HKSAR Government Hosts Seminar to Commemorate 10th Constitution Day Anniversary on December 4

2024 Constitution Day Seminar

To enable the community to have a better understanding of the Constitution, the Basic Law, national security-related legislation, and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)'s constitutional basis and order as laid down by the Constitution and the Basic Law, the HKSAR Government and the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR will jointly hold a seminar on Constitution Day tomorrow (December 4), with the Endeavour Education Centre as the supporting organisation.

On November 1, 2014, the Standing Committee of the 12th National People's Congress (NPC) decided to designate December 4 of each year as Constitution Day and conduct promotion of and education activities on the Constitution through multiple channels to heighten public awareness of the Constitution, promote the spirit of and enhance the implementation of the Constitution, and advance the overall law-based governance of the country. This year's December 4 marks the 10th anniversary of Constitution Day.

In order to thoroughly implement the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Resolution of the CPC Central Committee on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernization, this year's Seminar will be conducted on the theme of "The Constitution and Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively". The seminar will feature a keynote speech and a panel discussion. The keynote speech will be delivered by Professor Mo Jihong, who is the Member of the Academy of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Director of the Institute of Law of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Dean of the School of Law of the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and Executive Vice-President of the Association of Constitutional Law of the China Law Society. The panel discussion will be moderated by member of the Management Committee of the Endeavour Education Centre Miss Elsie Leung. Together with Hong Kong member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and non-official member of the Executive Council and member of the Legislative Council, Mr Martin Liao, and member of the HKSAR Basic Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the NPC, Dr William Wong, SC, they will explore the vital functions of the Constitution in the process of further deepening reform comprehensively and promoting Chinese modernisation, as well as Hong Kong's integral roles in this regard.

The Seminar will be held in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 11am to 12.30pm tomorrow and broadcast live simultaneously. Members of the public can view it on the website of the Information Services Department (webcast.info.gov.hk), the news.gov.hk's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/govnews.hk) or the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau (CMAB)'s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/cmab.gov.hk). Radio Television Hong Kong TV 32 will also broadcast the Seminar live. Moreover, the full version of the Seminar will be uploaded to the website of the CMAB (www.cmab.gov.hk/en/home/index.htm).

A Government spokesman said that the Constitution, the Basic Law, and the national security-related legislation are not only crucial to the steady progress of the "one country, two systems" principle, but are also vital to the social, economic and livelihood development of the HKSAR, as well as the daily life of the public. Therefore, the public is urged to watch the seminar enthusiastically in order to gain a better understanding of the situation. For other information about Constitution Day, please visit its dedicated webpage (www.cmab.gov.hk/en/issues/constitution_day.htm).

HKSARG responds to reauthorization of the so-called Sanctions Provisions under HKHRDA incorporated in National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025

​The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today (December 26) strongly disapproves of and firmly rejects US' reauthorization of the so-called Sanctions Provisions under the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act (HKHRDA) incorporated in National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025.

A spokesman for the Government said, "In accordance with international law and international practice based on the Charter of the United Nations, it is each and every sovereign state's inherent right to enact laws safeguarding national security, and it is also an international practice. With at least 21 pieces of laws safeguarding national security, the US has exposed its double standards by pointing the finger at the HKSAR's legal system and enforcement mechanism to safeguard national security."

"The Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL) and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO) also clearly stipulate that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security in the HKSAR. The offences endangering national security stipulated by the related Ordinance target acts endangering national security with precision, and define the elements and penalties of the offences with clarity, aiming at addressing, combating, deterring and preventing acts and activities of endangering national security. It targets only an extremely small minority of people without affecting the basic rights and freedoms lawfully enjoyed by Hong Kong residents."

He said, "The US openly clamour for so-called 'sanctions' with an aim to intimidate HKSAR officials who resolutely safeguard national security. The HKSAR Government strongly condemns its political grandstanding rife with ill intentions, which have been seen through by all. The HKSAR despises the so-called 'sanctions' and will not be intimidated by such a despicable behaviour. The HKSAR will resolutely continue to discharge the duty of safeguarding national security."

The HKSAR Government has been enforcing the sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) fully and vigorously to fulfil our international obligations. We have long been maintaining an effective mechanism for implementing the resolutions of the UNSC. That includes denying entry of vessels designated by the UNSC as well as suspicious vessels, keeping a close watch on and inspecting suspicious Hong Kong-based companies to prevent them from participating in activities evading UNSC sanctions. At the same time, the HKSAR Government has been implementing a comprehensive and robust control regime over the import and export of strategic commodities and maintaining active participation in the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Arms Trade Treaty through the Central People's Government. The effectiveness of our work has been well respected and recognised by our trading partners and internationally.

The US has substantial economic interest in Hong Kong. Over the past decade, it registered a trade surplus of about US$270 billion with Hong Kong. Currently, some 1 390 US companies operate in Hong Kong. If the US insists on its acts, it will ultimately undermine the mutually beneficial relations between Hong Kong and the US, harming the interests of the US and its companies.

The spokesman reiterated that foreign governments and legislatures should not interfere in any form in the internal affairs of the HKSAR.