BUILDING DISASTER RESILIENCE OF
HONG KONG
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The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today said it strongly condemned malicious attacks, smears and slanders by external forces following the sentencing of defendants in the “Hong Kong Alliance” subversion incitement case. In a statement, the Hong Kong SAR Government expressed strong dissatisfaction with various western countries, anti-China media, overseas organisations, politicians and others for making such attacks. It said certain individuals had exploited national security cases to fabricate lies and scaremongering remarks and to launch attacks against the rule of law, human rights and other aspects of the Hong Kong SAR. It urged them to recognise objective facts and stop making despicable, politically motivated attacks. The Hong Kong SAR Government reiterated that, as it has stressed on multiple occasions, human rights in Hong Kong are robustly guaranteed both by the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China and the Basic Law. Specifically, Article 4 of the Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL) and Section 2 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance clearly stipulate that human rights shall be respected and protected in the process of safeguarding national security in the Hong Kong SAR; and that the rights and freedoms Hong Kong residents enjoy under the Basic Law, and under the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social & Cultural Rights as applied to Hong Kong, shall be protected in accordance with the law. The Hong Kong SAR Government added, however, that – as in other places in the world – such rights and freedoms are not absolute. The ICCPR expressly states that certain rights and freedoms, including freedom of speech, may be subject to restrictions, as prescribed by law, that are necessary for the protection of national security, public safety and public order, or the rights and freedoms of others. The statement outlined that in recent years, western countries have continuously generalised the concept of national security, intimidating individuals and enterprises engaged in legitimate activities, and suppressing dissidents. It said western governments and politicians have failed to reflect on their own actions, and that their institutions and media have turned a blind eye. External forces, it added, have adopted double standard in attacking the Hong Kong SAR for fulfilling its duty to safeguard national security in strict adherence with the rule of law. Highlighting that people with ulterior motives have used the “Hong Kong Alliance” case to attack “one country, two systems”, the Hong Kong SAR Government said the Hong Kong SAR is an inalienable and indisputable part of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), which always provides the strongest support to Hong Kong. It added that that “one country, two systems” has enabled Hong Kong to successfully overcome various challenges, and that the more firmly the “one country” principle is upheld, the greater the strength of “two systems”. It said national security is the cornerstone of Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability, and that safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests constitute the highest principle of “one country, two systems”. The Hong Kong SAR Government stressed that the law never allows anyone to harm their country and compatriots under the pretext of human rights, democracy and freedom. Regardless of the nature of the case, it said, the court arrived at its verdict and sentencing in strict accordance with relevant laws and evidence, fairly and impartially, free from any interference, and absolutely without any political considerations. Any suggestion that certain individuals or organisations should be immune from the legal consequences of their illegal acts is no different from advocating a special privilege to break the law, it added. Moreover, it emphasised that no country’s constitution would allow citizens to subvert the constitutional order and fundamental system of the country established by the Constitution. As stated in the court’s reasoning, the Constitution is the “fundamental law” above any other laws of the state and “has supreme legal authority”. The Constitution is also the constitution of the Hong Kong SAR and the foundation for its laws. The Constitution and the Basic Law jointly establish the constitutional order of the Hong Kong SAR. The basic and core components of the Constitution, such as those relating to constitutional order, national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, all apply to the Hong Kong SAR. “Leadership by the Communist Party of China (CPC)”, outlined in the Constitution, is the core of the “fundamental system” it establishes. Under the Constitution, overthrowing or undermining the leadership status of the CPC is tantamount to overthrowing or undermining the “fundamental system” of the PRC to which Article 22 of the HKNSL refers. The Hong Kong SAR Government also outlined that incitement to subversion is an extremely serious offence. It said the conviction and sentencing in this case fully reflect the criminal responsibilities of the defendants and serve a strong deterrent effect. The court’s reasons for its verdict give full details of the legal principles involved, the evidence admitted, and the considerations involved in the convictions. As regards the length of the sentences for individual defendants, the court’s reasons for these are clearly set out in its considerations for sentencing, including various reasons for determining that the case involves “an offense of a serious nature”. The court said the defendants had shown hostility towards the CPC and the central government, and resisted the latter and refused to make any compromise. It said that after the implementation of the HKNSL, the defendants refused to pull back from the brink and were bent on embracing resistance to the very end, even though they knew that what they had said and done might have already gone beyond the scope of lawful freedom of expression. The court added that the defendants intended to cause others to lose confidence in the CPC by stirring up hostility and causing division, thereby undermining the fundamental system of the PRC. The court also emphasised that the HKNSL had no retrospective effect and that the defendants were put on trial not because of their political ideology or their conduct before the HKNSL. It said they were convicted solely on the basis that they had committed acts prohibited under the HKNSL after the law came into effect. The Hong Kong SAR Government said this case and other recent court rulings on various cases in connection with offences endangering national security serve as solid evidence that the HKNSL and other relevant laws for safeguarding national security are capable of preventing, suppressing and punishing all offences endangering national security. Without this strong legal barrier against criminals, it added, Hong Kong and China will suffer significant harms, carrying unimaginable consequences. The statement added that it is the common obligation of all the people of China, including Hong Kong compatriots, to safeguard the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the PRC. It said Hong Kong is a society underpinned by the rule of law, is committed to ensuring that laws are observed and strictly enforced, and will spare no effort in preventing, suppressing and punishing acts and activities that endanger national security.
At
7 p.m.
at the Hong Kong Observatory :
Air temperature : 28 degrees Celsius
Relative Humidity : 80 per cent
The air temperatures at other places were:
Hong Kong Observatory28 degrees ;
King's Park27 degrees ;
Wong Chuk Hang28 degrees ;
Ta Kwu Ling26 degrees ;
Lau Fau Shan27 degrees ;
Tai Po27 degrees ;
Sha Tin27 degrees ;
Tuen Mun29 degrees ;
Tseung Kwan O28 degrees ;
Sai Kung28 degrees ;
Cheung Chau27 degrees ;
Chek Lap Kok28 degrees ;
Tsing Yi27 degrees ;
Shek Kong27 degrees ;
Tsuen Wan Ho Koon26 degrees ;
Tsuen Wan Shing Mun Valley27 degrees ;
Hong Kong Park27 degrees ;
Shau Kei Wan28 degrees ;
Kowloon City26 degrees ;
Happy Valley28 degrees ;
Wong Tai Sin26 degrees ;
Stanley28 degrees ;
Kwun Tong27 degrees ;
Sham Shui Po27 degrees ;
Kai Tak Runway Park28 degrees ;
Yuen Long Park28 degrees ;
Tai Mei Tuk25 degrees .
Between 5:45 and 6:45 p.m., the rainfall recorded in various regions were:
Wong Tai Sin1 mm;
Islands District0 to 1 mm;
Kwun Tong0 to 1 mm;
North District0 to 1 mm;
Wan Chai0 to 1 mm;
Yuen Long0 to 1 mm.
Here is the information on Tropical Depression at 4 p.m.:
Location: 16.1 degrees north, 109.9 degrees east.
Communicable Diseases Watch Volume 22, Number 8, Weeks 31 - 34 (July 26 – August 22, 2026)
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