Security Bureau
保安局
Emblem of the Hong Kong SAR

Banner
Agency overview
Formed1973
Preceding agencies
  • Defense Branch
  • Security Branch
Headquarters10th Floor, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong
Minister responsible
Deputy Minister responsible
  • Sonny Au, Under Secretary for Security
Agency executive
  • Carol Yip, Permanent Secretary for Security [1]
Child agencies
Websitewww.sb.gov.hk
Security Bureau
Chinese保安局
Hanyu PinyinBǎo'ān Jú
Yale RomanizationBóu ōn guhk
JyutpingBou2 on1 guk6

The Security Bureau (Chinese: 保安局) is a body of the Government of Hong Kong responsible for policies of the maintenance of law and order, exercising immigration and customs control, rehabilitating offenders and drug abusers, and providing emergency fire and rescue services.

The bureau is headed by the Secretary for Security.

History

In 1973 it was known as the Defence Branch (Chinese: 防衛科). Before 1997, it was named the Security Branch (Chinese: 保安科).

In January 2021, a proposal from the government was announced, where information of airline passengers would be shared with the Immigration Department and passengers could potentially be banned from flying.[2] In response to criticism that it could lead to preventing Hong Kong citizens from leaving the city, the Security Bureau claimed that they would not be affected, and that this would only be for "passenger information on flights heading to Hong Kong, rather than departing flights. The right of Hong Kong residents to enter or leave Hong Kong is not affected."[2]

In February 2021, after reports that the Security Bureau worked with the Correctional Services Department to force prisoners with dual passports to declare a sole nationality, the Security Bureau cited mainland China's nationality laws to explain why consular visits to those prisoners with dual passports might be rejected.[3] A spokesman for the British consulate said they were now "seeking answers from the Hong Kong authorities following the suggestion that they may withdraw our consular access to dual national prisoners and prevent us providing the support we have given since 1997."[3]

In 2022, journalists and members of the legal team representing media tycoon Jimmy Lai internationally received threatening messages purportedly from the Security Bureau and the National Security Department. The Hong Kong police issued a statement condemning acts of impersonation and asked for more information from those involved in order to follow up on the incident.[4]

In August 2022, the Narcotics Division of the Security Bureau said it that any amount of THC is illegal in the city. Hong Kong authorities subsequently outlawed CBD, saying that it can be converted into THC and many products came contaminated with the chemical. Whether CBD has medicinal effects is debated.[5][6]

Subordinate entities

The following public entities are controlled by the bureau:

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Name List of Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Government Departments". Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  2. 1 2 "New rules 'won't affect people's right to leave HK' - RTHK". news.rthk.hk. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  3. 1 2 "West sounds alarm over consular access in HK - RTHK". news.rthk.hk. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  4. ↑ "Hong Kong police slam fake 'National Security Wing' email sent to Lai lawyers". South China Morning Post. 8 July 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  5. ↑ Leung, Hillary (21 August 2022). "Hong Kong's zero-tolerance approach to drugs leaves budding CBD industry high and dry". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  6. ↑ "Hong Kong's New CBD Ban Reinforces Asia's Strict Drug Approach". Time. 1 February 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
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