This is the 1711th issue of "Hong Kong One Day".
John Lee: Dealing with "fake news" legislation is not the first choice
In response to the disinformation circulating during the 2019 "Legislative Amendment Turmoil" and its negative impact, the previous Hong Kong SAR government said it would enact a "fake news law" to tackle "misinformation, hate speech and lies". Today (23rd), Chief Executive John Lee responded to questions about "fake news" legislation before attending the Executive Council. Li Jiachao said that he hopes to deal with the problem of fake news from the aspects of industry self-discipline and professional ethics. He believes that if problems can be dealt with with with self-discipline and the improvement of industry professionalism, this is the first choice, and there is no need for legislation.
Source: Hong Kong 01
Li Jiachao pointed out that the current Hong Kong media has improved in terms of disseminating news compared with before, and he made a positive assessment of this. But that doesn't mean you don't need to be wary of fake news, he argues, because it has a bad impact on everyone, including the press. Lee believes that media professionals want to work together to tackle disinformation in order to maintain the credibility of the news.
As early as May 2021, Carrie Lam, then Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government was studying the enactment of a "fake news law", but did not mention a timetable for legislation at that time. In June 2022, the Secretary for Security, Tang Ping-keung, also said in an interview with the media that the HKSAR Government is studying the definition of "fake news", saying that "fake news" endangers national security at any time, and therefore is studying the form of legislative or administrative measures to regulate "fake news".
In November last year, the Secretary for Security, Tang Ping-keung, further elaborated on the "soft confrontation" of "fake news": "Many times they seem to be not breaking the law, but sometimes they cross the line of breaking the law, or they will incite others to break the law." Therefore, in addition to dealing with the law with the law, we must also clearly tell the people of Hong Kong that when 'soft confrontation' arises, they must not be instigated. ”
Lin Dingguo introduced that the "Regulations on Safeguarding National Security" already have relevant laws related to "fake news", and there are no plans to enact a new law for the time being. Source: Radio Television Hong Kong
In today's (23rd) issue of the South China Morning Post, an article was published with Hong Kong Secretary for Justice Lam Ting-kwok. In it, Lin Tingguo said that the "Regulations on Safeguarding National Security" that have been passed earlier clearly stipulate that the dissemination of false statements that pose a threat to national security is prohibited, so there are no plans to legislate on "fake news" at present.
The title of the South China Morning Post's interview with Lam Ting-kwok's article: Hong Kong should use "soft power" to deal with "soft confrontation". Source: South China Morning Post official website
Lin Dingguo pointed out that what is more urgent to deal with at present is the challenge of "soft confrontation." These "soft confrontations" often involve false, misleading and unfair statements designed to create unnecessary and unjustified fear or despair. Lam quoted Chief Executive John Lee as saying that spreading conflict and chaos under the guise of people's livelihood issues is tantamount to "soft confrontation".
Lin Tingguo suggested that the SAR government must establish and strengthen soft power and use "soft power" to deal with "soft confrontation". He believes that it is possible to start by refuting and publishing information, so that the public can make informed judgments and increase confidence and trust in the information they receive.
The Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong criticizes the US "human rights report"
In response to the so-called "2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices" released by the US State Department, the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong issued a document today (23rd) expressing its firm opposition.
Source: Official website of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong
The spokesperson of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region said that the Chinese government attaches great importance to respecting and protecting human rights, and has always placed the promotion and protection of human rights in an important position. The HKSAR has always been committed to safeguarding human rights through security, promoting human rights through development and advancing human rights through cooperation. The so-called "report" of the US side ignores the facts, misinterprets right and wrong, and reverses black and white, fully exposing its sinister intention of interfering in China's internal affairs and Hong Kong affairs.
The spokesperson stressed that the Chinese government has always comprehensively, accurately and unswervingly implemented the principles of "one country, two systems", "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy, firmly upheld national sovereignty, security and development interests, Hong Kong's prosperity and stability, and firmly supported the development of democracy with Hong Kong characteristics. The Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the National Security Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Safeguarding of National Security Ordinance fully protect the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents in accordance with the law. At the same time, rights are not a "shield" for crimes, and no civilized society under the rule of law will tolerate illegal and criminal acts that endanger national security or undermine social peace. The US side maliciously smears the administration of the HKSAR government in accordance with the law and the judicial organs of the HKSAR in accordance with the law, which undermines the spirit of the rule of law and the cause of justice.
The spokesman criticized the so-called "report" of the US side for making irresponsible remarks about the human rights situation in nearly 200 countries and regions around the world, while selectively ignoring serious human rights problems such as racial discrimination, the proliferation of guns, police violence, and the gap between the rich and the poor in its own country. He also pointed out that the United States cannot shirk the blame for the deterioration of the human rights situation in many countries in the world, and even the main culprit.
The spokesman urged the US to stop lying, respect facts, abandon hypocrisy, double standards and narrow bias, abide by the principles of international law and basic norms governing international relations, and immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs.
Paul Chan: Hong Kong has three major advantages in the development of the Greater Bay Area
At the "ACCCIM Forum 2024" of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce held today (23rd), Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po mentioned in his speech that Hong Kong needs to focus on three major directions in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
The Financial Secretary of Hong Kong, Paul Chan, today (23rd) attended the "ACCCIM Forum 2024" hosted by the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce of Hong Kong and delivered a keynote speech. Source: Point News
The first is green finance, "more than one-third of Asia's green finance is in Hong Kong", and mainland institutions come to Hong Kong to issue "green bonds", which makes it easier to raise funds; the second is the digital economy, "digitalization has subverted many industries"; and the third is that Hong Kong should adhere to the positioning of "eight centers", among which the financial center, innovation and technology center, and trade center have the greatest promotion to Hong Kong's GDP.
Chan believes that if mainland companies perform well in Hong Kong in terms of development and earnings, it will help attract more international institutional investors. Data map
Mr Chan also mentioned that the five measures just introduced by the SFC to support Hong Kong's capital market, including supporting the listing of leading mainland enterprises in Hong Kong, are very important. Mr Chan believes that if the development and profitability of the enterprises in Hong Kong are good, it will help attract more international institutional investors and bring more liquidity to Hong Kong, while the expansion of the Stock Connect will facilitate international investors to invest in the mainland stock market.
Mr Chan said that in addition to the financial industry, the HKSAR Government also has high hopes for Hong Kong's innovation and technology industry, believing that it will work closely with Shenzhen in the future. If there are more links in terms of data, talent and capital, Hong Kong's advantages will be more obvious.
Author丨Guo Yongji, chief writer of Shenzhen Satellite TV Direct News