This is the 1694th issue of "Hong Kong in a Day"
Deng Bingqiang: There is no "finished date" for safeguarding national security
In March this year, the legislation of Article 23 of the Hong Kong Basic Law was successfully completed. The Secretary for Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Tang Bingqiang, said in a radio program today (6th) that some people in the international community believe that Hong Kong is no longer the original Hong Kong. This is absolutely incorrect. This is the Hong Kong that external forces are trying to portray. In fact, it is not In this way, the new crimes introduced will only target a very small number of people who try to endanger national security. Business people doing business in Hong Kong need not worry. The legislation will only protect their interests and will not affect business.
It is worth mentioning that April 15th will usher in the ninth National Security Education Day. In response to the first National Security Education Day after the completion of Article 23 legislation, Deng Bingqiang recently said in an interview with Shenzhen TV Direct News Hong Kong reporter Qiu Qianyi that there is no "finished date" for safeguarding national security, and the Hong Kong SAR government will pay close attention to changes in the situation. And carry out corresponding activities to safeguard national security according to various situations.
Tang Bingqiang introduced that during the public consultation on the legislation of Article 23 of the Basic Law, 98.6% of citizens expressed support for the legislation, which means that the overall national security awareness of Hong Kong citizens has been improved. This is in line with the national security awareness for all people that Hong Kong has continued to promote in recent years. Education is closely related.
Tang Bingqiang revealed that during this year’s National Security Education Day, Hong Kong’s six disciplinary forces and two other auxiliary forces will hold open day activities respectively. Among them, the Hong Kong SAR Government Flying Service will participate in the open day for the first time on the 13th of this month, and the public can observe it up close at the Kai Tak Center. In addition, the "Hong Kong Academies National Security Knowledge Challenge" involving more than 100,000 students from more than 580 schools will hold its finals on the 15th of this month.
Deng Bingqiang believes that there is no "finished date" for safeguarding national security. National security risks will continue to change over time and face different challenges. The Hong Kong SAR government will pay close attention to the current situation and carry out different activities according to the situation. For example, in the early stages of the implementation of the Article 23 legislation, the Department of Justice and the Security Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR Government did a lot of promotion and explanation work, including explaining it in the media and industry associations, hoping that the law would be popularized in Hong Kong society. Deng Bingqiang said that how to explain to the outside world will be one of the future tasks.
"We carry out interpretation work through our foreign economic and trade offices. In addition, we also cooperate with foreign consuls and foreign chambers of commerce in Hong Kong to promote our work. At the same time, we also very much hope to attract more friends to Hong Kong , whether they are business people or people from other financial and professional circles, let them come to Hong Kong and see it for themselves to understand the real situation in Hong Kong - Hong Kong is indeed a free, open and safe place, not what some outsiders describe In addition, we also hope to tell the story of Hong Kong well through our official visits or external visits from all walks of life.
Ho Pui-shan: Regular training will be provided to Hong Kong Customs personnel on techniques that endanger national security.
Hong Kong Customs Commissioner Ho Pui-shan said today (6th) that after the "Maintenance of National Security Ordinance" came into effect, the Hong Kong Customs Regulations were also revised accordingly to allow frontline personnel to be more accurate. Effectively prevent and prevent items endangering national security from flowing into Hong Kong. She said that the Hong Kong Customs will update its internal guidelines so that frontline personnel can better understand the contents. At the same time, the new regulations will also clearly clarify the responsibilities of Hong Kong public servants in safeguarding national security. The Hong Kong Customs will cooperate and provide feasible and timely actions to fulfill their responsibilities. Therefore, Hong Kong Customs will also revise internal guidelines and strengthen training to enable frontline personnel to better understand the requirements of the new law for their work in safeguarding national security.
Ho Peishan said that if Hong Kong Customs finds suspicious publications when inspecting passengers' belongings, and has reasonable suspicion that there may be seditious intentions, and the passengers have no reasonable excuse, they will notify the police and take action if necessary.When asked whether she would formulate a "soft confrontation" or a list of banned books, she emphasized that there is no specific definition of "soft confrontation" at present. Hong Kong Customs will provide regular internal training to remind frontline personnel of things that may endanger national security. Techniques to enhance their awareness and alertness.
There is a long queue of tourists at a popular camera store in Hong Kong. Tourists: Many people share it and buy here with confidence.
The three-day Qingming Festival holiday ends today (6th). According to Hong Kong media reports, about 300,000 mainland tourists visited Hong Kong in the past two days, and more than 150,000 people visited Hong Kong on the first day of the holiday, three times the number in the same period last year. Reports pointed out that during the Tomb Sweeping Day holiday, some Hong Kong merchants transformed in response to changes in tourism patterns, seizing the opportunity and attracting an influx of people; others stuck to their old ways and were gradually marginalized. Some Hong Kong economists said that only by grasping the uniqueness of goods can we seize business opportunities and develop.
According to reports, during the Tomb Sweeping Day holiday, in addition to traditional tourist areas such as Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay, many tourists appeared in shopping malls selling trendy cameras in Mong Kok. The queue of people waiting to enter the store to buy cameras stretched for two floors, and it took two days to wait in line to enter the store. Hour. There were also long queues at bakeries selling pudding buns. Although cameras and boudin bags of the same model are also sold in other stores in the same district at similar prices, the business has not been booming.
Some tourists at the scene said that they would choose to patronize stores with high exposure on online platforms. "Depending on the number of people in front, it may take another hour." Mr. Sun, a tourist from Shenzhen to Hong Kong, said that he had been queuing for an hour and a half at Star City in Mongkok, waiting to enter a photography equipment store to shop. Instant cameras and digital "point-and-shoot cameras" sparked a craze earlier, with many tourists rushing to Hong Kong to buy them. Recently, micro SLR cameras have become popular again. Many tourists followed the recommendations of social media platforms and flocked to Mong Kok, which sells photographic equipment. Interstellar city.
According to Hong Kong media reports, the store where Mr. Sun queued up was particularly busy, with a long line of people stretching from the store door to the back stairs and all the way to the stairwell on the first floor downstairs. "In fact, the prices in some similar stores are similar, but I saw many people sharing this place online, so I feel more comfortable buying here." A tourist said.
reported that there are some time-honored photographic equipment stores about a five-minute walk from Star City. There are many tourists passing by, but only a few customers enter the store to buy cameras. The clerk said that business in recent years has been different from the past, mainly due to the trend of online shopping and changes in tourist patterns. The
report also said that the same situation also occurred in a bakery in Yau Ma Tei famous for its pudding buns. Many tourists visit here because of its high exposure on social media platforms, and some netizens even described it as "the best pudding buns in Hong Kong". Many shops in the same district also sell puden buns. They can be found in tea restaurants and bakeries. The prices are about the same, but there are no queues.
He Luosheng, director of the Pan Sutong Shanghai-Hong Kong Economic Policy Institute at Lingnan University in Hong Kong, said that currently the tourists to Hong Kong are mainly mainland tourists. Many tourists learn information and prepare their itineraries through social media, and social media has its own eye-catching and experiential content. Attributes such as opinions can bring business opportunities. He suggested that merchants should actively study the information channels of different tourist groups and promote their own product characteristics to seize opportunities.
Mak Cui-cai, associate professor at Hong Kong Baptist University, said that there have been "returning red products" such as instant cameras and digital "point-and-shoot cameras" before, and social media has also made some popular stores popular from time to time. He said that whether the influence of social media can be used to promote the emergence of trendy products is related to the calculation mechanism of social media and the human factors behind it, and there is some randomness. But for businesses, if they want to seize the opportunity, they should grasp the uniqueness of the product. Whether it is innovation or nostalgia, the key is "I have what others don't have."
Hong Kong’s first regular maritime fireworks show will be held on Labor Day evening
The Hong Kong Tourism Board announced today (6th) that starting from May, it will regularly launch maritime fireworks or drone shows in conjunction with festivals or large-scale events.Among them, the first maritime fireworks show will be launched on the evening of May 1st, kicking off the "May Day Golden Week"; the first drone show will embellish the night sky of Victoria Harbor on May 11th, and will coincide with the Buddha's Birthday and Traditional Hong Kong festivals such as the Tai Ping Qing Jiao Festival add to the festive atmosphere.
According to reports, regularly holding maritime fireworks or drone shows is a measure proposed by Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po of the Hong Kong SAR government in the 2024-2025 budget, aiming to brand Hong Kong as a preferred destination for business and tourism. The HKTB stated that in addition to adopting different themes and designs during festivals or large-scale events, fireworks and drone performances at sea will also be carried out in conjunction with the "Symphony of Lights" light and music show, adding dual visual effects to enhance the appeal and enhance the Victoria Harbour. Its unique charm attracts tourists and citizens to stay and watch in Hong Kong.
In addition, in order to attract tourists to plan their itineraries to Hong Kong during the "May Day Golden Week" in advance, the HKTB has also launched promotions for the mainland market, such as strengthening the promotion of Xi'an and Qingdao, two new "free travel" cities to Hong Kong. Attract tourists to experience Hong Kong.
Cheng Dingyi, Director-General of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, said that the "May Day Golden Week" is the peak travel season for mainland tourists, and Hong Kong will hold a series of grand events in May this year. The HKTB will seize the opportunity to focus on presenting maritime fireworks or fireworks with different themes. The drone show is the icing on the cake for tourists visiting Hong Kong, attracting local Hong Kong citizens to watch it together, and encouraging the industry to take advantage of the show to launch more tourism products and consumer discounts, thereby stimulating consumption and creating greater tourism benefits.
Author | Lai Chenlu, chief writer of Shenzhen TV Direct News
