kakase/hk_gov_press_release huggingface dataset:
Transcript of SCMA's remarks on District Council Ordinary Election
29.10.2019

Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, at a media stand-up session after the Legislative Council's Panel on Commerce and Industry meeting today (October 29): Reporter: There is criticism that it's political censorship for banning Joshua Wong because he said that he does not support Hong Kong's independence. What's your comment on that? Thank you. Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs: According to the Basic Law, the HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) Government respects and safeguards Hong Kong residents' right to vote and right to stand for elections. But at the same time, we have a duty to promote and implement the Basic Law and also to uphold the Basic Law, and to ensure that our elections will be conducted in accordance with the Basic Law and relevant electoral laws. In deciding the validity of a nomination, it is the duty and power of the Returning Officer to consider each and every application in accordance with the electoral laws, the relevant information and evidence collected as necessary and the legal opinion, and then make a decision. In all these cases, if a Returning Officer decides that a nomination is to be invalidated, he or she has to give the reasons for the decision. The reasons for the decision will be published and inspected by the public. For those nominees who have any questions or disagree with the decision of the Returning Officer, he or she could proceed with the election petition. So that is the established mechanism and we act in accordance with the Basic Law and also the relevant electoral laws. I think it's very clear. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Transcript of remarks by SCMA at media session on District Council Election
12.10.2019

Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, at a media session today (October 12) after attending a radio programme: Reporter: Will the government disqualify candidates who advocate "self-determination" or "independence"? For example, Joshua Wong has said that he still supports "self-determination" when he runs the election. Will he be affected or will he be disqualified? Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs: I will not comment on the circumstances of individual nomination. It's clear that the Returning Officers will follow the law to exercise their power and their responsibility to determine the validity of nominations. It's very clear that one of the requirements, which has been confirmed by the court to be a substantive requirement, is that the candidate must uphold the Basic Law and pledge allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. We know very clearly that according to the Basic Law and the "one country, two systems" principle, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is part of China. Anyone who advocates independence or "independence as a possible option" is clearly inconsistent with "one country, two systems" and the Basic Law. But I have to emphasise again that for individual nomination, the Returning Officer will consider and decide the validity of the nomination in accordance with the legislation and the information received, the relevant evidence and the court judgment. There is also a mechanism for any aggrieved party to lodge an election petition to pursue the issue. Also, if any nomination is not validated, the Returning Officer will also set out the reasons and make it public. Reporter: Will the government make use of the Emergency Regulations Ordinance to cancel the District Council Election altogether if the election couldn't be held before December 8 as scheduled? Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs: If the election cannot be held as scheduled due to scenarios such as riots, public violence or danger of public safety, there is already a mechanism under the existing law, the District Councils Ordinance, to adjourn or postpone the election. We will follow the provisions of the District Councils Ordinance to deal with these contingency situations. So there is no need and we will not use the Emergency Regulations Ordinance to adjourn or postpone the District Council Election. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Transcript of remarks by SCMA at media session
10.8.2019

Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, at a media session after attending a radio programme this morning (August 10): Reporter: The government has said more than once that the independent inquiry is not an option now. People just don't seem to trust the IPCC. So would the government consider a reform within the IPCC? If not, how do you convince the protesters that the IPCC is accountable and they can trust it? Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs: Thank you for your questions. The IPCC is set up according to the law. So it has the statutory power to exercise its functions and roles. Actually, the IPCC is dealing not just with the reportable individual complaints against the Police, but has also decided to launch a detailed study on all those events which happened from June to early July. And they are also considering extending the coverage to the events that happened after July 2, including what happened on July 21 in Yuen Long. So the IPCC will act in accordance with the law to do a detailed study, and will try to find out what actually happened, the facts, and will then provide a report. The report will be made public. The work has actually started. I think the best way to do is let the IPCC do these studies, and when the results and outcomes are available, I think it is time we see whether it has actually addressed the concerns. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
SCMA to visit Beijing
4.8.2019

The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, will visit Beijing between August 5 and August 6. During the visit, Mr Nip will meet with officials of the relevant central offices, including the National Development and Reform Commission and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council. He will have working meetings with them on issues including the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Mr Nip will return to Hong Kong in the evening of August 6. During his absence, the Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Andy Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs.
SCMA visits Greater Bay Area cities with students (with photos)
30.7.2019

The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, and the Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Andy Chan, together with five students who joined the "Be a Government Official for a Day" programme this year and last year, as well as 10 summer interns working in the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau and Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, visited Shenzhen and Dongguan today (July 30) to see for themselves the development of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Greater Bay Area) cities. They also exchanged views with Mainland scholars and Hong Kong young people who started businesses there. Upon arrival in Shenzhen this morning, the group visited a high-tech enterprise specialising in cultural technology to learn about its development of theme parks with a culture-and-technology mix, comics and animation products as well as movie system with special effects. They then met with several Mainland scholars to exchange views on the development of Hong Kong and the Mainland as well as mutually beneficial co-operation between two places. The group departed for the Songshan Lake Xbot Park in Dongguan in the afternoon to keep abreast of the development of the robot industry in Dongguan and the co-operation between universities in Hong Kong and the Mainland on nurturing talents for the industry. They also toured two enterprises in the park specialising in biomedical engineering and robot development. Afterwards, they visited an innovation and entrepreneurship base for Hong Kong and Macao youths in Songshan Lake and met with young entrepreneurs from Hong Kong stationed in the base to gain a better understanding on starting business in the Mainland. The group will return to Hong Kong this evening.
SCMA concludes visit to Guangxi (with photos)
26.7.2019

The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, visited Guangxi, Nanning yesterday (July 25) and today (July 26) to meet with officials of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to exchange views on matters relating to co-operation between the two places. He also toured various facilities and enterprises in Nanning to see for himself the development of the logistics, medical services, education, innovation and technology as well as product testing and certification industries there. During his visit, Mr Nip met with the Vice-chairman of the People's Government of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Mr Yang Jinbai, and the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Mr Shi Donglong, respectively to exchange views on various areas of co-operation between the two places. In the evening yesterday, Mr Nip officiated at the founding ceremony of the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in China - Guangxi, Nanning. Addressing the ceremony, Mr Nip pointed out that Hong Kong and Guangxi had been close partners in the fields of commerce and trade, tourism and transport and logistics for years. In addition to the commissioning of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL) and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge last year, train service between the Hong Kong section of the XRL and Nanning also commenced this month. This helps reduce the travelling time between Hong Kong and Guangxi, thus facilitating more frequent people flows and exchanges between the two places. Mr Nip visited the Guangxi Planning Exhibition Hall today to keep abreast of the latest planning of Guangxi and the development of the New Land-Sea Corridor (the Corridor). He also met with representatives of a port development and maritime enterprise to receive updates on the business opportunities for Hong Kong's logistics trade with the development of this Corridor. Mr Nip then toured the Guangxi Traditional Chinese Medical University to obtain a better understanding of the development of Chinese medicine tertiary education in Guangxi and collaboration between Hong Kong and Guangxi in this aspect. He also visited the Nanning College for Vocational Technology where he was briefed on the progress of co-operation between the two places in the area of vocational training. He said he was pleased to learn that the Guangxi-Hong Kong vocational education development centre, a joint venture between the Hong Kong Vocational Training Council and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Department of Education, would be completed by the end of this year. Mr Nip also visited a testing and certification centre and the Nanning-Zhongguancun Innovation Demonstration Base to receive a better understanding of the latest co-operation initiatives between Hong Kong and Guangxi on product quality testing and the development of innovation and technology in Guangxi. Mr Nip will return to Hong Kong after concluding the visit tonight.
Transcript of remarks by SCMA at media session on EAC's report on REO's loss of Register of Electors (with video)
24.7.2019

Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, at a media session today (July 24) at the Central Government Offices on the Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC)'s independent investigation report on the loss of a Register of Electors: Reporter: When exactly did the Chief Electoral Officer first find out about the loss of the Register of Electors? Why did it take so long, nearly two years, for the government to make public the findings? Was there any cover-up involved? Is there any need for a full revamp of the personnel involved in the incident? Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs: Thank you very much for your questions. The EAC's investigation report has set out the facts and findings of the investigation. We have also explained before what follow-up actions we had taken when it came to our notice that there was a possibility of losing the Register. Once we confirmed the Register was lost, we had taken all necessary follow-up actions to remediate the situation. What's your second question? Reporter: Why did the government take so long to make public the findings about the loss (of the Register of Electors)? More than two years. Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs: The investigation report also explains that because of the deficiency in the internal management of the REO (Registration and Electoral Office) and in the handling of electoral materials, when the Register of Electors failed to be found, there was not an immediate reporting mechanism within the REO (for staff) to report to the seniors. Even after it had come to the notice of the seniors, because of their lack of sensitivity, no proper immediate follow-up actions had been taken. So it is important for us to set out an internal guideline within the department to make sure that in future there will be a mechanism in place to make sure that whenever there is a possibility (of any loss of electoral materials), this will be reported to the seniors and necessary follow-up actions will be taken. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
SCMA to visit Guangxi
24.7.2019

The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, will visit Guangxi between July 25 and July 26. During his visit to Guangxi, Mr Nip will meet with government officials of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to exchange views on co-operation between the two places. Mr Nip will see for himself the latest development plan of Guangxi, the logistics and maritime developments of the New Land-Sea Corridor and co-operation between Guangxi and Hong Kong in the area of product quality inspection. While there he will also visit a Chinese medicine university, a vocational education college, and an innovation and technology company. Mr Nip will return to Hong Kong in the evening of July 26. During his absence, the Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Andy Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs.
SCMA visits Sha Tin District (with photos)
27.6.2019

The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, visited Sha Tin District this afternoon (June 27), touring the Hong Kong Sports Institute and visiting Shui Chuen O Estate to see the social services and ancillary facilities in the estate. Accompanied by the District Officer (Sha Tin), Miss Amy Chan, Mr Nip visited various training facilities for Elite Sport Scholarship Athletes in the Hong Kong Sports Institute. He also met with coaches and athletes there to learn about the training provided by the Institute as well as co-operation and exchange programmes between the Institute and the Mainland. Mr Nip said he was pleased to learn that since 2009, the Institute has signed memorandums of co-operation with 15 Mainland institutions, including the Preparation Office for the Olympic Games of the General Administration of Sport of China and Beijing Sport University, with a view to equipping local athletes for their participation in the Olympic Games, the National Games of the People's Republic of China and other major sports events. Mr Nip then visited an integrated service centre in Shui Chuen O Estate to get a better understanding of its services and facilities. He also exchanged views with staff members of the centre and chatted with residents of the estate and students participating in the centre's activities. The centre mainly provides services and support for children, young people and parents and hosts a variety of interest classes. Mr Nip also visited the mall and ancillary facilities inside the estate, and viewed a primary school site to get updates on the development of the district and the needs of residents.
SCMA visits Macao and Zhuhai (with photos)
6.6.2019

The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, visited Macao and Zhuhai today (June 6). He toured the Commemorative Gallery of the Macao Basic Law and the Zhuhai-Macao Port on the artificial island of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) and met with government officials of the Macao Special Administrative Region. Mr Nip also visited Jinwan District in Zhuhai to see its latest developments. Mr Nip departed for Macao via the HZMB in the morning. Upon his arrival, he visited the Commemorative Gallery of the Macao Basic Law, where he gained a deeper understanding of the promotion and implementation of the Constitution and the Macao Basic Law. Mr Nip then met with the Secretary for Economy and Finance of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr Leong Vai-tac, to exchange views on the active participation of Hong Kong and Macao in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and fostering co-operation between the two sides in economic and cross-boundary infrastructure facilities aspects. Mr Nip said at the meeting, "While Hong Kong and Macao both possess unique advantage under the principle of 'one country, two systems' in the course of developing the Greater Bay Area, the two places are also facing the same challenges in terms of the flow of people, goods and capital. The collaboration between Hong Kong and Macao can be strengthened in the future to improve the overall connectivity of the Greater Bay Area, thereby advancing economic growth and facilitating Hong Kong and Macao residents to reside in the Greater Bay Area. The facilitation measures, e.g. the residence permits and opening Mainland bank accounts without Mainland address proof, are well received by Hong Kong and Macao residents." In the afternoon, Mr Nip visited the Zhuhai-Macao Port on the artificial island of the HZMB. He toured the passenger clearance building to see the operation of the control point and the customs clearance process. He said he was glad to learn that the travelling time between Zhuhai and Hong Kong International Airport was now shortened to about 45 minutes, thereby facilitating the flow of people; strengthening the economic development of and connection between Hong Kong, Macao and the Western Pearl River Delta region; and bringing strategic significance for the development of Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. After that, Mr Nip headed to Jinwan District, one of the three major administrative districts in Zhuhai, to keep abreast of its latest economic developments and ancillary facilities. Jinwan District is home to a rapidly developing real estate market. It also houses various industrial parks, including an eco-environment zone and manufacturing parks, attracting investment from Hong Kong and overseas enterprises. Mr Nip returned to Hong Kong this evening.
SCMA to visit Macao and Zhuhai
5.6.2019

The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, will visit Macao and Zhuhai tomorrow (June 6). Mr Nip will depart for Macao in the morning to meet government officials of the Macao Special Administrative Region to exchange views on the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and co-operation work of the two sides. Mr Nip will visit the Commemorative Gallery of the Macao Basic Law and inspect the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge on the artificial island. He will also visit Zhuhai to learn about the latest developments and return to Hong Kong in the evening on the same day.
SCMA visits Guangzhou (with photos)
28.5.2019

The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, today (May 28) visited Guangzhou to attend a groundbreaking ceremony for the Guangzhou-Hong Kong Special Cooperation Zone for Intelligent Manufacturing and to exchange views with Mainland scholars on the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. He also visited an entrepreneurship base for Hong Kong and Macao youths and a development project undertaken by a Hong Kong enterprise in Guangzhou. On arrival in the morning, Mr Nip attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Guangzhou-Hong Kong Special Cooperation Zone for Intelligent Manufacturing developed and operated by the Guangzhou Development District and a Hong Kong enterprise. The development project comprises the construction of a Guangzhou-Hong Kong-Macao immigration building, an intelligent international exhibition centre and facilities for a Guangzhou-Hong Kong-Macao ferry service. Mr Nip said he was pleased to learn that the launch of the Guangzhou-Hong Kong-Macao ferry service would reduce the travel time between the north-eastern part of Guangzhou and Hong Kong International Airport to 1 hour and 30 minutes, which would help bring in more visitors and business opportunities for the airport. He also welcomed the active participation of Hong Kong's business sector in the development of the Greater Bay Area, adding that he hoped the business sector would join with the government to broaden the space for development in the Greater Bay Area. Mr Nip then visited the Institute of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Development Studies of Sun Yat-sen University and exchanged views with scholars there on the development of the Greater Bay Area. He was also briefed by the Institute on its research and analysis relating to the Greater Bay Area. In the afternoon, Mr Nip visited a youth entrepreneurship base of the Guangzhou Tianhe Hong Kong and Macau Youth Association to learn about its operation and facilities. The base is one of the first batch of 10 youth entrepreneurial bases that were presented with a plaque during the 21st Plenary of the Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference on May 16. Mr Nip said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government was supportive of young Hong Kong people participating in the development of the Greater Bay Area, adding that the Government hopes to work with the Guangdong provincial government to establish an Alliance for Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurial Bases in future as a one-stop information, publicity and exchange platform to serve Hong Kong young people starting business in the Greater Bay Area. He also visited the Guangzhou Chow Tai Fook Finance Centre afterwards to keep abreast of the business development of Hong Kong enterprises in Guangzhou. Mr Nip will return to Hong Kong this evening.
SCMA to visit Guangzhou
27.5.2019

The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, will depart for Guangzhou tomorrow morning (May 28) to address the groundbreaking ceremony of a Guangzhou-Hong Kong smart special co-operation zone jointly developed by the Guangzhou Development District and a Hong Kong enterprise. He will then visit the Institute of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Development Studies of Sun Yat-sen University during which he will exchange views with scholars there regarding the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. In the afternoon, Mr Nip will head to the Tianhe Hong Kong and Macau Youth Association entrepreneurship base to learn about its operation, and visit an investment project in Guangzhou undertaken by a Hong Kong enterprise. Mr Nip will return to Hong Kong in the evening on the same day.