The Hong Kong government has established a new regulation stipulating that license holders and employees of eateries and entertainment venues may have their licenses revoked if involved in national security cases. Chief Executive John Lee stated that this measure is part of fulfilling the legal responsibility and obligation to safeguard national security, which is a reasonable and appropriate approach.
According to reports from multiple Hong Kong media outlets, the Hong Kong Food and Environmental Hygiene Department plans to incorporate national security-related conditions into new and renewed licenses and permits, covering areas such as eateries, food manufacturing, swimming pools, and entertainment venues.
Under the new regulation, the license holder or their “associated persons” must not engage in or be involved in crimes endangering national security, nor carry out “offensive acts” detrimental to national security or the public interest of Hong Kong. The term “associated persons” includes employees, agents, contractors, etc. Earlier, Hong Kong Executive Council member and senior barrister Ronny Tong interpreted that people using profanity to insult the country or leaders might face license revocation.
When asked on the 10th before attending the Executive Council about how to define behavior that “offends national security or is adverse to the public interest,” and whether Ronny Tong’s statement that using profanity to insult the nation could lead to license revocation was accurate, John Lee did not provide a direct response.
John Lee only stated that adding national security clauses to new and renewed licenses by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department aims to prevent and halt actions detrimental to national security, fulfilling the legal responsibility and obligation to maintain national security, which is “very appropriate and necessary.”