The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority: Regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of patients confirmed to be carriers of Multi-drug Resistant Acinetobacter (MDRA) in a male Medicine and Geriat… read more
The Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, delivered a speech on the Basic Law and national security at a youth forum on the Basic Law organised by the Joint Committee for the Promotion of the Basic Law of Hong Kong today (September 18), during which she spoke with secondary and university students on how to properly understand the Constitution, the Basic Law, national security and the concept of the rule of law.
Ms Cheng pointed out that the Constitution clearly states the fundamental system of the People’s Republic of China(PRC) and the fundamental rights and obligations of nationals. The Constitution is closely linked with the Basic Law and the “one country, two systems” principle. The National People’s Congress (NPC), the highest organ of state power in the PRC, shall exercise powers to decide on the establishment of special administrative regions and the systems to be instituted. On April 4, 1990, the NPC adopted the Basic Law and made a decision on the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in accordance with the Constitution. Article 1 of the Basic Law stipulates that the HKSAR is an inalienable part of the People’s Republic of China, and “one country” is thereby the basis of “two systems”.
Ms Cheng further explained to the students that China and the United Kingdom signed the Joint Declaration to resolve the issue of Hong Kong. There is no clause that provides for British rights or obligations to Hong Kong after the city’s return to the motherland.
Ms Cheng added that the laws previously in force in Hong Kong, including the common law, shall be maintained as set out in the Basic Law. It also guarantees that the courts of the HKSAR shall exercise judicial power independently and criminal prosecutions of the Department of Justice (DoJ) are free from any interference, enabling the effective operation of Hong Kong’s legal system.
Citing examples to illustrate traditional and non-traditional security under national security, Ms Cheng emphasised the importance of the enactment of the Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL) and improvements to the electoral system in the implementation of “one country, two systems”. She explained that national security and the constitutional order of the HKSAR are matters under the purview of the Central Authorities. The NPC and its Standing Committee shall exercise powers to make decisions and laws.
Ms Cheng pointed out that the NSL plugged the national security loopholes that existed in Hong Kong by effectively preventing, suppressing and imposing punishment for any act endangering national security. She also explained the extraterritorial application of the NSL, granting of bail and other legal matters in order to clear the misconceptions in the community.
Stressing that political security is fundamental to national security, Ms Cheng highlighted the balanced and orderly political participation as well as broader representation brought about by the improvements to the electoral system, ensuring the steadfast and successful implementation of “one country, two systems”.
Noting that there used to be suggestions that deliberate lawbreaking might be considered in order to achieve objectives, Ms Cheng strongly refuted such misinformation by stating at the forum that abiding by the law is one of the important features of the rule of law. Lawbreaking is never justified under the law. She urged young people to distinguish right from wrong and not to engage in any illegal activities. Ms Cheng also introduced to the students the Vision 2030 for Rule of Law initiative organised by the DoJ, which seeks to promote the proper understanding and recognition of the rule of law.
Today’s forum was attended by students from Secondary Two to the third year of university studies. They have participated in the Basic Law Ambassador Training Scheme organised by the Joint Committee for the Promotion of the Basic Law of Hong Kong. Through a series of activities, they are expected to develop independent thinking from multiple perspectives and gain a better understanding of the Constitution and the Basic Law.
In her conclusion, Ms Cheng said she hoped that the forum today would enhance students’ proper comprehension of the Constitution, the Basic Law, the NSL and the spirit of rule of law. She also invited them to promote these to their peers and friends, upholding the rule of law with concerted efforts. Lastly, Ms Cheng encouraged the students to take part in the diversified activities under Vision 2030 for Rule of Law.
One hundred and seventy people, comprising users of elderly services of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals in Eastern District and their family members, participated in a vaccination activity at Fong Shu Chuen Social Service Building in Shau Kei Wan today (September 18). The Chair Professor of the Department of Microbiology at the University of Hong Kong, Professor Yuen Kwok-yung, gave a briefing on COVID-19 vaccines to the elderly participants. A number of volunteer doctors also provided them with on-site one-on-one medical consultation.
The Government’s outreach vaccination team provided the Sinovac vaccination service to the elderly at a temporary vaccination area in the building. Those who opted for the BioNTech vaccine were assisted by staff to make arrangements for vaccination.
Attending the event with the Chairman of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, Mr Kazaf Tam, to encourage more elderly persons to get vaccinated, the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, said, “Both COVID-19 vaccines available in Hong Kong are highly effective in protecting against severe diseases and death from COVID-19 infection. In view of the threat posed by mutant strains that carry higher transmissibility, members of the public, in particular the elderly, should protect themselves by getting vaccinated. There are misconceptions that it is not necessary to get vaccinated if people do not go out very often and it suffices for the younger generation to get vaccinated. As the winter influenza season is approaching, I appeal to the elderly to grasp the opportunity to receive COVID-19 vaccines immediately.
“Reaching out to the community and focusing on the elderly are the priorities of the vaccination programme at this stage. I am grateful to Professor Yuen for giving a detailed briefing on COVID-19 vaccination to elderly persons. I hope that the elderly participants can tell their family members and other elderly persons what they have learned about COVID-19 vaccines today and share their own vaccination experience. If members of the public have family members who are elderly and are not vaccinated, please share the information on the COVID-19 vaccines with them and encourage them to receive vaccination. Each and every one of us in the community has to do our part to promote vaccination so as to attain a vaccination rate of 70 per cent or more.”
Experts recommend that all elderly persons who have previously received influenza vaccines can safely receive COVID-19 vaccines. If they have chronic diseases, they should get vaccinated as soon as possible for protection while their condition is stable.
　　
Mr Nip expressed his gratitude to the volunteer healthcare workers, and the medical team and administrative support staff of the Community Vaccination Centre at Tin Fai Road Sports Centre, for providing the outreach service today.
The Home Affairs Department will open 19 temporary night heat shelters tonight (September 18) for people in need of the service.
The shelters will be open from 10.30pm until 8am tomorrow.
For further information, please call the department’s hotline before midnight on 2572 8427.
The 19 night heat shelters are located at:
Hong Kong Districts:
———————
Central and Western –
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall*
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun
Eastern –
Causeway Bay Community Centre*
3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay
Southern –
Wah Kwai Community Centre
Wah Kwai Estate, Kellett Bay
Wan Chai –
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai
Kowloon Districts:
——————
Kowloon City –
Hung Hom Community Hall*
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom
Kwun Tong –
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin
Sham Shui Po –
Shek Kip Mei Community Hall*
G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate, Sham Shui Po
Wong Tai Sin –
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan
Yau Tsim Mong –
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre*
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
New Territories Districts:
————————–
Islands –
Tung Chung North Park (Zone B) Activity Room
29 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung
Kwai Tsing –
Kwai Shing Community Hall
Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung
North –
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling
Sai Kung –
King Lam Neighbourhood Community Centre
King Lam Estate, Tseung Kwan O
Sha Tin –
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
Tai Po –
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
Tsuen Wan –
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan
Tuen Mun –
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun
Yuen Long –
Tin Yiu Community Centre
Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai
From September 1 to 30, the Home Affairs Department is running a pilot scheme to open five selected temporary night heat shelters (i.e. the above-mentioned five temporary night heat shelters marked with an asterisk) for people in need, regardless of whether the Very Hot Weather Warning has been issued by the Hong Kong Observatory.
For the 14 temporary night heat shelters not covered by the pilot scheme, their opening will still be subject to the issuing of the Very Hot Weather Warning. If the Very Hot Weather Warning remains in force at 4.30pm after being issued, the heat shelters will open from 10.30pm until 8am the next day. If the Very Hot Weather Warning is cancelled before 4.30pm, the heat shelters will not open overnight that day.
The temporary night heat shelters will resume their functions as community centres or community halls in the daytime for hire by the local community.
People may choose to take refuge from the heat during the daytime in the common areas of the designated community centres and community halls. For the addresses of these designated community centres and community halls, please browse the following document: www.had.gov.hk/file_manager/en/documents/public_services/emergency_services/List_CH_CC_Day_E.pdf. read more
The following is issued on behalf of the Electoral Affairs Commission: The Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC), Mr Justice Barnabas Fung Wah, said after his visit to the polling station and central counting s… read more