​In view of the latest situation of COVID-19, the Labour Department announced today (August 13) that its public occupational health talks have been suspended until further notice. Enrolled participants will be informed of the cancellations.
A man who went missing in Hung Hom has been located.
Kwok Sau-pun, aged 48, went missing after he left his residence on Walker Road on August 1 morning. His family made a report to Police on August 5.
The man was located on Pak Lai Road, Tsang Yi last night (August 12).
The Japan Parliamentary Alliance on China (JPAC) incorrectly and inappropriately commented on various issues today (August 12), including the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (National Security Law) and the electoral arrangements for Hong Kong Legislative Council (LegCo). The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) expressed deep regret and strongly refuted such views in order to set the record straight.
A Government spokesman said, "The National Security Law was enacted to ensure the resolute, full and faithful implementation of 'One Country, Two Systems', 'Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong' and a high degree of autonomy. The National Security Law only targets four types of acts and activities that endanger national security. The vast majority of Hong Kong residents who are law-abiding, including overseas investors, are not affected."
"The National Security Law clearly stipulates that the HKSAR shall protect the rights and freedoms enjoyed by residents under the Basic Law and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as applied to Hong Kong in accordance with the law. These include the rights and freedoms of speech, of the press, of publication, of association, of assembly, of procession and of demonstration. However, the enforcement agencies of the HKSAR Government will seriously handle, in accordance with the law, any illegal acts suspected of endangering national security," the spokesman said.
"The Basic Law clearly stipulates that the Department of Justice of the HKSAR shall control criminal prosecutions, free from any interference. The HKSAR shall be vested with independent judicial power, including that of final adjudication. Since our return to the Motherland, Hong Kong's rule of law and judicial independence have been highly respected internationally," the spokesman stressed.
The HKSAR Government respects the rule of law. While it will not comment on details of specific cases, it should be pointed out that no one is above the law, and anybody who violates the law must face justice regardless of his/her status or background. Applications and operations by the Police in evidence collection are based on investigation need and in accordance with the relevant laws and procedures, which are both lawful and reasonable. Moreover, the Police always strive to protect the privacy and rights of detained persons, including the rights to seek legal assistance, communicate with a relative or friend, receive copies of written record under caution and medical treatment, etc.
Separately, the HKSAR Government has repeatedly stressed that amidst a new wave of the COVID-19 epidemic which has seen an alarming surge in confirmed cases and deaths, to protect health and the voting rights of all registered voters, Legislative Council General Election (LCGE) in 2020 had to be postponed. The Government keeps monitoring the development of the epidemic and announced the postponement of LCGE in 2020, a difficult but necessary decision, as close as possible to the election on July 31 (36 days before the election). According to the decision made by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on August 11, the current-term LegCo will continue to discharge its duties for no less than one year until the commencement of the seventh-term LegCo.
The HKSAR Government learned that JPAC was established on July 29 comprising 30 Diet Members of Japan on the pretext of the National Security Law. The HKSAR Government is very disappointed that some Japanese politicians have made biased remarks to interfere in China's internal affairs and HKSAR's affairs, without a full understanding of "One Country, Two Systems" or factual basis. Hong Kong and Japan have close ties in various areas such as commerce, tourism, and culture. The HKSAR Government urges JPAC members to handle the relationship between the two places in an objective and balanced manner.
Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident in Tsing Yi this afternoon (August 12) in which a 73-year-old woman died.
At 1.59pm, when a special purpose vehicle (SPV) driven by a 63-year-old man was travelling along the slip road of Kwai Chung Road, it reportedly knocked down the 73-year-old woman who had alighted from the SPV.
Sustaining serious injuries, the woman was rushed to Princess Margaret Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 2.42pm.
The SPV driver was arrested for dangerous driving causing death and is being detained for further enquiries.
Investigation by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, New Territories South is underway.
Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 1300 or 3661 1346.
The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (August 12) met separately with the pro-establishment Legislative Council (LegCo) members from various political groups to listen to their views on the resumption of operation of the LegCo.
The decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC) yesterday (August 11) stipulates that the sixth-term LegCo of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) will continue to discharge duties for no less than one year until the commencement of the seventh-term LegCo.
Mrs Lam expressed gratitude for the understanding and support of the pro-establishment legislators for the Government to postpone the LegCo General Election for a year in the light of the severe epidemic situation, and welcomed the decision of the NPCSC for resolving the problem of a lacuna in the LegCo in the coming year. As regards the queries by some non-pro-establishment legislators on the NPCSC decision, Mrs Lam stressed that the decision of the NPCSC was made in accordance with the relevant provisions in the Constitution of the People's Republic of China and the Basic Law, providing a constitutional basis and solid legal foundation for the normal governance of the HKSAR Government and the normal operation of society. The authority and necessity of the decision are beyond doubt.
Mrs Lam was pleased to note that all the legislators she met shared the view that the most imminent task is for the whole community to fight the epidemic together. She told the legislators the latest anti-epidemic work and listened to their views on the detailed measures. On the plight of various sectors amid the epidemic mentioned by various legislators, Mrs Lam said the Government will definitely do its utmost to support the enterprises and members of the public to ride out the difficult times. She said she has already requested the Chief Secretary for Administration and the Financial Secretary to listen to views of various sectors to formulate concrete support proposals.
