17 Apr 2023獨媒#6319
Nearly Three Years After Implementation, Pro-establishment Poll Finds Only 60% Clear About National Security Law; National Security Department Urged to Produce TV Drama for Publicity
國安法實施近三年，親建制團體民調顯示，八成人認為香港國安狀況改善，惟只有六成人清楚《國安法》內容。立法會議員陳恒鑌表示，美國政府出動不少荷里活電影宣傳國安，「譬如占士邦007，其實都係佢國家安全嘅宣傳。」青研香港召集人陳志豪建議，國安處與本地電視台合拍電視劇，期望令國安教育更「入屋」。
Nearly three years after the National Security Law came into effect, a poll by a pro-establishment group found that 80% believed Hong Kong’s national security situation had improved, but only 60% were clear about the contents of the National Security Law. Legislative Council member Chan Han-pan said the US government had used numerous Hollywood films to promote national security: “For example, James Bond 007 is actually propaganda for its country’s national security.” Chan Chi-ho, convener of Youth Research Hong Kong, suggested that the National Security Department co-produce a television drama with local television stations, in the hope of making national security education more accessible.
16 Apr 2023獨媒#6309
Xia Baolong Visits Legislative Council; Andrew Leung Says He Is Satisfied with Its Work
國務院港澳辦主任夏寶龍今日進行第4日考察行程。他今早到立法會與議員會面及參觀立法會，討論行政立法關係等，逗留逾3小時離開。立法會主席梁君彥會後見記者時表示，夏寶龍滿意是屆立法會工作，鼓勵議員在行政主導下繼續做好工作。
Director of the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office Xia Baolong began the fourth day of his visit today. He met legislators and toured the Legislative Council this morning, discussing executive-legislative relations and other matters, and left after staying for more than three hours. Legislative Council President Andrew Leung said at a press conference after the meeting that Xia was satisfied with the work of the current Legislative Council and encouraged legislators to continue doing their work under an executive-led system.
16 Apr 2023明報#6310
Xia Baolong: Rallies Are Not the Only Way to Voice Demands; Livelihood Issues Easily Hijacked; Hopes Hong Kong Will Race Horses, Dance and Trade Stocks Every Day
到港考察的港澳辦主任夏寶龍昨早到灣仔會展出席「全民國家安全教育日」開幕禮暨主題講座，提到維護國家安全無「局外人」，屬義不容辭責任與義務，每個居民應自覺參與。他特別寄語6類人（見表1），當中提到「全體居民」時，他說維護國安與表達利益訴求不矛盾，而表達渠道和方式各種各樣，強調「遊行不是表達利益訴求的唯一方式」，環保民生等訴求很易被騎劫，認為本港應形成包容共濟、求同存異、理性溝通的濃厚氛圍。他又說希望香港「天天辦會展、搞創科、拼經濟，跑馬、跳舞、炒股、搵大錢」。
Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, attended the opening ceremony and themed seminar for National Security Education Day for All at the Wan Chai Convention and Exhibition Centre yesterday morning during his inspection visit to Hong Kong. He said there were no “outsiders” in safeguarding national security, which was an unavoidable responsibility and duty, and that every resident should participate voluntarily. He delivered messages to six categories of people in particular (see Table 1). Addressing “all residents”, he said safeguarding national security was not inconsistent with expressing interests and demands, and that there were various channels and ways of doing so. He stressed that “rallies are not the only way to express interests and demands”, saying that demands concerning environmental protection and people’s livelihoods could easily be hijacked. He said Hong Kong should foster a strong atmosphere of inclusiveness and mutual assistance, seeking common ground while preserving differences, and rational communication. He also said he hoped Hong Kong would “hold exhibitions and conventions, develop innovation and technology, strive to boost the economy, race horses, dance, trade stocks and make big money every day”.
14 Apr 2023獨媒#6301
95% of Top Talent Pass applicants from mainland, but only 15% of approved applicants have entered
政府推出「高端人才通行證」計劃「搶人才」，勞工及福利局局長孫玉菡昨在《大公報》撰文稱讚計劃大受歡迎。勞福局昨向立法會特別財委會提交書面答覆，詳述高才通數字，截至2月底共批出8,797宗申請，但暫時僅15.9%獲批者入境。獲批的「高才」，近95%來自內地，即8,325人，排第二的加拿大僅97人，僅1.1%。上月開始，入境處要求申請人提供職業類別。
The Government launched the Top Talent Pass Scheme to attract talent. In an article published in Ta Kung Pao yesterday, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Sun Yuk-han praised the scheme as highly popular. The Labour and Welfare Bureau yesterday submitted a written reply to the Legislative Council’s special Finance Committee detailing figures for the scheme. As of the end of February, 8,797 applications had been approved, but only 15.9% of those approved had so far entered Hong Kong. Nearly 95% of the approved Top Talent Pass applicants were from the mainland, numbering 8,325 people. Canada ranked second, with only 97 people, or 1.1%. Since last month, the Immigration Department has required applicants to provide their occupational category.
14 Apr 2023光傳媒#6303
Hong Kong Government Distributes 60,000 National Security Picture Books; Primary Pupils Act as “National Security Teachers” for Kindergarten Children
香港明日（15日）舉行「國家安全教育日」，民政事務總署早前撥款16.6萬元，「培訓」20多間小學的學生學習多本國安教育繪本，明天這批「國安小老師」將在大型分享會，為11間幼稚園學生講述國安故事。前「教育野」發言人鄭家朗向《光傳媒》指，「國安小老師」讓學生潛意識認為，接受國安教育後就可以成為老師般有權力的角色。
Hong Kong will hold National Security Education Day tomorrow (15th). The Home Affairs Department earlier allocated HK$166,000 to “train” pupils from more than 20 primary schools to learn from a number of national security education picture books. Tomorrow, these “national security teachers” will tell national security stories to pupils from 11 kindergartens at a large sharing session. Cheng Ka-long, a former spokesperson for “Education Wild”, told Light Media that the “national security teachers” scheme leads pupils subconsciously to believe that, after receiving national security education, they can take on a role with authority like that of a teacher.
13 Apr 2023獨媒#6292
Basic Law app ranks last among government apps with only 9,400 downloads
政府回覆《財政預算案》議員質詢時，透露近5年部門推出應用程式的相關資料，下載次數排第一的是「我的天文台」，達970萬次；疫情期間成為「日常」的「安心出行」緊隨其後，下載量錄得950萬次。至於政制及內地事務局推出的「"悅"讀基本法」則成「包尾第一」，推出一年半以來只得9,400次下載量。
In its reply to lawmakers’ questions on the Budget, the Government disclosed data on applications launched by departments over the past five years. “MyObservatory” ranked first with 9.7 million downloads, followed by “LeaveHomeSafe”, which became part of daily life during the pandemic, with 9.5 million downloads. The ““Joyful” Basic Law Reading” app launched by the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau ranked last, recording only 9,400 downloads in the year and a half since its launch.
13 Apr 2023Yahoo#6293
“Hong Kong Water Splashing Festival” Page Removed; HKTB: It Will Be Taken Down Once the Programme Ends
警方昨日以涉嫌「公眾地方內擾亂秩序行為」拘捕兩名分別 25 歲及 26 歲男子，指他們在本月 9 日的「九龍城潑水節」中，持續以水槍針對現場維持治安的警務人員，以及其他參與人士。另一邊廂，香港旅遊發展局在網站曾經介紹「香港潑水節 2023」活動，不過最新情況是網站指該頁面「並不存在」 。
旅發局回覆《Yahoo 新聞》，指網站內「活動年曆」中介紹的節目資料，一般都會在節目完結後更新或移走，並為市民及旅客提供最新資訊。
Police yesterday arrested two men, aged 25 and 26 respectively, on suspicion of “disorderly conduct in a public place”, alleging that during the “Kowloon City Water Splashing Festival” on the 9th of this month, they repeatedly aimed water guns at police officers maintaining order at the scene and other participants. Separately, the Hong Kong Tourism Board had previously featured the “Hong Kong Water Splashing Festival 2023” on its website, but the page now states that it “does not exist”.
The HKTB told Yahoo News that programme information featured in the website’s “Event Calendar” is generally updated or removed after the programme ends, in order to provide the public and visitors with the latest information.
13 Apr 2023ReNews#6294
Government Plans Law Amendment to Restrict Overseas Lawyers’ Participation in National Security Cases; Consultation Period Only Seven Days
政府計劃修訂《法律執業者條例》，限制海外律師參與國安法案件，相關修例正在立法會審議，法案委員會早前決定，以書面形式諮詢公眾，但諮詢期只有七日，而且諮詢期橫跨清明節公眾假期、以及星期六日，換言之諮詢期僅四個工作天，最終收到六份意見書，交意見的全部不是一般公眾。
The Government plans to amend the Legal Practitioners Ordinance to restrict overseas lawyers from participating in cases under the national security law. The proposed amendment is being considered by the Legislative Council. The Bills Committee earlier decided to consult the public in writing, but the consultation period lasted only seven days and spanned the Ching Ming Festival public holiday and the Saturday-Sunday weekend. In other words, there were only four working days for the consultation, which ultimately received six submissions, none of them from members of the general public.
13 Apr 2023獨媒#6296
Sun Yuk-han: Top Talent Pass Scheme Receives Over 20,000 Applications, 12,000 Approved; 8,300 Dependants Also Set to Come to Hong Kong
本港「搶人才」措施見效，勞工及福利局局長孫玉菡在報章撰文，指高端人才通行證計劃的受歡迎程度遠超預期，截至今年3月底已收到超過2萬宗申請，當中1.2萬宗獲批，並有逾9,200人已領取簽證，準備半年內赴港或已經來港。另外，港府至今批出的受養人簽證約有8,300個，孫玉菡指，申請人的家人亦會成為社會一分子，貢獻香港。
Hong Kong’s talent-attraction measures are proving effective. Writing in a newspaper, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said the popularity of the Top Talent Pass Scheme had far exceeded expectations. By the end of March this year, it had received more than 20,000 applications, of which 12,000 had been approved. More than 9,200 people had obtained visas and were preparing to come to Hong Kong within six months or had already arrived. In addition, the Hong Kong Government has so far approved about 8,300 dependant visas. Sun said the applicants’ family members would also become part of society and contribute to Hong Kong.
12 Apr 2023獨媒#6281
Xia Baolong to visit Hong Kong tomorrow, calls for extensive research into new Hong Kong and Macau issues
國務院港澳辦主任夏寶龍將於明日（13日）起來港考察6日，出席全民國家安全教育日活動開幕典禮。根據港澳辦今日發出的新聞稿披露，夏寶龍已出任「中央港澳工作領導小組」常務副組長兼領導小組辦公室主任。他日前又指，要大興調查研究，充分運用黨的創新理論，研究解決港澳領域的新情況、新問題。
Xia Baolong, director of the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, will visit Hong Kong for six days from tomorrow (13th) and attend the opening ceremony of National Security Education Day activities. According to a press release issued by the office today, Xia has become executive deputy head of the Central Leading Group for Hong Kong and Macao Work and director of its office. He also said recently that extensive research should be conducted, making full use of the Party’s innovative theories to study and resolve new circumstances and problems in the Hong Kong and Macao sphere.
Translations are supplied by the source workbook. Consult the original reporting for context.
