People should stay alert as risks to national security remained despite relevant laws to safeguard the city, Hong Kong’s security chief Chris Tang has said.
Speaking on Tuesday, Tang said Hong Kong had completed its constitutional responsibility of passing the city’s homegrown national security in March, as stated in Article 23 of the Basic Law. But he warned people not to “let their guard down,” saying there were still risks to national security.
Tang added that the government would continue to promote awareness of national security, for example through setting up a national security gallery. In April, Tang said authorities were planning to install a national security exhibition at the Hong Kong Museum of History.
The security chief’s speech was made at an awards ceremony for a competition organised by pro-establishment groups Hong Kong United Foundation and the Friends of Hong Kong Association.
The two groups had held an online contest over the past months inviting people to take part in quizzes testing their knowledge on topics such as One Country, Two Systems, national security cases, and the city’s national security laws.
The competition boasted prizes such as round-trip flight tickets to Yunnan province in mainland China, Apple watches and HK$5,000 cash coupons. Tang said the competition attracted over 210,000 participants.
Former chief executive Leung Chun-ying, who also attended the ceremony, said that everyone should serve as “guardians” of national security as the society and economy can only develop if Hong Kong is safe and peaceful.
National security education
National security education was among the focuses of Chief Executive John Lee’s Policy Address last October, in which he said authorities aimed to raise awareness about the importance of safeguarding national security.
He said authorities planned to set up an exhibition to promote national security education, but did not give details. Government sources said it was hoped the exhibition can attract at least 100,000 visitors yearly.
Separately, Lee said in his Policy Address that the government would open two museums, one to showcase China’s “development and achievements,” and another on the War of Resistance – the name China uses to refer to the Sino-Japanese war during World War 2.
Apart from the exhibition, Tang said the government was planning to train 2,600 tutors in the community to promote national security, another measure mentioned in Lee’s Policy Address last year. Each tutor will educate around 30 people, he added.
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