Guidelines to help govt staff uphold national security

RTHK：Video News

Secretary for Security Chris Tang said a set of guidelines will be introduced in the first quarter of this year, allowing public officers to better understand their responsibilities on safeguarding national security. Last year's Policy Address stated that all government bureaux and departments must review guidelines to ensure compliance with provisions in the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. Speaking on RTHK's Overview Policy programme, Tang said the guidelines would provide clear explanations on 20 categories of national security and how they relate to officers' work. "Public officers not only have to make considerations of national security at work, but they also have to be proactive," he said. "Some of them don't fully understand that, so we will introduce a set of guidelines in the first quarter of 2025, using plain language and examples, instead of legal terms, to make explanations." An example cited by Tang is how government procurement may be affected by foreign sanctions. On a cross-border emergency-response mechanism established last year strengthening collaboration between Hong Kong and other Greater Bay Area cities, the security minister said up to two large-scale drills are held every year, while small-scale ones take place more frequently.