HKSAR Government strongly condemns and opposes slanders and smears on Hong Kong by US under pretext of the so-called "national emergency"
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today (July 11) strongly condemned and opposed the government of the United States (US) for, under the pretext of the so-called "national emergency", once again overriding the rule of law with politics, politicising human rights issues, and wantonly slandering the HKSAR's resolute implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL) to prevent, suppress and impose punishment for acts and activities endangering national security in accordance with the law.
A spokesman for the HKSAR Government said, "The US has repeated its tactics and breached the international law and the basic norms underpinning international relations, and wantonly interfering with the internal affairs of the People's Republic of China and Hong Kong matters by extending again the so-called 'national emergency with respect to Hong Kong', which is a despicable political manipulation. The US has time and again made skewed remarks about Hong Kong's situation and imposed so-called 'sanctions' on Hong Kong pursuant to its domestic law, attempting to interfere with Hong Kong's law-based governance and undermine the city's rule of law as well as its prosperity and stability. The HKSAR Government strongly condemns its political grandstanding rife with ill intentions, which have been seen through by all.
"The offences endangering national security stipulated by the NSL and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO) target acts endangering national security with precision, and define the elements and penalties of the offences with clarity. The prosecution has the burden to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant had the actus reus and mens rea of an offence before the defendant may be convicted by the court. Law-abiding persons will not unwittingly violate the law. The HKSAR law enforcement agencies have been taking law enforcement actions to fight resolutely against acts and activities endangering national security based on evidence and strictly in accordance with the law.
"Since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, human rights in the city have always been robustly guaranteed constitutionally by both the Constitution and the Basic Law. The legal framework in safeguarding national security in the HKSAR is in line with relevant international human rights standards. The NSL and the SNSO clearly stipulate that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security. The rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong 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 the HKSAR are protected in accordance with the law."
The spokesman stressed, "Endangering national security is a very serious offence. No country will watch with folded arms acts and activities that endanger national security. The NSL and the SNSO act like a studier door of Hong Kong and a more effective door lock to defend our home.
"The HKSAR Government will, as always, resolutely, fully and faithfully implement the NSL, the SNSO and other relevant laws safeguarding national security in the HKSAR, to effectively prevent, suppress and impose punishment for acts and activities endangering national security in accordance with the law, whilst upholding the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong people in accordance with the law, so as to ensure the steadfast and successful implementation of the principle of 'one country, two systems'. The HKSAR Government strongly demands the US to immediately stop acting against the international law and basic norms of international relations and interfering in Hong Kong matters which are purely China's internal affairs."
HB concerned about situation of transitional housing project T-Loft@Kai Tak
Regarding water seepage in some of the units at the transitional housing project T-Loft@Kai Tak, a spokesperson for the Housing Bureau (HB) said that upon noting in early May this year that some units of the project were identified with water seepage, the HB immediately ascertained with the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGHs), architectural consultants and contractor of the project the situation. The HB noted that the TWGHs had immediately instructed the architectural consultants and contractor of the project to carry out rectifications and improvements as soon as possible, including conducting emergency inspection and repair works of the water pipes for the affected tenants. The Task Force on Transitional Housing (the Task Force) under the HB has also been closely liaising with the TWGHs to provide technical support and advice, and had meeting with the respective District Council (DC) members, TWGHs,affected tenants and architectural consultants and contractor of the project to discuss the follow-up actions.
The project contractor completed the emergency repair works for water pipes in early May this year, and inspection and rectification works for the pipes were completed between June and July for all 40 units granted entrance by the households. The contractor also arranged repair works, including replacing wall panels for affected tenants whose units were identified with water seepage. As at end July, the project contractor has completed the required rectifications for around 60 affected units granted entrance by the tenants. The TWGHs has been liaising with the remaining 20 or so households, who were unable to let maintenance staff in earlier for inspection or repairing, to arrange the date and time for entering their units, so as to carry out rectification works as soon as possible. The TWGHs targeted to complete all rectification works by September this year. It is learnt that a small number of tenants refused to let maintenance staff in for rectification works.
The Under Secretary for Housing, Mr Victor Tai, together with the TWGHs, architectural consultants and contractor of the project had a site inspection to T-Loft@Kai Tak and met with the tenants yesterday (August 26). He reiterated that the team has to carry out necessary rectifications for the affected units as soon as possible. The HB has also instructed the TWGHs to carry out comprehensive inspection for the entire project (including households and common area not affected by the incident) according to HB’s established procedures and relevant regulatory requirements. The HB will continue to follow up closely on the incident. On the other hand, the Task Force gave a detailed account of the situation and follow-up actions at the meeting of the Social Services, Housing and Development Planning Committee under the Kowloon City DC held on August 1. There are numerous projects in the territory constructed using the Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) approach with assured standard. The water seepage in this case is not related to MiC.
The spokesperson added that "the Funding Scheme to Support Transitional Housing Projects by Non-government Organisations" (the Funding Scheme) provides one-off funding for non-government organisations (NGOs) to take forward transitional housing projects. Apart from funding for the works, the Task Force also provides advice and technical support to NGOs on various aspects of the projects (including statutory requirements on building plans, transportation and fire safety, etc.). The Task Force also helps bridge NGOs and relevant departments (such as the Buildings Department, the Lands Department, the Transport Department, the Water Services Department and the Fire Services Department) and facilitate their liaison to promptly resolve various issues encountered and timely obtain relevant approvals when implementing a project. On inspection, with the support of the Task Force, the NGOs operating the transitional housing projects would engage their own professional consultant teams for the design, building control and inspection works of the projects. The inspection standards and procedures (regardless of the MiC modules, or other structures and works) must strictly comply with relevant regulations to ensure the quality of transitional housing projects are up to standard.
HB concerned about situation of transitional housing project T-Loft@Kai Tak Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
HB concerned about situation of transitional housing project T-Loft@Kai Tak Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
