Hong Kong Government Hosts Seminar on Constitution Day, Emphasizing National Rejuvenation and Rule-of-Law Safeguards

2025 Constitution Day Seminar (with photos/video)

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR today (December 4) jointly held a seminar on Constitution Day, with the Endeavour Education Centre as the supporting organisation. The Seminar aims to enhance public understanding of the constitutional basis of the country and HKSAR. Before the seminar began, all participants stood and observed one minute of silence in memory of the victims of the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po.

The theme of the Seminar was "The Constitution and the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation". The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, and Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR Mr Liu Guangyuan delivered speeches respectively. This was followed by a keynote address from Professor Han Dayuan who is member of the HKSAR Basic Law Committee under the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, and professor of the Renmin Law School, Renmin University of China. The panel discussion session was moderated by member of the Management Committee of the Endeavour Education Centre, Mrs Rita Fan, who hosted a discussion with consultant of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies Professor Lau Siu-kai, and member of the Committee for Liaison with Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Overseas Chinese of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Mr David Lie. About 900 participants from various sectors of the community attended the Seminar.

Speaking at the Seminar, Mr Lee, first expressed deep condolences to the victims of the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po and offered sincere sympathies to their families and the affected residents. He said that the HKSAR Government is devoting all-out efforts to disaster relief and follow-up support, and will establish an independent committee to conduct a comprehensive review of the incident, in order to prevent similar tragedies from reoccurring and meet public expectations. He said that the painful lessons from this incident will be transformed into concrete measures to strengthen urban safety and drive institutional reform.

Mr Lee said the Constitution provides the strongest rule-of-law safeguards and institutional foundation for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and it is also the constitutional basis for establishing HKSAR. On the journey of national rejuvenation, Hong Kong is both a participant and a beneficiary. In the 28 years since its return to the motherland, Hong Kong have fully demonstrated the strong vitality and institutional superiority of "one country, two systems", with its status as an international financial, shipping and trade centre remaining firmly consolidated. He also pointed out that Hong Kong must in future fulfil three key roles and contributions: safeguarding the Constitution and the Basic Law; better integrating into and serving the overall national development by seizing the national development directives and opportunities for Hong Kong set out in the Recommendations for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan, consolidating and enhancing its status as an international financial, shipping and trade centre, building an international innovation and technology centre as well as a hub for international high-calibre talents, and developing new quality productive forces; and serving as a bridge for exchanges between Chinese culture and world civilisations by telling the true stories of the successful practice of "one country, two systems". Finally, Mr Lee called on all sectors to work together to build and develop Hong Kong, contribute to the cause of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and actively vote on December 7 to elect capable and aspiring Legislative Council members who will join the Government in assisting the victims, promoting reforms and building a better home in Hong Kong.

Mr Liu, said the Constitution provides rule-of-law safeguards for realising the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation; lays the legal foundation for Hong Kong to integrate into the grand journey of national rejuvenation; and endows Hong Kong with institutional advantages to leverage its strengths in the great cause of national rejuvenation. Under the safeguard of the Constitution, China has today become the most stable, reliable and proactive force in global development, and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered an irreversible historical process. He emphasised that the Legislative Council election proceeding as scheduled on December 7 will demonstrate observance of and respect for the constitutional order and the spirit of the rule of law, and will provide strong support for maintaining social stability and post-tragedy reconstruction work. It represents the most responsible attitude towards Hong Kong's future.

Professor Han systematically elaborated on the historical context of the concept of the "Chinese nation", the profound significance of incorporating "the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation" into the Constitution, how the Constitution provides fundamental legal safeguards for national rejuvenation, and the intrinsic relationship between "one country, two systems" and national rejuvenation. He stressed that the Constitution is the fundamental guarantee for realising the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. He called on everyone to rally social consensus around the Constitution and the Basic Law, safeguard Hong Kong's rule of law, and cherish the hard-won achievements of the practice of "one country, two systems", actively participate in the development of democracy with Hong Kong characteristics under "one country, two systems", and contribute to building an open, inclusive and vibrant international metropolis.

During the panel discussion session, Professor Lau said the Constitution serves as the "ballast stone" and fundamental legal support for building China into a great country and achieving national rejuvenation. By inscribing "the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation" into the fundamental law, the Constitution establishes the development path, principles of reform and opening up, and the core leadership position of the Communist Party of China, while providing solid constitutional safeguards for uniting the strength of the entire nation. Mr Lie said that if the Basic Law is likened to a great tree, the Constitution is its root, and together they form Hong Kong's constitutional order. He hoped the younger generation in Hong Kong will deepen their understanding and study of the Constitution, thereby reinforcing the rule-of-law foundation of society.

The Government has arranged the government website as well as some major television stations to broadcast live the Seminar. The full version of the Seminar will also be uploaded to the website of the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau (www.cmab.gov.hk/en/home/index.htm) to enable members of the public to review the Seminar. They may visit the dedicated webpage (www.cmab.gov.hk/en/issues/constitution_day.htm) for other information about Constitution Day.

2025 Constitution Day Seminar (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

2025 Constitution Day Seminar (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

2025 Constitution Day Seminar (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

2025 Constitution Day Seminar (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Re-launch of Reporting Scheme for Unauthorised Building Works in New Territories Exempted Houses

Following the direction of earlier proposals, the Buildings Department (BD) announced today (April 1) the re-launch of the Reporting Scheme for Unauthorised Building Works (UBWs) in New Territories Exempted Houses (NTEHs). The reporting period will last for one year from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027.

"In view of the history and unique circumstances of the NTEHs (commonly known as village houses), the Government launched a one-off administrative reporting scheme in 2012 as a special arrangement. Under the scheme, owners could report to the BD about UBWs that were erected before June 28, 2011, posed lower risks or constituted less serious contravention of the law. The reporting period ended in December 2012. The Development Bureau (DEVB) put forward proposals to amend the Buildings Ordinance in December 2024, which included rationalising the policy for handling UBWs. The DEVB also pointed out that in response to the views of villagers and Legislative Council members that the reporting period was too short, the Government prepared to re-launch the Reporting Scheme to allow owners who at that time did not report their UBWs to do so," a spokesman for the BD said.

Relevant stakeholders and Legislative Council members generally considered the above proposals practical and feasible, and they welcomed the proposals. The DEVB and the BD have also consulted Heung Yee Kuk on the relevant implementation arrangements.

The re-launched Reporting Scheme will maintain the original criteria, including:

(1) The types of UBWs that can be reported and their erection dates are the same as the original Reporting Scheme, meaning that only UBWs erected before June 28, 2011, posed lower risks or constituted less serious contravention of the law and were not the First Round Targets (Note) are eligible. Examples include signboards projecting from the external walls of village houses; enclosed rooftop structures with a coverage of not more than 50 per cent of the roofed-over area of the main building.

(2) Same as the original Reporting Scheme, owners are required to conduct safety inspections on the reported UBWs every five years.

"The BD will not require the immediate removal of the reported UBWs unless their structures become obviously dangerous. Regarding UBWs in village houses, the BD is prioritising the handling of First Round Targets. If any relevant UBWs remain not reported after the application deadline of March 31, 2027, the BD will, after dealing with the First Round Targets, take priority enforcement action against the non-reported UBWs. The BD will formulate enforcement strategy for the reported UBWs at a later stage in accordance with the risks and the actual situation," the spokesman added.

To enhance the efficiency of processing applications, reports must be submitted via the electronic platform on the BD's website by technically competent persons or registered professional engineers appointed by owners. In accordance with the user-pays principle, an administrative fee of $600 is payable for each application. Upon successful reports, owners must also pay the relevant administrative fee when conducting safety inspections of the reported UBWs every five years.

Details of the re-launched Reporting Scheme are available on the BD's website at https://www.bd.gov.hk/en/safety-inspection/ubw/UBW-in-new-territories-exempted-houses/index_relaunch_reporting_scheme.html; Villagers who wish to report can call 2626 1616 for enquiry. The BD will also use different channels such as distributing leaflets and posters to Rural Committees to enable villagers to know more about the re-launch of the Reporting Scheme.

Owners who had successfully participated in the Reporting Scheme in 2012 are not required to submit reports again. However, they must continue to comply with the requirements of the original Reporting Scheme, including conducting safety inspections of the reported UBWs every five years, submitting safety certificates and paying administrative fees to the BD.

Note: The First Round Targets refer to UBWs with higher potential risks and more serious nature, such as village houses of four storeys or more, and enclosed rooftop structures covering more than 50 per cent of the roofed-over area.

Source: AI-found images