April 15 this year marks the first National Security Education Day after the implementation of The Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (NSL). The Civil Service Bureau (CSB) has launched a video talk on the NSL to strengthen civil servants' awareness towards safeguarding national security.

     The talk is delivered by the Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Deng Zhonghua, and covers the necessity, urgency and legitimacy of the enactment of the NSL, the legislative intent and purpose of the NSL, as well as major institutional designs under the NSL.

     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, sent an email to Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Department today (April 12) to encourage civil service colleagues to watch the talk, with a view to enabling them to have a more thorough understanding of the NSL. In addition, bureaux and departments will make arrangements for civil servants reaching Master Pay Scale Point 14 or above, or equivalent, and joining the Government on or after July 1, 2018 to view the talk as part of the induction training.

     "The civil service is the backbone of the HKSAR Government. I expect all civil servant colleagues, particularly the new recruits, to have a correct understanding of the NSL and an enhanced awareness of safeguarding national security, and to act in accord fully with the HKSAR Government in discharging its duty of safeguarding national security," he said.

Ends/Monday, April 12, 2021
Issued at HKT 19:50

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