The Force is dedicated to safeguarding national security. With the implementation of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (NSL), 'Safeguarding National Security' has been incorporated into the Force's Strategic Directions 2022-2024 and the Commissioner's Operational Priorities.
Combatting Acts Endangering National Security
The National Security Department (NSD) is the department of the Force that safeguards national security, enforces the NSL and assists the Force in work related to safeguarding national security. During the year, the NSD continued to combat crimes that involved endangering national security, by partnering with other disciplined services, government departments and relevant stakeholders. As of December 31, 2022, the NSD had arrested 236 people who allegedly engaged in acts and activities endangering national security since the NSL came into force on June 30, 2020.
National Security Reporting Hotline
To help members of the public provide information or report cases related to national security, the NSD launched the official National Security Department WeChat account on August 1, 2022, as an additional communication platform to the National Security Department Reporting Hotline, introduced on November 5, 2020. As at end-2022, the NSD had received more than 380,000 pieces of information, all of which were pivotal to the work of safeguarding national security.
National Security, A Mission We Share
Safeguarding national security is the mission of each and every police officer. In addition to doing the utmost to enforce the NSL, the NSD also actively strengthens internal publicity and education on the Constitution of the People's Republic of China, the Basic Law and the NSL to enhance awareness and a sense of mission among police officers in safeguarding national security.
Members of the Force learned about the Constitution, the Basic Law and the NSL through an NSmart Quiz that provided display panels set up by the NSD between December 2021 and March 2022. The activity was rolled out in all six police regions throughout the territory, covering 65 designated police premises, and attracted a total attendance of more than 50,000.
The first stage of the NSmart Quiz helped officers at all six police regions, covering 65 police premises, understand the Constitution, the Basic Law and the NSL. The NSmart Quiz was set up across the territory during the second stage to reach a broader audience.
In January, the NSD set up the 'NS Express National Security Exhibition' on the ground floor of the New Teaching Block at the School of Foundation Training of the Hong Kong Police College to help new recruits understand the Force's important mission of safeguarding national security. The exhibition featured a replica of a train compartment of the High Speed Rail and a platform, symbolising that national security, like the High Speed Rail, connects the Mainland with Hong Kong and relates closely to people's daily lives.
From June 2021 to March 2022, the NSD published a column entitled 'NS Knowledge' in 20 issues of OffBeat, discussing the holistic view of national security, the concept of national security, the development of China and the Belt and Road Initiative. The NSD also uploaded 16 short videos to the Force's internal video platform P-TV starting the National Security Education Day on April 15, 2022, to give a simple but in-depth introduction to the 16 major areas under the holistic view of national security.
A special 16-episode video series, unveiled on National Security Education Day, introduced the major areas under the holistic view of national security.
National Security Starts With Me
The NSD has been actively promoting public awareness of safeguarding national security, and maintaining close communication and co-operation with stakeholders to garner the society's confidence and support.
To mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR and the second anniversary of the establishment of the NSD, the NSD launched its official WeChat account on August 1. This new account provides a reporting function for members of the public to provide information or report cases related to national security directly via the dialogue box of the account. It is hoped that the information disseminated on the WeChat account will raise public awareness of safeguarding national security.
The Police Museum on the Peak was reopened in September after revitalisation. Among the galleries, the exhibition in the Thematic Gallery featured the 'HKSAR 25th Anniversary Celebrations and National Security' with the theme, 'National Security Starts With Me', to enhance the public's understanding of national security. The exhibition used a Ferris wheel to reflect the exhibition theme and portray a sense of joy and happiness while conveying the symbolic message that national security would enable a stable and prosperous society and a peaceful and fulfilling life for people.
The revitalised Police Museum presented 'HKSAR 25th Anniversary Celebrations and National Security' as its opening exhibition.
Since the third quarter of 2022, the NSD has been holding activities across Hong Kong to promote national security. The efforts included extending the NSmart Quiz to public venues to boost wider understanding of the Constitution, the Basic Law and the NSL. These are interesting and interactive experiences that seek to increase public awareness of the inseparable link between national security and daily life, thereby driving home the message, 'National Security Starts With Me'.