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Author Archives: hksar gov

HKSAR Government strongly opposes and condemns US Department of State for attempting to “demonise” lawful enforcement actions by NSD

     The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today (August 26) strongly opposes and condemns the Department of State of the United States (US) for attempting to “demonise” the actions taken by the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force (NSD) in accordance with the law.

     “Endangering national security is a very serious offence. No country will watch with folded arms acts and activities that endanger national security. The HKSAR law enforcement agencies have been taking law enforcement actions based on evidence and strictly in accordance with the law in respect of the acts of the persons or entities concerned, and have nothing to do with their political stance, background or occupation. No matter how the relevant country tried to exonerate the absconders in various forms, means and excuses, it could not change the fact that the persons involved, who have fled overseas, are alleged to have continued to commit offences under the Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL), seriously endangering national security. The listing of the persons who have absconded overseas and allegedly committed offences under the NSL as wanted persons by the NSD in accordance with the law, as well as the subsequent further investigation and law enforcement actions, are totally reasonable, rational, legal, and indeed necessary,” a spokesman for the HKSAR Government stressed.

     “Hong Kong residents enjoy the rights and freedoms under the Basic Law, the Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance and other relevant laws. The NSL clearly stipulates that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security in the HKSAR. Any law enforcement actions to safeguard national security will not affect the rights and freedoms concerned that Hong Kong residents enjoy in accordance with the law,” the spokesman pointed out.

     “The HKSAR Government solemnly urges the US to discern fact from fallacy, stop immediately their wanton slanders and smears against the NSL and the implementation of the NSL in the HKSAR, and refrain immediately from interfering with the internal affairs of the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong matters,” the spokesman reiterated.

     “The HKSAR Government will continue to implement the NSL fearlessly, resolutely, fully and faithfully, thereby preventing, suppressing and imposing punishment for acts and activities endangering national security in accordance with the law, so as to allow Hong Kong to advance from stability to prosperity steadily,” the spokesman said. read more

Missing woman in Sau Mau Ping located

     A woman who went missing in Sau Mau Ping has been located.      Chen Oi-jun, aged 85, went missing after she left her residence in Shun Tin Estate yesterday (August 25) morning. Her family made a report to Police on the same day.   … read more

Owner of premises fined for unlicensed guesthouse

     An owner of a premises was fined $30,000 at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts on August 23 for the premises being used as an unlicensed guesthouse which contravened the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance.

     The court heard that officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), Home Affairs Department identified a suspected unlicensed guesthouse that was being operated in Lai Chi Kok Road, Kowloon. The OLA officers posed as lodgers and rented a room in the concerned premises. According to the OLA’s records, the guesthouse was not issued with a valid licence on the date of lodging. The OLA invoked section 5A(1) of the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance, instigated prosecution against the owner of the premises.

     Section 5A(1) of the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance stipulates that if any premises are a hotel or guesthouse while no licence is in force for the premises, each of the owners and tenants of the premises commits an offence.

     A department spokesman stressed that operating or managing an unlicensed hotel or guesthouse is a criminal offence and will lead to a criminal record if convicted. The owner of the subject premises, unless a statutory defence can be established, also commits a criminal offence. The maximum penalty is a fine of $500,000 and three years’ imprisonment. A six-month closure order may also be issued for the premises involved in a repeated offence.

     The list of licensed hotels and guesthouses is available on the OLA’s website (www.hadla.gov.hk) and the mobile application “Hong Kong Licensed Hotels and Guesthouses” for public reference. Anyone with information about suspected unlicensed hotels and guesthouses should immediately report it to the OLA through the hotline (tel: 2881 7498), by email (hadlaenq@had.gov.hk), or by fax (2504 5805) using the report form downloaded from the OLA website, or through the mobile application. read more