The Culture, Sports & Tourism Bureau announced today the setting up of a co-ordination office to carry out planning and implementation work for the upcoming National Games, National Games for Persons with Disabilities and National Special Olympic Games. The National Games Coordination Office, led by three senior directorate officers, will work closely with the governments of Guangdong and the Macao Special Administration Region to co-organise the 15th National Games. The State Council announced in August 2021 that the 15th National Games are to be co-hosted in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau in 2025, the first time Hong Kong will have co-hosted the National Games. The three locations will also co-host the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games after the 15th National Games are held. The Hong Kong SAR Organising Committee of the 15th National Games was formed in May, with the Chief Executive a
The Security Bureau today said the public meetings and procession to be held on May 29 and June 4 are unauthorised assemblies and anyone advertising, publicising or taking part in such acts may violate the law.
In a statement, the bureau noted that Police have prohibited and objected to a public meeting and procession to be held on May 30 and a public meeting to be held on June 4. The decisions were confirmed by the Appeal Board on Public Meetings & Processions following a hearing.
According to the Public Order Ordinance, anyone who takes part in an unauthorised assembly is liable to a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment while those taking part in advertising or publicising an unauthorised assembly are liable to a maximum penalty of 12 months’ imprisonment.
Additionally, taking part in such events may be in breach of relevant offences under the Prevention & Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation.
The bureau also noted that the court's recent judgments in two cases relating to unauthorised assemblies in 2019 indicate that taking part in an unauthorised assembly, whether or not it involves violence, is in violation of the law. The people concerned were eventually sentenced to imprisonment of varying terms.
It reminds the public that they should not advertise, publicise or take part in any unauthorised assembly.
Anyone who attempts to challenge the law, including the Prohibition on Group Gathering, Public Order Ordinance and the National Security Law, will be seriously dealt with by Police in accordance with the law, the bureau added.
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