Latest news with #OSNS
RTHK
2 days ago
- Politics
- RTHK
'HK ready to take a leap forward thanks to NSL'
'HK ready to take a leap forward thanks to NSL' Dong Jingwei says the NSL has helped Hong Kong transition from chaos to order. Photo: RTHK A flag raising ceremony is held to mark the fifth anniversary of the implementation of the NSL. Photo: RTHK The Office for Safeguarding National Security (OSNS) on Monday held a flag-raising ceremony to mark five years since the National Security Law (NSL) was implemented in Hong Kong. In a speech at the event, OSNS director Dong Jingwei said the enactment of the NSL was an important milestone in the implementation of One Country, Two Systems, and Hong Kong is now entering a new stage where it's ready to take a leap forward. "In the five years since the national security law was implemented, the Hong Kong society has bid farewell to turmoil and unrest and has restored stability and peace. The executive-led system of the special administrative region is operating smoothly, and there's new life in its governance," he said. "The historic legislation of Article 23 under the Basic Law has been completed, and the legal system for safeguarding national security is continuously improving." He also noted that the NSL, together with home-grown national security legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law, have safely protected the legitimate rights and interests of local and foreign investors. At the same time, he noted that the SAR has continued to consolidate and enhance its unique advantages. Dong added that his office will continue to work with the SAR government to prevent, suppress and punish any acts and activities endangering national security. Chief Executive John Lee wrote in a congratulatory message that the office has been overseeing, guiding, coordinating and supporting the SAR in accordance with the NSL in carrying out its duties to safeguard national security over the past five years. He thanked the office for its strong support and its outstanding and selfless contributions, adding that his administration will continue working to overcome difficulties and serve the nation. The event was attended by 150 dignitaries, including senior SAR officials such as Chief Secretary Eric Chan, Secretary for Security Chris Tang and Police Commissioner Joe Chow.
RTHK
2 days ago
- Politics
- RTHK
'HK ready to take a leap forward thanks to NSL'
'HK ready to take a leap forward thanks to NSL' Dong Jingwei says the NSL has helped Hong Kong transition from chaos to order. Photo: RTHK A flag raising ceremony is held to mark the fifth anniversary of the implementation of the NSL. Photo: RTHK The Office for Safeguarding National Security (OSNS) on Monday held a flag-raising ceremony to mark five years since the National Security Law (NSL) was implemented in Hong Kong. In a speech at the event, OSNS director Dong Jingwei said the enactment of the NSL was an important milestone in the implementation of One Country, Two Systems, and Hong Kong is now entering a new stage where it's ready to take a leap forward. "In the five years since the national security law was implemented, the Hong Kong society has bid farewell to turmoil and unrest and has restored stability and peace. The executive-led system of the special administrative region is operating smoothly, and there's new life in its governance," he said. "The historic legislation of Article 23 under the Basic Law has been completed, and the legal system for safeguarding national security is continuously improving." He also noted that the NSL, together with home-grown national security legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law, have safely protected the legitimate rights and interests of local and foreign investors. At the same time, he noted that the SAR has continued to consolidate and enhance its unique advantages. Dong added that his office will continue to work with the SAR government to prevent, suppress and punish any acts and activities endangering national security. Chief Executive John Lee wrote in a congratulatory message that the office has been overseeing, guiding, coordinating and supporting the SAR in accordance with the NSL in carrying out its duties to safeguard national security over the past five years. He thanked the office for its strong support and its outstanding and selfless contributions, adding that his administration will continue working to overcome difficulties and serve the nation. The event was attended by 150 dignitaries, including senior SAR officials such as Chief Secretary Eric Chan, Secretary for Security Chris Tang and Police Commissioner Joe Chow.
HKFP
13-06-2025
- Politics
- HKFP
Hong Kong police launch first known joint operation with Beijing's national security office
Hong Kong police have coordinated with Beijing's national security office to search the residences of six people suspected of foreign collusion, the first known joint operation between the two entities. The police force said in a statement on Thursday evening that China's Office for Safeguarding National Security (OSNS) requested assistance from the police's National Security Department (NSD) to investigate six people suspected of colluding with 'a foreign country or with external elements' to endanger national security from November 2020 to June 2024. According to the police statement, the NSD obtained court warrants and searched the homes of the six people, as well as the office of a related organisation in Kwai Chung, on Thursday. Police officers 'seized exhibits, including bank documents, devices, etc., for further investigation,' it added. They also questioned the six individuals and required them to surrender their travel documents. The police statement did not identify the six suspects or the organisation. The OSNS is an apparatus of the Chinese central government and is independent of the Hong Kong government. It was established in July 2020, shortly after Beijing imposed a national security law following the 2019 pro-democracy protests and unrest. Last month, Hong Kong declared six locations of the OSNS as 'prohibited places,' including four hotels and the office's future permanent sites in Tai Kok Tsui that are under construction.
RTHK
12-06-2025
- RTHK
Beijing, SAR security forces probe collusion case
Beijing, SAR security forces probe collusion case Officers from the National Security Department had arranged interviews with people allegedly involved in the case, and required them to surrender their travel documents. File photo: RTHK Beijing's office overseeing national security matters in Hong Kong on Thursday conducted a joint operation with the local police force's National Security Department (NSD) to investigate a case involving suspected collusion with foreign forces. It is believed to be the first time the Office for Safeguarding National Security (OSNS) and the NSD joined forces in a probe. "In the case, six persons and an organisation were suspected of having committed the offence of 'collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security' under Article 29 of the Hong Kong National Security Law between November 2020 and June 2024," the force said in a statement. The force said the OSNS had, in accordance with relevant legislation, requested assistance and support from the NSD, which arranged interviews with people allegedly involved in the case, and required them to surrender their documents. The force also searched the residences of the six people and the office of the organisation in Kwai Chung, seizing a number of items including bank documents and devices for further investigation. "The case is still under investigation, and the NSD will continue to provide assistance and support to the OSNS in accordance with the law," it said.
HKFP
06-06-2025
- Politics
- HKFP
Safeguarding national security should become Hong Kong's ‘culture,' leader John Lee says
Safeguarding national security should become a 'culture' in Hong Kong, Chief Executive John Lee has said, vowing to strengthen public education and train officers to counter 'state-level' threats. In an interview with the Beijing-backed newspaper Wen Wei Po, published on Friday, Lee said the government's effort to safeguard national security was still at its 'starting stage.' His remarks come almost five years after Beijing imposed a national security law in Hong Kong in the summer of 2020, following large-scale pro-democracy protests and unrest in 2019. The city enacted a homegrown security law, known locally as Article 23, in March 2024. Last month, subsidiary legislation for Article 23 was enacted. Six new offences were created to facilitate the work of China's Office for Safeguarding National Security (OSNS) in the city, and six sites occupied by the office were declared 'prohibited places,' with hefty penalties for intruders or spies. Lee said in his interview that Hong Kong was still 'setting up the institution' of safeguarding national security. 'We have to strengthen our information network to become more aware of the acts that endanger national security, as well as the opponents' financial capability, other resources, and manpower,' he said in Cantonese. He also said that authorities should step up the training of national security agents against state-level threats, such as spies. Spies 'could be highly discreet. Things that appear normal on the surface may involve a large conspiracy and a grand scheme behind,' he said. 'Ultimately, their motives and goals are to endanger our national security.' The city's government has been in 'good communication' with mainland Chinese authorities in training agents, he added. Meanwhile, Hong Kong will continue to promote national security education, Lee said, in a bid to make residents capable of recognising national security threats instantly. 'I hope they become more identified [with national security] and more proactive, so that safeguarding national security can become a culture,' he said. Over 300 people have been arrested for 'acts endangering national security' since Beijing's national security law came into effect. Beijing inserted national security legislation directly into Hong Kong's mini-constitution in June 2020 following a year of pro-democracy protests and unrest. It criminalised subversion, secession, collusion with foreign forces and terrorist acts – broadly defined to include disruption to transport and other infrastructure. The move gave police sweeping new powers and led to hundreds of arrests amid new legal precedents, while dozens of civil society groups disappeared. The authorities say it restored stability and peace to the city, rejecting criticism from trade partners, the UN and NGOs. Separate from the 2020 Beijing-enacted security law, the homegrown Safeguarding National Security Ordinance targets treason, insurrection, sabotage, external interference, sedition, theft of state secrets and espionage. It allows for pre-charge detention of up to 16 days, and suspects' access to lawyers may be restricted, with penalties involving up to life in prison. Article 23 was shelved in 2003 amid mass protests, remaining taboo for years. But, on March 23, 2024, it was enacted having been fast-tracked and unanimously approved at the city's opposition-free legislature. The law has been criticised by rights NGOs, Western states and the UN as vague, broad and 'regressive.' Authorities, however, cited perceived foreign interference and a constitutional duty to 'close loopholes' after the 2019 protests and unrest.
