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HKFP
3 days ago
- Politics
- HKFP
Safeguarding national security should become Hong Kong's ‘culture,' leader John Lee says
Safeguarding national security should become a 'culture' in Hong Kong, Chief Executive John Lee has said, vowing to strengthen public education and train officers to counter 'state-level' threats. In an interview with the Beijing-backed newspaper Wen Wei Po, published on Friday, Lee said the government's effort to safeguard national security was still at its 'starting stage.' His remarks come almost five years after Beijing imposed a national security law in Hong Kong in the summer of 2020, following large-scale pro-democracy protests and unrest in 2019. The city enacted a homegrown security law, known locally as Article 23, in March 2024. Last month, subsidiary legislation for Article 23 was enacted. Six new offences were created to facilitate the work of China's Office for Safeguarding National Security (OSNS) in the city, and six sites occupied by the office were declared 'prohibited places,' with hefty penalties for intruders or spies. Lee said in his interview that Hong Kong was still 'setting up the institution' of safeguarding national security. 'We have to strengthen our information network to become more aware of the acts that endanger national security, as well as the opponents' financial capability, other resources, and manpower,' he said in Cantonese. He also said that authorities should step up the training of national security agents against state-level threats, such as spies. Spies 'could be highly discreet. Things that appear normal on the surface may involve a large conspiracy and a grand scheme behind,' he said. 'Ultimately, their motives and goals are to endanger our national security.' The city's government has been in 'good communication' with mainland Chinese authorities in training agents, he added. Meanwhile, Hong Kong will continue to promote national security education, Lee said, in a bid to make residents capable of recognising national security threats instantly. 'I hope they become more identified [with national security] and more proactive, so that safeguarding national security can become a culture,' he said. Over 300 people have been arrested for 'acts endangering national security' since Beijing's national security law came into effect. Beijing inserted national security legislation directly into Hong Kong's mini-constitution in June 2020 following a year of pro-democracy protests and unrest. It criminalised subversion, secession, collusion with foreign forces and terrorist acts – broadly defined to include disruption to transport and other infrastructure. The move gave police sweeping new powers and led to hundreds of arrests amid new legal precedents, while dozens of civil society groups disappeared. The authorities say it restored stability and peace to the city, rejecting criticism from trade partners, the UN and NGOs. Separate from the 2020 Beijing-enacted security law, the homegrown Safeguarding National Security Ordinance targets treason, insurrection, sabotage, external interference, sedition, theft of state secrets and espionage. It allows for pre-charge detention of up to 16 days, and suspects' access to lawyers may be restricted, with penalties involving up to life in prison. Article 23 was shelved in 2003 amid mass protests, remaining taboo for years. But, on March 23, 2024, it was enacted having been fast-tracked and unanimously approved at the city's opposition-free legislature. The law has been criticised by rights NGOs, Western states and the UN as vague, broad and 'regressive.' Authorities, however, cited perceived foreign interference and a constitutional duty to 'close loopholes' after the 2019 protests and unrest.
The Star
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Actor Chow Yun Fat spends 70th birthday exercising with celebrity pals
Chow Yun Fat (left) and his celebrity pal, Hong Kong actor Michael Miu, on a hilltop. Photo: Michael Miu/Instagram Hong Kong movie star Chow Yun Fat continued his healthy lifestyle as he turned 70 on May 18. His celebrity pal, Hong Kong actor Michael Miu, posted on Instagram on Chow's birthday a photo of them on a hilltop and another photo of them with Miu's wife, actress Jaime Chik. 'He is my role model in whatever he does,' Miu, 66, wrote in Chinese. 'Happy 70th birthday to my most respected brother. Live a carefree and happy life.' Another celebrity who joined them in their exercise routine was Hong Kong singer Calvin Choy from Cantopop trio Grasshopper, and his wife and daughter. Choy, 60, posted a video of them with Chow, writing in English: 'Happy 70 birthday to my super idol.' A jogging and hiking enthusiast, Chow has often appeared on the social media accounts of his famous friends, such as actress Carina Lau, actor Felix Wong and singer Alan Tam, whom he works out with. Chow is also an avid runner. His latest endeavour was the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon in February, in which he clocked a timing of 2hr 24min 33sec for the 21km half-marathon. He also celebrated his 69th birthday in 2024 by jogging 6.9km with Miu, Wong and celebrity couple Edwin Siu and Priscilla Wong. After sweating it out in the day on May 18, Chow celebrated his birthday with his Singapore-born wife Jasmine Tan and their relatives and friends in the evening. According to an exclusive report by Hong Kong newspaper Wen Wei Po, Chow cut his birthday cakes in their presence and shared a longevity peach with his pet dog. – The Straits Times/Asia News Network
South China Morning Post
29-03-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
CK Hutchison port deal may be hit with wave of antitrust probes
CK Hutchison Holdings' sale of its sprawling overseas port business could trigger a wave of competition reviews in the more than 20 countries where the docks are located should their governments deem them necessary, the Post has learned. Advertisement The stringent checks on the US$23 billion sale of the 43 ports, including two at each end of the Panama Canal, to a consortium led by US investment firm BlackRock, were expected as China's State Administration for Market Regulation said on Friday it would examine the deal. Authorities in all 23 countries where the ports operate are expected to conduct anti-monopoly probes of their own if they find them legally necessary, according to a source. An insider earlier told the Post that CK Hutchison Holdings would not go ahead with the expected signing of the deal next Wednesday, which was understood not to be a firm deadline. The parties have 145 days to exclusively and confidentially negotiate the final terms. Hutchison operates 53 ports in 24 countries, including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, Mexico and South Korea. The deal did not include the 10 ports in Hong Kong and mainland China. Advertisement Announcement of the probe by the Chinese market regulator came after Hong Kong-based, pro-Beijing media Wen Wei Po and Ta Kung Pao questioned whether the deal required an antitrust review.
South China Morning Post
28-03-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong's Hutchison ‘will not sign Panama deal next week', Beijing to launch probe
Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing's CK Hutchison Holdings will not go ahead with the expected signing of a deal next week to sell its two strategic ports at the Panama Canal, the Post has learned, as Beijing revealed it will launch an antitrust probe into the sale. Advertisement The State Administration for Market Regulation said on Friday it was looking into the deal. The sale of CK Hutchison's two ports at each end of the Panama Canal was part of a US$23 billion deal to sell 43 ports spread over 23 countries to a consortium led by United States investment firm BlackRock. CK Hutchison will pocket US$19 billion. The investigation was announced after Hong Kong-based pro-Beijing media Wen Wei Po and Ta Kung Pao asked whether the deal required approval through an antitrust review. 'We have noticed this transaction, and will review it in accordance with the law to ensure fair competition in the market and safeguard the public interest,' a spokesman from the anti-monopoly department under the market regulator said in a written reply. Advertisement The watchdog did not reveal when the investigation would be launched but its response was later reposted on the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office website.
