facial recognition technology will be deployed in the process, and users will not have to present a Hong Kong identity card or an e-Channel QR code. In his 2025 Policy Address, the Chief Executive proposed establishing Hong Kong’s first “seamless clearance” pilot scheme at the HKZMB Hong Kong Boundary Crossing in the second quarter of 2026. Those eligible to enrol for the service are Hong Kong permanent residents aged 11 or above. They must have a valid smart identity card, and a record of at least 10 arrivals or departures via the Passenger Clearance Building at the HZMB Hong Kong Port in the previous 90 days. Starting from today, eligible Hong Kong residents can use a smartphone with biometric authentication to download the department’s Contactless e-Channel mobile application for enrolment. Eligible residents aged 11 to 17 must enrol with the consent of a parent or legal guardian. The department said that enrolled residents must still carry a valid Hong Kong identity card when using the Seamless e-Channel Service. Moreover, residents can still opt for other e-Channels or traditional counters for immigration clearance. Enquiries can be made by calling the hotline 2824 6111, sending a fax to 2877 7711 or via email.
Police and the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) today laid charges against seven individuals and two companies with a total of 25 counts of offences, in relation to the Wang Fuk Court fire on November 26, 2025. The offences include manslaughter, conspiracy to defraud, money laundering, attempting to pervert the course of public justice, and tax evasion. The two cases were mentioned at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts this afternoon. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government said it is highly concerned about the Wang Fuk Court fire, including the criminal investigations. Following the disaster, Police and the ICAC swiftly set up the largest joint investigation task force in recent years to conduct comprehensive investigations in full swing within just six months into the causes of the fire, and possible corruption in the major renovation project of the residential estate. A total of 35 individuals have been arrested to date. Today's charges followed thorough investigations by the task force's officers and legal advice from the Department of Justice. Police charged three men and two companies jointly with five counts of manslaughter. Meanwhile, the ICAC charged five men, two women and two companies, including all those charged by Police, with a total of 20 offences. The offences include conspiracy to defraud, money laundering, attempting to pervert the course of public justice, and tax evasion. Police and the ICAC have not ruled out further law enforcement actions as their investigations are ongoing.
(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.)Chief Executive John Lee today said that the Government introducing subsidiary legislation for safeguarding national security is purely to make the law even clearer in the classification mechanism for offences that relate to endangering national security. Speaking ahead of this morning's Executive Council meeting, Mr Lee explained the introduction of the subsidiary legislation. He said: “The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, Section 7 makes mention of the offence of endangering national security, and includes other offences endangering national security under the law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.” Mr Lee highlighted that the purpose of introducing the subsidiary legislation is to make it clear how offences endangering national security under the laws of Hong Kong will be so classified. “It is not intended, and will not expand the definition of the offences. It is not adding any new offences, any new power or punishment, and it also does not expand the scope of application of the law. “Having a clearer mechanism of classifying offences endangering national security will have the benefit of reducing the risk of controversies or debates in court about what constitutes an offence endangering national security,” he added.
The Chief Executive in Council today approved enactment of the Safeguarding National Security (Procedural Matters) Regulation (Procedural Matters Regulation) under section 110 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO). The Procedural Matters Regulation was also published in the Government Gazette today and came into effect immediately. The subsidiary legislation was enacted to clarify the classification mechanism for "other offences endangering national security under the law of the HKSAR", as specified under the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKNSL) and the SNSO. The objective is to reflect the legislative intent of the HKNSL and the SNSO, and to better carry into effect the relevant provisions of both. In a statement, the Hong Kong SAR Government said it continuously reviews the city’s current legal system and enforcement mechanisms, with a view to fulfilling its constitutional responsibility in relation to safeguarding national security. Where the need for improvement or clarification is needed, it added, legislative proposals will be introduced in a timely manner. The statement added that, with reference to the legislative intent of the HKNSL, section 7 of the SNSO and relevant Court of Final Appeal case law define “offences endangering national security” as including: offences under the HKNSL, the Implementation Rules for Article 43 of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong SAR, and the SNSO itself; as well as other offences under Hong Kong law, as referenced in section 7(d) of the SNSO, where the conduct in a particular case is, by its nature, considered to endanger national security. In this connection, the Hong Kong SAR Government considered it necessary to clarify the classification mechanism under the HKNSL and SNSO for "other offences endangering national security under the law of the HKSAR" by way of subsidiary legislation, in order to better carry into effect section 7(d) of the SNSO and the provisions applicable to offences endangering national security in the HKNSL, the SNSO and other laws. The Procedural Matters Regulation states that if the Chief Executive issues a certificate under Article 47 of the HKNSL or section 115 of the SNSO to certify that an act in a criminal case involves national security, then the case will be treated as one involving an offence endangering national security, as mentioned in Article 41 of the HKNSL and section 7(d) of the SNSO. The Hong Kong SAR Government highlighted that the relevant provisions on certificates issued by the Chief Executive are entirely consistent with common law principles. It noted that courts in common law jurisdictions including Hong Kong and the United Kingdom are all of the view that executive authorities are in a better position than the courts to make appropriate assessments and judgements on matters of national security. As such, judicial authorities defer to the assessments and judgements of executive authorities in such instances. The Hong Kong SAR Government also pointed out that the mechanism for the Chief Executive to issue a certificate under Article 47 of the HKNSL or section 115 of the SNSO, and the provisions applicable to offences endangering national security in laws such as the HKNSL and the SNSO, are all existing provisions that have been operating effectively. It stressed that the Procedural Matters Regulation does not alter those provisions, the scope of application of the HKNSL and SNSO, or the definition of “offence endangering national security”. The regulation also does not create any new offence, penalty or enforcement power. The statement emphasised that the enactment of the Procedural Matters Regulation refines details of relevant procedural matters and brings greater certainty to the implementation of relevant provisions under the HKNSL, the SNSO and other laws. The Hong Kong SAR Government iterated that relevant provisions under the HKNSL, the SNSO and other laws are only applicable to a small number of criminals who commit offences endangering national security, and will not affect the lives of the general public, or the normal operation of organisations and institutions. Law-abiding individuals, organisations and institutions will therefore by no means be affected by the Procedural Matters Regulation, it said.