Hong Kong’s leader has pledged to exercise prudence and seriousness when defining national security offences under newly proposed legislation, dismissing concerns about a centralisation of power and stressing that the process often involves “state players” and highly sensitive information. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also said on Tuesday that the subsidiary legislation, which introduces a…
Hong Kong authorities have allocated HK$5 billion (US$638 million) in funding for efforts to safeguard national security, bringing the total amount earmarked for this purpose to HK$18 billion over the past five years, an official document has revealed. The South China Morning Post’s check on the government’s general revenue expenditure accounts for the financial year…
An accounting clerk has admitted to helping a fraud syndicate withdraw HK$31 million (US$4 million) from a Hong Kong brokerage five years ago after being told she was under investigation by Beijing’s national security arm in the city. The High Court on Tuesday convicted Wong Pui-shan of 10 counts of money laundering after she confessed…
As a long-time observer of Hong Kong affairs – and someone who cares deeply about the city – I have often felt that external debates about Hong Kong have been louder than careful assessments of how the city is actually evolving. Since the implementation of the national security law, discussion of Hong Kong has often…
The head of Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong has urged the city to be a “reformer who braves challenges” rather than a “complacent idler”, expressing expectations that the executive-led governance model will be strengthened. Office director Zhou Ji made the remarks on Wednesday at a reception to celebrate the coming Lunar New Year, also…
Hong Kong authorities have made a last-ditch appeal for residents to turn out and vote on Sunday, urging them to refocus on reforms and the future, as analysts warned that the deadly Tai Po fire may prove decisive for the final turnout. The appeal came as Beijing’s national security office in Hong Kong met with…
Beijing’s national security arm in Hong Kong on Wednesday condemned “external hostile forces” for exploiting the deadly Tai Po fire that killed at least 159 people, as police arrested a man after he allegedly made derogatory online comments about the victims. In a strongly worded post, a spokesman for the Office for Safeguarding National Security…
Hong Kong’s leader has warned that authorities will not tolerate any attempts to sabotage relief efforts for residents affected by the city’s deadliest fire in decades, after national security police made arrests for alleged sedition related to the blaze. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Tuesday also pledged to roll out systemic reforms and said…
Hong Kong’s national security police have questioned an individual who allegedly launched a petition calling on the government to address four demands following the deadly blaze in Tai Po, the Post has learned. The move on Saturday came as the central government’s national security authorities in Hong Kong warned against “anti-China and ill-intentioned individuals” exploiting…
Hong Kong national security police have arrested a 19-year-old woman for committing an act with seditious intent after she allegedly filmed a series of promotional videos for a group deemed subversive by authorities. Authorities said on Tuesday that Lan Fei was involved in producing promotional videos for an organisation called “Hong Kong Parliament” between March…