Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, on civil service pay offers and the updated Civil Service Code at a media session after attending a radio programme this morning (June 8):

Reporter: The overall updated Civil Service Code, like you mentioned, the more senior staff should be more cautious about like speaking out their opinions publicly. How would you define the senior level? Does that refer to specific titles, levels, authorities? Does that mean they should avoid attending any types of public campaign, like even those they are not directly opposing Government policies, for example, they attend a campaign that supports environmental awareness, even though the Government doesn't have a strong stance against that. Could they do that? Secondly, about the three per cent salary adjustment for public servants, you've mentioned there isn't much room for improvement or adjustment, but obviously the unions have expressed strong opposition against the increase level. So how concern about affecting the morale, like especially among the lower level civil servants?

Secretary for the Civil Service: I think for civil servants, it's really a matter of gradation. The higher you move up, the more conscious of how even your private expressions, your private views would be interpreted by the public, whether your private views will be related to your official position. In these matters, it's really a matter of gradation. It's difficult to draw a solid line below which you can be very carefree about what you speak, above which you have to be really very cautious. As you move up, I think civil servants would have to really take care. And also civil servants working in different positions, working on different subject matters have to take care about what they said, in particular what their job is about. There are various factors to be considered.

     As to social activities, campaigns and so on, we have set out very clearly in the Code that civil servants can also have their political life. They can join social activities, except where we have strict rules about not being able to join. They can join. The principle is when they join social activities, they have to ensure that joining or participation in these social activities would not cause conflict of interest with their jobs and also their joining would not allow people or attract people to believe that they are representing the Government's position or the activities they joined have Government backing or allow people to think that they are actually representing civil servants or a larger group of civil servants' views. So they have to take care of all these when they participate in social activities.

     As to the three per cent increase, whether it will affect civil servants' morale, I believe that civil servants will be able to understand that there are constraints on what the Government can do this year, especially given our very tight financial situation. And also I think as we progress with our various initiatives to improve livelihood and to improve the economy, there would be recognition of the public of what the civil servants have done. And this is also something that would be able to boost morale.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

     Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE) today (June 8) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Shanghai Municipal Talent Work Bureau in Hong Kong to deepen talent exchanges and co-operation between the two places.

     Member of the Standing Committee and Head of the Organization Department of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee, Mr Zhang Wei; the Director-General of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Dr Wang Weiming; and the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, jointly witnessed the signing of the MOU by Deputy Director of the Shanghai Municipal Talent Work Bureau Mr Tan Puzhen and the Director of HKTE, Mr Anthony Lau. The MOU aimed to deepen talent exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong and Shanghai by strengthening co-operation between the two places in global talent attraction, services, employment and development, with a view to jointly developing the two places into talent hubs.

     Mr Sun said, "Both places reached a consensus at the Sixth Plenary Session of the Hong Kong/Shanghai Co-operation Conference held in Hong Kong in April 2024 on talent co-operation and agreed to establish a comprehensive partnership between departments of the two places as well as a regular dialogue mechanism to promote collaboration on nurturing talent and talent services. In addition, from May 6, the Mainland authorities extended the period of stay for holders of an exit endorsement for business visit travelling to Hong Kong from seven days to 14 days and expanded the application of the exit endorsement for talent to Beijing and Shanghai. Together with the MOU signed today, such measures will further deepen talent exchanges between Hong Kong and Shanghai and promote the 'southbound and northbound' two-way flow of talent, which will facilitate talent in both places to pursue career, business and investment opportunities."

     At the exchange session this morning, both sides updated each other on the policy initiatives of attracting and supporting talent and exchanged views on areas for strengthened co-operation as well as collaboration with enterprises in Hong Kong and Shanghai to promote talent exchanges.

      

     The Department of Justice launched the English version of "Annotations of the Hong Kong National Security Law and Sedition Offences in the Crimes Ordinance" in December last year, collating and summarising judgments concerning the Hong Kong National Security Law as well as sections 9 and 10 of the Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 200). The Chinese version of the Annotation is launched today (June 8). The Chinese and English versions have been uploaded to and can be accessed by public at the new dedicated website www.hknslannot.gov.hk/en.

     The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, said, "All institutions, organisations and individuals in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) have an obligation to abide by the Hong Kong National Security Law and local laws for safeguarding national security. This body of case-law helps us understand the requirements of our national security laws and how they are being applied by the courts." He expressed gratitude to Professor Albert Chen for his admirable guidance and contributions, serving as the project's Honorary Consultant Editor.

     In addition, the Department of Justice and the Security Bureau, following the publication of the "Articles and Reference Materials on the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR" in 2021, have recently complied more than 10 speeches and articles regarding Hong Kong National Security Law or Safeguarding National Security Ordinance published by officials of the Central Authorities and the HKSAR, experts and scholars between 2022 and April 2024, as well as the important documents concerning the "Interpretation by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of Article 14 and Article 47 of the 'Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region' ", in "Compendium 2024", which is published today and uploaded to www.doj.gov.hk/en/publications/publications.html for public access.

     Following are the opening remarks by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, at the National Security Legal Forum "Looking Back and Ahead, New Dawn for Development" today (June 8):

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Welcome to the National Security Legal Forum "Looking Back and Ahead, New Dawn for Development" organised by the Department of Justice. In today's forum, we aim at making two very important points.

     The first point is that Hong Kong has adhered faithfully to fundamental principles of the rule of law under our common law system in enacting and applying the national security law, and we will continue to do so in future. Judicial decisions concerning the Hong Kong National Security Law since its enactment about four years ago provide clear and cogent evidence that key principles such as the court exercising independent power of adjudication, open justice, and the presumption of innocence had been strictly followed. A careful study of the recently enacted Safeguarding National Security Ordinance would demonstrate that essential elements of an offence are defined with sufficient clarity, human rights and freedoms will be fully protected and reasonable restrictions will be imposed if but only if they are really necessary to safeguard national security in accordance with applicable international standard and practice. These fundamental principles under our common law system constitute the unique characteristics and advantages of Hong Kong under the principle of "one country, two systems". There is absolutely no conceivable reason whatsoever why we would shoot ourselves in the foot by giving up these valuable and indispensable principles.

     The second point is that our national security law is not only essential but also conducive to the future development of Hong Kong. The Government is working extremely hard to strengthen Hong Kong's status as an international centre in finance, trade, logistics and other areas; and to improve the livelihood of our fellow citizens. History tells us that we cannot afford disregarding national security risks. Indeed, security and development have a symbiotic relationship: one cannot exist without the other, and one will benefit the other. This is sheer logic and common sense. Our national security law based on the principles of the rule of law provides high-standard security to guarantee and safeguard the better and sustainable development of Hong Kong in the long run.

     I firmly believe that, at the end of the forum, you will be convinced there is indeed a rational and objective basis for us to have full confidence in our national security law. And beyond any doubt, we can and shall stand tall and hold our heads high.

The following is issued on behalf of the Major Sports Events Committee:

     The Major Sports Events Committee (MSEC) has awarded "M" Mark status to the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races which will be held from June 15 to 16 in Tsim Sha Tsui East Promenade.

     The Chairman of the MSEC, Mr Wilfred Ng, said today (June 8) that like all other "M" Mark events, this event will not only promote sports development and showcase Hong Kong's capability to host world-class sports events, but also add colour and vibrancy to Hong Kong, bring in more visitors from abroad and enhance Hong Kong's position as a centre for major international sports events.

     "The Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races has always been one of the highlighted events in Hong Kong's summer. Top dragon boat teams from around the world will provide the spectators with thrilling dragon boat races. There will also be an array of cultural performances and delectable food stalls on the spot, allowing spectators to immerse themselves in Hong Kong's unique Eastern charm beyond the competition." Mr Ng said.

     The "M" Mark System aims to encourage and help local "national sports associations" and private and non-government organisations to organise more major international sports events and nurture them into sustainable undertakings. Sports events meeting the assessment criteria will be granted "M" Mark status by the MSEC. Funding support will also be provided to some events.

     For details of "M" Mark events, please visit www.mevents.org.hk.