Hong Kong's Justice Secretary Paul Lam stated that new legislation allowing the chief executive to certify national security cases will not impact appeals, as courts do not consider new evidence on appeal. The move aims to clarify national security offenses.
The developments highlight Hong Kong's dual focus on revitalizing its tourism sector through strategic investments and enhancing its legal framework for national security, signaling efforts to bolster both economic competitiveness and governance.
Hong Kong's Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Rosanna Law, has emphasized the need for the city to enhance its tourism offerings to remain competitive. Ahead of the 29th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to Chinese rule, Law stated the city must become 'bigger and better' to attract tourists, rather than expecting rival cities like Shenzhen to stagnate. The government is preparing its first five-year tourism plan, aiming to increase its contribution to the city's GDP to approximately 5% by 2029, up from about 3% last year. Plans include developing heritage attractions such as Haw Par Mansion. Regarding the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, Law revealed that prospective operators sought additional time to prepare proposals due to an expanded scope of responsibilities and new performance targets, leading to an extension of the tender deadline from May 22 to June 26.
Separately, Hong Kong's Justice Secretary Paul Lam stated that new subsidiary legislation, which allows the chief executive to certify a case as involving national security at any stage of proceedings, is unlikely to affect appeals. Lam explained that appeals do not involve new evidence and courts only review original verdicts for errors, suggesting that classifying a case as national security would not inherently alter an appeal's outcome. He described the defense of national security as continuous work to improve the city's legal system.
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