Hong Kong’s Secretary for Transport and Logistics: Strengthen the National Security Safeguard and Consolidate Hong Kong’s Status as an International Shipping and Aviation Hub

　　Hong Kong, March 27 (Xinhua) (Reporter Dai Xiaotong) April 15 will mark the 11th "National Security Education Day." Chen Meibao, Secretary for Transport and Logistics of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, recently stated in an interview with Xinhua and other media that the Transport and Logistics Bureau will closely adhere to the core themes of coordinated development and security, and solidly advance national security-related work from three dimensions: publicity and education, bottom-line adherence, and technology empowerment. This will dynamically strengthen the national security barrier in an open environment, helping Hong Kong to continuously consolidate its position as an international aviation hub and international shipping center.

　　Chen Meibao pointed out that the work of the Transport and Logistics Bureau covers the entire scope of Hong Kong's sea, land, and air transport logistics, bearing the dual responsibilities of safeguarding national security and promoting high-quality industry development. In terms of national security publicity and education work, the bureau continuously organizes internal personnel to participate in various national security-themed learning activities, simultaneously launching online learning courses to promote national security awareness into the minds and hearts of people.

　　Maintaining the safety bottom line is the premise of open development. She stated that the Transport and Logistics Bureau continues to focus precisely on improving systems and emergency drills, regularly conducting cross-departmental emergency drills in sea, land, and air, comprehensively strengthening industry safety awareness and crisis handling capabilities. In response to emerging security challenges such as cybersecurity and artificial intelligence applications, technology empowerment and deepening professional training will be relied upon to comprehensively enhance the resilience of critical information systems, building a solid safety protection line for key infrastructure in the transportation field.

　　Speaking about actively aligning with the national "15th Five-Year Plan" related work, she revealed that the Transport and Logistics Bureau has formed a dedicated editorial team to include key contents such as maritime development, green fuel refueling, modern logistics system construction, and overall transportation strategy into the relevant scope of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's first five-year plan. Currently, extensive consultation with industry professionals is underway to further optimize and refine the planning layout.

　　She emphasized that Hong Kong, as a highly internationalized free port, will strictly adhere to the spirit of the white paper "The Practice of Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong under 'One Country, Two Systems'," insisting on safeguarding national security in an open environment. "Openness and national security complement each other; without security, development in openness cannot occur; without openness, national security cannot be better maintained."

　　She further explained that the white paper clearly states that safeguarding national security in Hong Kong under "One Country, Two Systems" is centered on shaping open security. She emphasized that Hong Kong must adhere to bottom-line thinking, advancing higher-level openness on the basis of strengthening the national security bottom line, fully ensuring the safe and stable flow of global supply chains, trade chains, and capital chains. In response to the multiple challenges brought by the current turbulent international situation in the shipping and aviation fields, Hong Kong will fully leverage its role as a transshipment port, continuously enhancing the core competitiveness of ports and airports, and pursue intelligent green development.

　　"Safeguarding national security is never complete, only ongoing, and everyone is responsible, with no outsiders." She stated that the Transport and Logistics Bureau will continue to closely communicate with the industry, dynamically assess global situations and its own risks and opportunities, constantly optimize strategies, consolidate industry-leading advantages, and uphold Hong Kong's position as an international aviation hub and shipping center amidst global development changes, effectively safeguarding the security of the Special Administrative Region and national security, providing solid support for Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability. (End)