HKSAR LegCo firmly opposes and strongly condemns US politicians' wanton vilification and smearing of Hong Kong using the "LAI Chee-ying case"
The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
A spokesperson for the Legislative Council (LegCo) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) stated on September 17 that LegCo firmly opposes and strongly condemns politicians in the United States (US) Congressional-Executive Commission on China for using a so-called "hearing" regarding the "LAI Chee-ying case" to make false and smearing remarks, and threatening to impose "sanctions". The LegCo spokesperson stressed that, to set the record straight, the LegCo fully supports the HKSAR Government in acting in accordance with the law, and resolutely hit back at the maliciously provocative political maneuvering and alarmist talk by some politicians.
The Legislative Council, Photo by Bastille Post
The LegCo spokesperson emphasised that the HKSAR is an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China. Safeguarding national security is the cornerstone for the country's stability and prosperity. It is also a universally recognised international practice and obligation. The US itself possesses a sophisticated national security legal framework, yet it is despicable to see these anti-China politicians display blatant hypocrisy and double standards by pointing fingers at the legitimate and lawful actions of the HKSAR in safeguarding national security. LegCo urges these politicians to earnestly respect China's sovereignty and immediately stop any form of interference in the affairs of Hong Kong, China.
Lai Chee-ying, Photo source: reference image
Regarding these politicians using the "LAI Chee-ying case" to smear and vilify Hong Kong's rule of law and human rights, the LegCo spokesperson profoundly refuted them for disregarding facts and reversing right and wrong. As pointed out by the Government's spokesperson, the "LAI Chee-ying case" has nothing to do with freedom of the press. The defendants have used journalism as a guise over the years to create social conflicts, incite social antagonism, incite hatred and glorify violence, bringing harm to the country and Hong Kong.
The LegCo spokesperson supports the courts of the HKSAR in conducting independent trials in accordance with the law and evidence, and setting out in full detail the court's analysis of relevant legal principles and evidence, as well as the reasons for convicting LAI Chee-ying and other defendants. The LegCo spokesperson strongly condemns anti-China politicians for attempting to intimidate HKSAR officials and judicial officers with so-called "sanctions". This is interfering in China's internal affairs and Hong Kong affairs, seriously violating international law and basic norms governing international relations.
National Security Law, Photo source: AP News
The LegCo spokesperson pointed out that since the full implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law, the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance and the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong", Hong Kong's social order has not only returned to the right track, but its business environment has also attained remarkable performance. Hong Kong continues to rank among the top globally in economic freedom and rule of law indices, attracting investors from around the world. Leveraging its distinctive advantage of "enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world", Hong Kong is advancing toward higher-quality prosperity and development.
The LegCo spokesperson reiterated that as an integral member of the governance team of the HKSAR, LegCo will, as always, firmly support the administration of the HKSAR Government in accordance with the law, and to prevent, suppress and punish any acts endangering national security, while safeguarding the rights of citizens in accordance with the law, so as to ensure the steadfast and successful implementation of "One Country, Two Systems".
FEHD reviews this year's efforts to tackle dripping air conditioners
A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said today (November 10) that the department has continued to adopt a multipronged approach to tackle the problem of dripping air conditioners, combining enhanced inspections and enforcement with publicity and education, innovative technology and adjustments to operational strategies. This year, the FEHD has fully deployed the third-generation Air-conditioning Water Dripping Inspection System, featuring infrared night-vision technology and artificial intelligence (AI) image recognition, across all districts to detect dripping locations quickly and accurately, significantly enhancing enforcement effectiveness.
The spokesman said, "As of September 30, the FEHD had issued about 8 100 nuisance notices concerning dripping air conditioners this year, representing an increase of about 16 per cent and 54 per cent over the corresponding periods last year and in 2024 respectively. The figure was about four times that for the same period in 2023. Over 99 per cent of the households that received the notices have addressed the dripping problem as required. Significant improvements have also been recorded at the locations of concern identified by the department."
In recent years, the FEHD has adopted a new operational strategy. In addition to handling public complaints, officers proactively conduct door-to-door inspections and take enforcement action, focusing on around 300 locations of concern with more serious dripping problems across districts, including bus stops, minibus stops and pedestrian passages. Each location is inspected at least once a week. By August, dripping problems at about half of these locations had been resolved or had shown significant improvement. As conditions improved at some locations, the FEHD extended its operations to more than 110 additional locations with less serious problems. As of September 30, the number of locations being followed up by the FEHD had increased from around 300 to more than 400.
The FEHD has also actively applied innovative technology, collaborating with a local innovation and technology institution to develop the Air-conditioning Water Dripping Inspection System. Using infrared night-vision technology, the system enables officers to detect dripping locations quickly in low-light conditions without entering residents' premises. The enhanced second-generation system features a remote-controlled pan-tilt head and autofocus functions. Its detection range has been extended to 120 metres, enabling it to cover buildings around 40 storeys high. In April this year, the system won a bronze award in thecategory of Engineering and Robotics – Optical Sensing and Spatial Intelligence at the Edison Awards 2026, gaining international recognition for its innovative technology. This year, the department has fully deployed the third-generation system, featuring AI image recognition, across all districts. The system uses high-precision image recognition to detect dripping locations automatically and pinpoint their sources quickly and accurately, further reducing the time required for observation and evidence collection.
In addition to strengthening enforcement, the FEHD actively collaborates with the property management sector to tackle dripping air conditioners. The department continues to promote the Scheme of Participation by Property Management Agents in Tackling Dripping Air-conditioners, inviting staff of property management companies serving private housing estates to help identify dripping sources and advise residents to rectify the problem. More than 300 private housing estates across the territory currently participate in the scheme, helping to complete follow-up and handling of an average of over 4 000 dripping complaints each year. The department also works closely with the Property Management Services Authority to provide relevant guidelines for licensed property management companies and property management personnel, and encourages more licensed companies to join the scheme.
The FEHD calls on all sectors to work together to tackle dripping air conditioners. Property management companies should regularly repair and maintain building drainage systems and remind residents to inspect and repair their air conditioners. Members of the public should also inspect and maintain their air conditioners regularly and address any dripping problems promptly to avoid causing a nuisance. For more information, please refer to the leaflet on the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/pleasant_environment/library/aircon/Pamphlet_water_dripping_from_air_conditioner.pdf).
Source: AI-found images
