As the recent instability in different parts of the world has left many people displaced and facing constant insecurity, the importance of national security is more deeply felt than ever. The conflict situation changes swiftly. Tactics used in mounting attacks keep evolving and become unpredictable and difficult to guard against. The national security risks faced by Hong Kong as a highly open international city are particularly pronounced. Civil servants, being the backbone of the Government, must have profound insight into the international landscape and understand Hong Kong’s role in the national security framework. We should also be far-sighted and stay vigilant at all times, so as to effectively fulfil our constitutional duty of safeguarding national security.

Since 2023, the Civil Service College has been organising the “Holistic Approach to National Security” seminar series. Experts on national security issues from authoritative institutions in Beijing, namely the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations and the Center for a Holistic Approach to National Security, are invited to deliver seminars to provide a comprehensive explanation of the core principles of the holistic approach to national security. The seminars aim to enhance civil servants’ awareness of consciously safeguarding national security, and develop their holistic views.

The College organised two seminars this year to focus on analysing the latest national security landscape under the context of great power rivalry and the challenges faced by our country in maintaining national security. In the seminar on “Japan’s Rightward Shift and China’s National Security” held in April this year, an expert scholar elaborated on the historical evolution of the accelerating rightward shift of Japan’s politics and its latest developments. Through analysing the underlying causes, the speaker examined the impact of the Japanese political regime’s policy direction on Sino-Japanese relations and the national security of China. Participants have realised that admitting historical truth is not to perpetuate animosity, but to safeguard national security and uphold justice. Any act of downplaying the crime of aggression is to challenge other countries’ dignity and the post-war international order. Another seminar, titled “The Prospects and Implications of Major Changes in the Middle East”, gave an analysis on the situation in the Middle East and the significant implications on the geopolitical development in the region as well as the global landscape. The participants learned about the all-pervasive forces that jeopardise national security, and become more sensitive to the different aspects of risks. They also expressed deep appreciation for our country’s foresight and capability of making advance preparations and diversifying risks, and efforts in achieving self-reliance and self-enhancement so as to minimise external impacts. As civil servants, we are duty bound to safeguard national security. Meanwhile, we should remember the historical truth and pass them on from generation to generation. It is also imperative for us to safeguard national security through our daily work, thereby keeping hazards at bay and better protecting our home.

Please stay tuned to the next seminar scheduled for October this year to closely follow the latest developments on national security together.