HKSAR LegCo firmly rejects US untruthful "2026 Hong Kong Policy Act Report"
The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Legislative Council (LegCo), through its spokesman, today (April 17) strongly disapproves of and rejects the United States (US) so-called "2026 Hong Kong Policy Act Report" (the Report). LegCo also fully supports the statement issued by the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR, firmly countering the false allegations regarding Hong Kong's situation in the US Report.
The HKSAR is an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China, and as a local administrative region that enjoys a high degree of autonomy under the principle of "one country, two systems", comes directly under the jurisdiction of the Central People's Government. The LegCo spokesman points out that the Report slandered the development of Hong Kong under the principle of "one country, two systems" in areas such as democracy, rule of law, human rights and freedoms, socio-economic and cultural developments, etc. The Report also vilified the implementation of the laws safeguarding national security in Hong Kong, including the Hong Kong National Security Law. LegCo urges the US authorities to discern facts from fallacies, refrain from disseminating misleading and scaremongering information, and immediately cease interference in any form in Hong Kong's affairs. Hong Kong's democracy is established with high-quality, and the rights and freedoms enjoyed by residents in accordance with the law are fully protected. These facts must not be slandered or smeared.
Since the improvement of the electoral system in 2021, each of the LegCo elections has demonstrated broad representation and balanced participation of society. The entire process was fair, just and open, while fully adhering to the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong". Under the executive-led governance, LegCo has been taking forward various tasks pragmatically and effectively to complement with and monitor the governance of the SAR Government. These include promoting economic development, improving people's livelihood, and more actively integrating into and serving the overall national development. These tangible and positive results should not be rejected or distorted by any ill-intentioned people.
Meanwhile, the HKSAR Government and LegCo are committed to continuously improve the legal system for safeguarding national security. As the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Xia Baolong, pointed out at the National Security Education Day on April 15, following the implementation of laws safeguarding national security in Hong Kong, including the Hong Kong National Security Law, along with the establishment of dedicated national and Special Administrative Region institutions for safeguarding national security, Hong Kong has once again become one of the safest cities in the world. Hong Kong's business environment is becoming better and attracting investors from around the world. Facts speak louder than eloquence. The well-being of citizens and the interests of foreign investors are fully protected in Hong Kong. Our achievements are evident to all.
The LegCo spokesman stressed that, leveraging the distinctive advantage of having strong support from the motherland and close connection with the world, Hong Kong's position and role in the overall national development are becoming clearer and more important. LegCo firmly believes that, on the new journey of the National 15th Five-Year-Plan, Hong Kong will better integrate into and serve the overall national development. By actively aligning with the development of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the high-quality development strategy, we will create a more prosperous and stable future full of opportunities.
Source: AI-found images
Task Force on Study in Hong Kong holds second meeting
The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, today (April 17) chaired the second meeting of the Task Force on Study in Hong Kong, to summarise with the Task Force members the achievements of the Study in Hong Kong Week and discuss the work in promoting the internationalisation of basic education.
To further consolidate Hong Kong's status as an international education hub, and promote Hong Kong's higher education and the "Study in Hong Kong" brand globally, the Government has designated from February 23 to March 1 this year as Study in Hong Kong Week. As a flagship event of Study in Hong Kong Week, the Asia-Pacific Association for International Education 2026 Conference and Exhibition showcased Hong Kong's unique strengths as an international post-secondary education hub with the largest scale and highest number of participants since the association's establishment in 2004. Moreover, the first International Symposium of the Alliance of Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS) has been successfully held. Serving as an important platform for scholars from around the world, the Symposium explored how the UAS can foster cross-sector collaboration in driving innovation and nurturing talent, and highlighted Hong Kong's strengths in vocational and professional education and training.
Dr Choi said, "Establishing Hong Kong as an international hub for high-calibre talent has long been the target of the Education Bureau (EDB). We are committed to strengthening the supporting role of education in science, technology and talent development. While consolidating Hong Kong's 'golden reputation' of education, we are also actively participating in the development of the Northern Metropolis University Town, continuously promoting the 'Study in Hong Kong' brand, facilitating the expansion and quality enhancement of educational institutions, and driving the high-quality development of Hong Kong's education sector."
Dr Choi continued, "We would like to express our gratitude to the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Xia Baolong, for his recent message to Hong Kong's higher education institutions, in which he urged them to fully leverage the strengths of Hong Kong's education brand advantages and its international characteristics. The Government will proactively algin with the National 15th Five-Year Plan to continuously invest in education, and support the development of the post-secondary education sector in Hong Kong in a holistic manner. Accordingly, the Task Force on Study in Hong Kong, through its extensive global network, will help institutions further strengthen collaboration and synergistic elements to attract more outstanding students and scholars to study or conduct research in Hong Kong, thereby contributing to the innovation and optimisation of the higher education sector and the development of world-class disciplines."
Building on the robust development of internationalisation in post-secondary education in Hong Kong, the Government is further expanding basic education to advance the development of Hong Kong as an international education hub, extending the "Study in Hong Kong" brand to primary and secondary schools. The meeting reviewed the Study in Hong Kong: Southeast Asia Education Tour in March, which was the first tour organised by the Hong Kong Direct Subsidy Schools Council, and noted the work of the delegation in promoting the strengths of Hong Kong's basic education and the unique characteristics of Hong Kong's Direct Subsidy Scheme Schools to international audiences through holding seminars and meetings with education officials overseas.
Moreover, the members of the Task Force introduced their workplan for 2026 at the meeting and exchanged views on the workplan and ways to enhance the promotion of the unique strengths of Hong Kong's post-secondary and basic education.
This meeting was conducted online. Dr Choi thanked all the Task Force members, including various overseas Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices and Mainland Offices, for proactively promoting the "Study in Hong Kong" and "Study Tour in Hong Kong" brands as well as the Belt and Road Scholarship on different occasions such as thematic exhibitions, education forums and Lunar New Year celebratory events to guests worldwide during the Study in Hong Kong Week. The EDB will continue to maintain close communication and co-operation with the Task Force members and will invite other stakeholders, such as representatives from post-secondary institutions, to participate in the Task Force meeting as needed with a view to formulating strategies for building Hong Kong as an international education hub.
Task Force on Study in Hong Kong holds second meeting Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
