The Hong Kong International Airport will add a “face recognition” boarding gate from January 5, 2021, causing doubts from all walks of life. (Image source: Hong Kong Government News)
[Look at China News on August 6, 2021]The Hong Kong Government’s revised “Immigration regulationsThe draft came into effect on August 1, and there are voices among the people who questioned the “Hong Kong Lockdown Ordinance” that restricts exit.CanadaUpdate to Hong Kong on August 5Travel warning, To warn Canadian nationals going to Hong Kong: Hong Kong authorities can apply amendments to restrict their departure from Hong Kong; the law has already made the outside world worry that Hong Kong will follow China’s exampleOutbound restrictions。
According to AFP reports, the revised Hong Kong Immigration (Amendment) Bill 2020 gives the Hong Kong immigration authorities the power to restrict people from boarding in and out of Hong Kong before boarding and taking off. The Canadian Tourism Advisory Service stated on its official Twitter: “According to this amendment, anyone, including foreigners, may not be able to leave Hong Kong.”
The tweet is also accompanied by a travel alert update notice issued by the Canadian government on August 3, which specifically mentions that the newly revised immigration regulations, in the absence of clear legislation, “gives the Hong Kong authorities the power to conduct criminal or civil investigations. , Their family members, and even their employers, etc., restrict people from leaving the country. “You may not know that you are subject to movement restrictions until you board the plane.” It is also difficult for relevant persons to obtain relevant information from the authorities. The guidelines also mention that if Canadian citizens are restricted when they leave Hong Kong, they should consult a lawyer and notify the Canadian consulate in Hong Kong.
Agence France-Presse said that mainland China often uses “Exit Ban” to deal with dissidents who challenge the authorities, and also to target business people involved in trade disputes. Western countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom have all criticized the relevant laws, but Canada is the first country to publicly issue a travel warning that clearly mentions the risk of banning the country from leaving the country.
The Hong Kong government has emphasized in the past that the law does not apply to people who plan to leave, and is only aimed at preventing illegal immigrants from entering Hong Kong. However, the text of the regulations does not mention that it only applies to arrival flights or immigration. Legal experts say that the law actually applies to anyone who intends to leave Hong Kong.
A spokesperson for the Hong Kong Security Bureau retorted the Canadian authorities on the 5th, saying that the revised provisions are aimed at fulfilling the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s international responsibility for implementing the “advance notification of passenger information” system under the Convention on International Civil Aviation. The spokesperson criticized the Canadian government for ignoring the Hong Kong government’s past explanations of the “advanced passenger information” system, “deliberately misinterpreting” the purpose and background of the provisions, and making “inaccurate and misleading” statements, expressing strong dissatisfaction and urging Canada to revise its position.
According to the “Stance News” report, the “Immigration (Amendment) Bill 2020” was passed in the Legislative Council for the third reading on April 28 this year. The then Secretary for Security Li Jiachao said at the time that the Hong Kong government would enact subsidiary legislation to specify the immigration department. Changxin’s power only applies to “aircraft coming to Hong Kong”, as well as the details of the notification system and legal requirements.
However, Zou Xingtong, the vice chairman of the stake, who is a barrister himself, questioned that the government can amend the subsidiary legislation by enacting one first and then the second. As long as the main legislation gives the authority powers, the authorities can still exercise it.
Editor in charge: Li Jiahong
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