Police National Security Department mounts enforcement action
The National Security Department (NSD) of the Hong Kong Police Force on Apr 30, arrested two men, aged 35 and 68, in the Tseung Kwan O district, on suspicion of committing "attempting to deal with, directly or indirectly, any funds or other financial assets or economic resources belonging to, or owned or controlled by, a relevant absconder", contravening Section 90(2)(b) and 90(3) of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance and Section 159G of the Crimes Ordinance.
The Secretary for Security on December 24, 2024, exercised the powers conferred by the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance to specify seven absconded fugitives, including Kwok Fung-yee, for being suspected of having committed offences endangering national security, and to specify the measures to be applied against the relevant absconders by notices published in the Gazette. Investigations revealed that the two arrested persons assisted Kwok Fung-yee in changing the details of an insurance policy and attempted to withdraw its remaining value.
The NSD laid a charge against the 68-year-old man today (May 2) with one count of "attempting to deal with, directly or indirectly, any funds or other financial assets or economic resources belonging to, or owned or controlled by, a relevant absconder", the case will be mentioned at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts this afternoon. The other arrested man was released on bail pending further investigations.
Police remind members of the public that dealing with funds belonging to a relevant absconder is a serious crime. Offenders shall be liable to imprisonment for seven years on first conviction. Members of the public are urged not to defy the law.
HKSAR Government welcomes court's decision to dismiss Chow Hang Tung's application for judicial review on clothing policy for persons in custody
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government welcomes the judgment handed down by the Court of First Instance of the High Court today (January 13) to dismiss Chow Hang Tung's application for judicial review on the clothing policy for persons in custody (PICs).
The court judgment pointed out that the current clothing policy for PICs, including the requirement for female PICs to wear trousers in summer daytime, was formulated by the Correctional Services Department (CSD) as authorised by the Prison Rules. The Court was satisfied that the CSD had the expertise and experience in the relevant context, and that it had carefully considered various factors, taken into account of professional opinion when making the decision, as well as reviewed the policy continuously. The Court ruled that Chow Hang Tung had failed to demonstrate that the current policy constituted less favourable treatment of a particular gender. The Court pointed out that there was currently no factual evidence to support any assertion that there was widespread concern about the health effects of wearing trousers in summer. In addition, the rule was not absolute, but instead allowed individual PICs to apply for exceptional arrangements in special circumstances. At the same time, the Court also rejected Chow Hang Tung's assertion that she had requested to the CSD in July and August 2024 to wear shorts and had been refused.
A spokesman for the Security Bureau said, "The ruling of the Court of First Instance confirmed that the CSD's approach is reasonable, justified and lawful. According to Rule 26 of the Prison Rules, the CSD must provide every PIC with a uniform that meets a scale imposed by the Commissioner of Correctional Services. Over the years, the CSD had appointed task groups from time to time to review the clothing arrangements of PICs. These reviews gave ample consideration to numerous factors, including the type of correctional institutions, PICs' varying daily routines and activities involved, the need for thermal, physical and psychological comfort for PICs of different genders, privacy and decency of PICs and the security, good order and discipline of the prison, so as to continuously refine clothing arrangements according to the prevailing circumstances."
The spokesman stated, "Chow Hang Tung's assertion that she requested to wear shorts in summer and was rejected by the CSD is entirely inconsistent with the facts and was rejected by the Court. Besides, the current clothing policy for PICs already provides a degree of flexibility. For example, a PIC may make an application to wear other clothing on medical or non-medical grounds to the CSD, and the CSD would make appropriate arrangements having considered the actual circumstances and relevant factors."
The CSD will continue to impartially implement the relevant rules of the Prison Rules in accordance with the law and commit to providing a secure, safe, humane, decent and healthy custodial environment.
Source: AI-found images
