Hong Kong – CSB organises seminars on “Understanding the Constitutional Order and Safeguarding National Security” (with photos)

     The Civil Service Bureau (CSB) is running a series of seminars for directorate and senior civil servants under the theme of “Understanding the Constitutional Order and Safeguarding National Security”. The first seminar took place today (July 9) at the Central Government Offices.
 
     The seminar today covered the topic of “The Constitution of the People’s Republic of China and the Basic Law”, with talks delivered by the Vice-Chairperson of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Basic Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPCSC), Ms Maria Tam, and Professor at the University of Hong Kong Faculty of Law and member of the HKSAR Basic Law Committee, Professor Albert Chen. The seminar was attended by around 400 civil servants in the directorate and senior ranks. In view of the enthusiastic response to the seminar and the large number of participants, some participants took part in the seminar through simulcast at the Central Library.

     Addressing the seminar, the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, said: “The NPCSC promulgated the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR (NSL) for implementation in Hong Kong in late June last year. Moreover, the NPCSC approved amendments to Annex I and Annex II to the Basic Law this March to improve the electoral system, putting into practice the principle of ‘patriots administering Hong Kong’, and the relevant local legislative exercise has recently been completed. In view of the above developments, it is all the more important for civil servants, as the backbone of the HKSAR Government, to understand accurately the constitutional order established under the Constitution of our country and the Basic Law.”
 
    The second and the third seminars of the series will be held in August and September respectively, with contents covering implementation of “one country, two systems” and the Basic Law, improvements to the electoral system, as well as the significance of safeguarding national security and the NSL. Speakers include Ms Maria Tam, Ms Elsie Leung and Mr Johnny Mok, SC.