Civil Service Newsletter Issue 110

Explanation of WCAG 2.0 Level Double-A Conformance

Seminars on “Understanding the Constitutional Order and Safeguarding National Security”

Civil Service Training and Development Institute
Civil Service Bureau

Ms Maria Tam Wai-chu, Vice-Chairperson of the HKSAR Basic Law Committee, was the guest speaker of the first two seminars.

TO commemorate the first anniversary of the promulgation of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) (Hong Kong National Security Law), the Civil Service Training and Development Institute of the Civil Service Bureau is running a series of seminars for directorate and senior civil servants under the theme of “Understanding the Constitutional Order and Safeguarding National Security”. The first two seminars were held in July and August 2021.

The first seminar focused on the theme of “The Constitution of the People’s Republic of China (the Constitution) and the Basic Law”, with talks delivered by Ms Maria Tam Wai-chu, Vice-Chairperson of the HKSAR Basic Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), and Professor Albert Chen Hung-yee, Professor at the University of Hong Kong Faculty of Law and member of the HKSAR Basic Law Committee. The topics of the seminar covered the fundamental principles and major highlights of the Constitution, understanding the state system with the knowledge of the Constitution, the relationship between the Central Authorities and the HKSAR, as well as the decisions and interpretation of the Basic Law by the NPC and its Standing Committee. The speakers of the second seminar were Ms Maria Tam Wai-chu and Mr Johnny Mok Shiu-luen, SC, member of the HKSAR Basic Law Committee. Their talks focused on the Basic Law and the political structure of the HKSAR, the implementation of “one country, two systems” and the Basic Law, as well as the improvements to the HKSAR electoral system.

The third seminar will be held on 16 September. Ms Elsie Leung Oi-sie, former Vice-Chairperson of the HKSAR Basic Law Committee, will be invited to speak on the holistic view of national security and the importance of safeguarding national security and the Hong Kong National Security Law.

The series was well-received with about 850 civil servants attending the first two seminars. Given the overwhelming response, in addition to the live seminars held at the Central Government Offices, some colleagues were arranged to participate through simulcast at the Lecture Theatre of the Hong Kong Central Library. Colleagues’ feedback was positive as they considered the seminars useful in helping them fully understand the constitutional order of the HKSAR established under the Constitution and the Basic Law, and enhancing further their knowledge of various topics related to the Hong Kong National Security Law and the improvements to the HKSAR electoral system.