HKSAR Government Approves Regulation Clarifying National Security Offences and Classification Mechanism

Making of Subsidiary Legislation under Safeguarding National Security Ordinance

The Chief Executive in Council today (June 9) approved the making of the Safeguarding National Security (Procedural Matters) Regulation (Procedural Matters Regulation) under section 110 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO), to state clearly the classification mechanism under the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKNSL) and the SNSO for "other offences endangering national security under the law of the HKSAR", in order to reflect the legislative intent of the HKNSL and the SNSO, and to better carry into effect the relevant provisions of the HKNSL and the SNSO. The Procedural Matters Regulation was gazetted on the same day and came into operation immediately.

To fulfil the constitutional responsibility to continue to improve the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has been continuously reviewing the current legal system and enforcement mechanisms of the HKSAR. Should there be any area for improvement or any need to clearly provide for a mechanism, the HKSAR Government will introduce legislative proposals in a timely manner.

Based on the legislative intent of the HKNSL, the meaning of "offence endangering national security" under section 7 of the SNSO and the relevant case law of the Court of Final Appeal, offences endangering national security include the offences stipulated in the HKNSL, the Implementation Rules for Article 43 of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the SNSO, as well as "other offences endangering national security under the law of the HKSAR" referred to in section 7(d) of the SNSO, i.e. other offences under other laws of the HKSAR in respect of which the criminal act concerned in a particular case is in the nature of endangering national security. In this connection, the HKSAR Government considers it necessary to state clearly the classification mechanism under the HKNSL and the SNSO for "other offences endangering national security under the law of the HKSAR" by way of subsidiary legislation, in order to better carry into effect section 7(d) of the SNSO and the provisions applicable to offences endangering national security in the HKNSL, the SNSO and other laws.

The mechanism stated by the Procedural Matters Regulation is as follows: if the Chief Executive issues a certificate under Article 47 of the HKNSL or section 115 of the SNSO to certify that the act concerned in a criminal case involves national security, then the case is a case concerning offence endangering national security mentioned in Article 41 of the HKNSL, and the offence in respect of such act which is the subject of investigation, arrest or charge is an offence endangering national security under section 7(d) of the SNSO.

The relevant provisions on certificates issued by the Chief Executive are entirely consistent with the common law principles. The courts in common law jurisdictions such as Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, etc are all of the view that the executive authorities are in a better position than the courts to make appropriate assessments and judgements on matters of national security issues. Therefore, the judicial authorities defer to the assessments and judgements of the executive authorities in this respect.

A HKSAR Government spokesperson said, "The mechanism for the Chief Executive to issue a certificate under Article 47 of the HKNSL or section 115 of the SNSO to certify whether an act involves national security, as well as the provisions applicable to offences endangering national security in laws such as the HKNSL and the SNSO, are all existing provisions that have been operating effectively. The Procedural Matters Regulation does not alter these provisions. It does not alter the scope of application of the HKNSL and the SNSO and the definition of 'offence endangering national security'. Nor does it create any new offence, penalty or enforcement power.

"The making of the Procedural Matters Regulation aims to state clearly the classification mechanism under the HKNSL and the SNSO for 'other offences endangering national security under the law of the HKSAR', thereby refining details of relevant procedural matters and bringing greater certainty to the implementation of the relevant provisions under the HKNSL, the SNSO and other laws. The relevant provisions under the HKNSL, the SNSO and other laws are only applicable to a small number of criminals who commit an offence endangering national security, and will not affect the lives of the general public, or the normal operation of organisations and institutions. Therefore, law-abiding individuals, organisations and institutions will by no means be affected by the Procedural Matters Regulation."

Source: AI-found images

C&SD releases results of 2024/25 Household Expenditure Survey

The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (June 9) the major results of the 2024/25 Household Expenditure Survey (HES).

It is an established practice in Hong Kong to conduct an HES once every five years to collect up-to-date information on the expenditure patterns of households. The survey results serve as an important data source for updating the expenditure weights of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), and can also be used to study the consumption behaviour of households in Hong Kong.

Data collection for the latest HES was conducted from October 2024 to September 2025, and about 7 400 households participated.

According to the results of the 2024/25 HES, a household spent an average of $32,472 per month on food, consumer goods and services in Hong Kong, an increase of 7.4% compared with the 2019/20 survey results. The increase in average household expenditure over the past five years was mainly due to price inflation. On a per capita basis, the average monthly expenditure was $12,201, an increase of 13.9% compared with 2019/20.

Among the total household expenditure, housing and food had the largest expenditure shares, accounting for 39.3% and 24.1% respectively. In addition, miscellaneous services also accounted for a significant share (16.9%).

Analysed by type of housing, the average monthly expenditures for households residing in public, subsidised, and private housing were $16,181, $28,932, and $41,174 respectively.

Analysed by geographical area, the average monthly expenditure of households on Hong Kong Island was $45,334, higher than that of households in Kowloon ($28,434) and the New Territories ($31,024).

As for online purchases, the average monthly household expenditure was $1,467, accounting for 4.5% of the total expenditure. This represents an increase of 46.5% in the amount compared with 2019/20.

It is worth noting that the data collection of the 2019/20 HES was conducted during the COVID-19 epidemic, when household consumption patterns were severely affected. Caution is therefore required when interpreting comparisons between the 2024/25 and 2019/20 HES results.

Since 2021, the C&SD has reviewed and updated CPI expenditure weights annually. The 2024/25 HES results have been incorporated to comprehensively update the 2025 CPI expenditure weights. The updated weights have been adopted to compile the CPI starting from the reference month of April 2026.

More detailed statistics are available in the "Report on 2024/25 Household Expenditure Survey". Users can browse and download this publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1060003&scode=290).

For enquiries about household expenditure statistics, please contact the Price Research and Analytics Section (2) of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7384 or email: hes@censtatd.gov.hk).

Source: AI-found images