Author Archives: hksar gov

     In response to media enquiries, a spokesman for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government made the following response today (September 7) to the United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s six-monthly report on Hong Kong (January to June 2018):

     “Since the return to the motherland, the HKSAR has been exercising a high degree of autonomy and ‘Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong’ in strict accordance with the Basic Law. This demonstrates the full and successful implementation of the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, which has been widely recognised by the international community. Foreign governments should not interfere in any form in the internal affairs of the HKSAR.”

On “Hong Kong’s independence” and freedom of speech

     “The Basic Law clearly stipulates that the HKSAR is an inalienable part of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). ‘Hong Kong’s independence’ is a blatant violation of the Basic Law and a direct affront to the national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of the PRC. ‘Hong Kong’s independence’ runs counter to the successful implementation of ‘one country, two systems’ and undermines the HKSAR’s constitutional and legal foundations as enshrined in the Basic Law.

     “The HKSAR Government attaches great importance to freedom of speech, which is also protected by the Basic Law. However, both the relevant international human rights convention and court cases clearly point out that freedom of speech is not absolute.”

On Legislative Council (LegCo) By-election

     “Article 26 of the Basic Law stipulates that ‘Permanent residents of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall have the right to vote and the right to stand for election in accordance with law’. The HKSAR Government all along respects and safeguards the rights enjoyed by Hong Kong residents according to law, including the aforesaid rights to vote and to stand for election. At the same time, the HKSAR Government has a duty to implement and uphold the Basic Law and to ensure that all elections will be conducted in accordance with the Basic Law and relevant electoral laws. Upholding the Basic Law is a basic legal duty of a legislator. If a person advocates or promotes ‘Hong Kong’s independence’, ‘self-determination’ or changing the HKSAR system by referendum which includes the choice of independence, he/she cannot possibly uphold the Basic Law or fulfil his/her duties as a legislator, and cannot possibly comply with the requirement of the Legislative Council Ordinance that requires a candidate to make a declaration to uphold the Basic Law and pledge allegiance to the HKSAR. Decisions made by Returning Officers (ROs) in the 2018 LegCo By-election are aimed to ensure that the by-election is held in strict accordance with the Basic Law and other applicable laws in an open, honest and fair manner.”

On an election petition lodged against the results of the 2016 LegCo General Election

     “In accordance with section 40(1)(b)(i) of the Legislative Council Ordinance, a person is not validly nominated as a candidate for an election for a constituency unless the nomination form includes or is accompanied by a declaration to the effect that the person will uphold the Basic Law and pledge allegiance to the HKSAR. The HKSAR Government welcomes the Court of First Instance’s decision concerning an election petition in February this year which, amongst others, confirms that the ROs, in accordance with the Legislative Council Ordinance, have the power to determine whether the declaration made by a person seeking candidature in the nomination form that he/she will uphold the Basic Law and pledge allegiance to the HKSAR is genuine, in order to decide whether the relevant nomination is valid. Advocating ‘Hong Kong’s independence’ is inconsistent with the constitutional and legal status of the HKSAR as stipulated in the Basic Law, as well as the established basic policies of the PRC regarding Hong Kong. The HKSAR Government supports ROs to continue to determine whether a candidate’s nomination is valid in accordance with the law and all relevant information, so that elections will be conducted in compliance with the Basic Law and other applicable laws in an open, honest and fair manner.”

On National Anthem Law

      “The Law of the People’s Republic of China on the National Anthem (the National Anthem Law) was added to Annex III to the Basic Law in November 2017. In accordance with Article 18(2) of the Basic Law, the national laws listed in Annex III to the Basic Law shall be applied locally by way of promulgation or legislation by the HKSAR. The HKSAR will implement the National Anthem Law by local legislation. The HKSAR Government has commenced work on the local legislation to implement the National Anthem Law, and has been actively listening to views from the community in the process, including consulting the LegCo and attending special meetings to receive deputations on the proposed framework of the bill, etc. We will submit the bill to the LegCo for scrutiny once the drafting of the bill is completed.”

On Co-location arrangement of the Guangdong-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link

     “Hong Kong is a society that upholds the rule of law. Legislation and policies must be consistent with the Constitution of the PRC, the basic policy of ‘one country, two systems’ as well as the Basic Law of the HKSAR. In the course of the discussions between the HKSAR and the Mainland on the clearance options of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL), both sides have always agreed that the co-location arrangement must be consistent with ‘one country, two systems’ and must not contravene the Basic Law.

     “In any event, the implementation of co-location arrangement at the West Kowloon Station of the XRL is a facilitation measure for cross-boundary transport and a livelihood issue by nature, and its objective is to fully unleash the benefits of the XRL and maximise convenience to passengers. The HKSAR Government hopes that different sectors of the community can understand the co-location arrangement in an objective, pragmatic and all-round manner.” read more

     The Government has proposed to carry out “Port Shelter Sewerage, Stage 3” works at Po Toi O. The extent of the foreshore and seabed area affected is described in a notice published in the Government Gazette today (September 7).
      
     The proposed works are within an area of approximately 0.51 hectares of foreshore and seabed at Po Toi O. The works involve construction of a submarine outfall of about 385 metres in length and erection of a temporary works area at the end of the submarine outfall to facilitate excavation and installation of the diffuser. The proposed works are tentatively scheduled to commence in end-2019 for completion in end-2024.

     The notice and the related plan are posted near the site. The plan is also available for inspection at:
 
* Survey and Mapping Office of the Lands Department (23/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong) (where copies can be purchased on order);
 
* Sai Kung Home Affairs Enquiry Centre of the Sai Kung District Office (G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex, 38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O, New Territories); and
 
* Lands Department’s website (www.landsd.gov.hk) under Government Notices.
 
     Any person who considers that he or she has an interest, right or easement in or over the foreshore and seabed involved may submit a written objection to the Director of Lands, 20/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong, within two months from the above-mentioned date, i.e. on or before November 7. The notice of objection shall describe the interest, right or easement of the objector and the manner in which he or she will be allegedly affected. read more

     The Government announced today (September 7) the establishment of the Steering Committee on Construction Innovation and Technology Fund (CITF) to advise the Government on the effective utilisation of the CITF to upgrade the performance of Hong Kong’s construction industry. 

     The 2018-19 Budget has set aside $1 billion for the establishment of the CITF to boost the capacities of enterprises and practitioners in the construction industry to adopt new technology, and support the industry to harness innovative technology.
 
     “Hong Kong’s construction industry is facing the challenges of a shortage of labour and an aging workforce. The newly established CITF seeks to promote wider adoption of innovative construction methods and technology to enhance productivity, construction quality, site safety and environmental performance through automation, industrialisation and digitisation. It will also help drive the transformation of the local construction industry, thereby enhancing its capability to meet our continuous strong demand for construction services. The Steering Committee will maintain close contact with industry stakeholders to ensure that the CITF can effectively promote innovation,” the Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, said.
 
     Members of the Steering Committee are appointed by the Secretary for Development for a term of two years, from September 7, 2018 to September 6, 2020. The Steering Committee will also invite representatives from relevant bureaux and departments to attend meetings on a needs basis.
 
     Membership of the Steering Committee on Construction Innovation and Technology Fund is as follows:
 
Chairperson
————-
Permanent Secretary for Development (Works)

Members
———-
Mr Chan Chi-chiu
Mr Antonio Chan Chi-ming
Mr Victor Cheung Chi-kong
Mr Cheung Man-tim
Mr Edwin Chung Kwok-fai
Mr Wes Jones
Professor Christopher Leung Kin-ying
Mr Jeff Tung Jing-kong
Mr Billy Wong Kin-yee
Mr Franklin Yu
Executive Director, Construction Industry Council
Director of Buildings
Deputy Director of Housing (Development and Construction) read more

     The Legislative Council Kowloon West geographical constituency by-election will be held on November 25 (Sunday). The nomination period for the by-election will run from October 2 to 15.
 
     The by-election will be held to fill one vacancy in membership of the Legislative Council Kowloon West geographical constituency. If the number of validly nominated candidates is more than one, a poll will be held on November 25.
 
     “A nominee must be a registered geographical constituency elector aged 21 or above. The nominee must also have ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for the three years immediately preceding the nomination, and be a Chinese citizen who is a Hong Kong permanent resident with no right of abode in a foreign country,” a spokesman for the Registration and Electoral Office (REO) said today (September 7).
 
     “Details of the eligibility to be nominated as a candidate, disqualification from being nominated as a candidate and from being elected as a Member, and the requirements to be complied with by persons nominated as candidates are set out in sections 37, 39 and 40 of the Legislative Council Ordinance respectively,” he said.
 
     Each nominee needs to be subscribed by not less than 100 registered electors of the Kowloon West geographical constituency and the number of subscribers on a nomination form must not exceed 200. An elector may subscribe only one nomination.
 
     “Completed nomination forms and an election deposit of $50,000 must be submitted by the nominees in person to the Returning Officer within the nomination period. Nominations are accepted between 9am and 5pm from Mondays to Fridays and between 9am and noon on Saturdays. Nominees are also encouraged to pay the election deposit by cashier order or cash to avoid unwarranted complications arising from a cheque not being honoured,” the spokesman said.
 
     The District Officer (Kowloon City) has been appointed as the Returning Officer for the by-election. His office is located at 7/F and 8/F, Kowloon City Government Offices, 42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom, Kowloon.
 
     Nomination forms are available at the District Offices, the Returning Officer’s office, and the offices of the REO at 10/F, Harbour Centre, 25 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, or Unit 2301-03, 23/F, Millennium City 6, 392 Kwun Tong Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon. They can also be downloaded from the REO website (www.reo.gov.hk).

     “Nominees are advised to submit their nominations as early as possible to allow time to correct mistakes, if any, in the nomination forms before the deadline,” the spokesman said.

     Notices on the nomination period for the by-election and the appointment of the Returning Officer, with his office address, were gazetted today.

     For enquiries, please call the election hotline on 2891 1001. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:        The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation… read more