Hong Kong – HKSAR Government strongly condemns and opposes unfounded smears against Court of First Instance verdict on conspiracy to commit subversion case
HKSAR Government strongly condemns and opposes unfounded smears against Court of First Instance verdict on conspiracy to commit subversion case
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The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today (May 31) strongly condemned and opposed the untruthful, slandering and smearing remarks made by some Western countries (including the United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), the European Union, Australia and more), anti-China organisations, anti-China politicians and foreign media on the verdict delivered by the Court of First Instance of the HKSAR on a conspiracy to commit subversion case yesterday (May 30).
A spokesman for the HKSAR Government said, “Following 118 days of open hearing and thorough consideration of the relevant legal principles, massive amount of evidence and submissions from the prosecution and the defence, the reasons for verdict delivered by the court yesterday clearly confirmed the occurrence of the offence of conspiracy to commit subversion, which aimed at undermining, destroying or overthrowing the existing political system and structure of the HKSAR established under the Basic Law and the ‘one country, two systems’ principle. Such criminal acts endangering national security had nothing to do with the so-called fight for democracy and human rights. A total of 47 persons were charged in the case. Apart from the two defendants, against whom the evidence was found insufficient for the court to be sure of their participation in the conspiracy offence, the remaining 45 defendants were convicted, showing the scale and the seriousness of the criminal scheme. With regard to the verdict on the two defendants, the Department of Justice had already informed the court of its intention to appeal.
“The HKSAR is an inalienable part of the People’s Republic of China, and as a local administrative region that enjoys a high degree of autonomy under the principle of ‘one country, two systems’, comes directly under the jurisdiction of the Central People’s Government. The core essence of the Sino-British Joint Declaration is about China’s resumption of the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong. It did not authorise the UK to interfere in Hong Kong’s affairs after its return to the motherland. The UK has no sovereignty, jurisdiction or right of supervision over Hong Kong after its return to the motherland. The external forces disregarded the fact, made skewed remarks about the verdict delivered by the court of the HKSAR by replacing the rule of law with political manipulation and confounding right and wrong, and blatantly interfered in Hong Kong’s affairs which are entirely China’s internal affairs. The external forces’ attempt to undermine the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong is doomed to fail.
“The HKSAR law enforcement agencies have been taking law enforcement actions based on evidence and strictly in accordance with the law in respect of the acts of the persons or entities concerned, which have nothing to do with their political stance, background or occupation. The suggestion that certain individuals should be immune from legal consequences for their illegal acts, including the illegal act of subversion, is no different from advocating a special pass to break the law, and this totally runs contrary to the spirit of the rule of law.
“The offences endangering national security stipulated under the Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL) target acts endangering national security with precision, and define the elements and penalties of the offences with clarity. On the charge of conspiracy to commit subversion, the court pointed out clearly in the reasons for verdict that the prosecution has the duty to prove beyond reasonable doubt the relevant conspiratorial agreement; the defendants’ intention to carry out the unlawful means which was the subject matter of the charge; and the defendants so acted with a view to subverting the State power before the defendant may be convicted by the court.
“As guaranteed by the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights, all defendants charged with a criminal offence shall have the right to a fair trial by the Judiciary exercising independent judicial power. The courts of the HKSAR shall exercise judicial power independently, free from any interference. It is extremely inappropriate for the US and some Western countries, anti-China organisations, anti-China politicians, foreign media and more to make unwarranted comments on criminal trials which are ongoing in the HKSAR courts. It is also a complete disregard for the spirit of the rule of law.
“The HKSAR Government steadfastly safeguards the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong people as protected under the law. Since Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, human rights in the city have always been robustly guaranteed constitutionally under the Constitution and the Basic Law. The NSL also clearly stipulates that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security in the HKSAR, and that the rights and freedoms, including the freedoms of speech, of the press, of publication, of association, of assembly, of procession and of demonstration, that Hong Kong residents enjoy under the Basic Law and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as applied to Hong Kong, shall be protected in accordance with the law. Nonetheless, just as the case with other places in the world, such rights and freedoms are not absolute. The ICCPR also expressly states that some of them may be subject to restrictions as prescribed by law that are necessary for protection of national security, public safety, public order or the rights and freedoms of others, and more,” the spokesman added.
“The so-called ‘sanctions’ mentioned by some foreign politicians smack of despicable political manipulation to intimidate Judges, Judicial Officers and prosecutors from the Department of Justice. These grossly interfere in China’s internal affairs and Hong Kong’s affairs, and violate the international law and the basic norms governing international relations. The HKSAR despises such so-called ‘sanctions’ and is not intimidated by such a despicable behaviour. The HKSAR will resolutely continue to discharge the duty of safeguarding national security,” the spokesman said.
“In the 318-page judgment, the court has clearly set out the reasons and consideration underlying the conviction, and confirmed the occurrence of the offence of conspiracy to commit subversion. The HKSAR Government strongly demands the US and some Western countries, anti-China organisations, anti-China politicians, foreign media, and more, to immediately stop interfering in China’s internal affairs and Hong Kong’s affairs, and stop making baseless reports and malicious smearing on the verdict of the relevant case,” the spokesperson reiterated.
The HKSAR Government steadfastly safeguards national sovereignty, security and development interests, and fully and faithfully lives up to the highest principle of “one country, two systems”. It will resolutely, fully and faithfully implement the NSL, the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance and other relevant laws safeguarding national security in the HKSAR, to effectively prevent, suppress and impose punishment for acts and activities endangering national security in accordance with the law, whilst maintaining the common law system, adhering to the principle of the rule of law and upholding the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong people in accordance with the law, so as to ensure the steadfast and successful implementation of the principle of “one country, two systems”.
Current status: Open Opened on 30 May 2024 and will close for consultation on 13 August 2024 Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) invites the public to submit written comments on the proposed maximum residue limit (MRL) for metsulfuron-methyl up to 75 days from the date of publication of this consultation document (by 13 August 2024). How to get involved To comment on PMRL2024-09: Step 1: Open “View the proposed MRL decision” below to access the document. Please be sure to include the title of the consultation document on which you are commenting. Heath Canada will consider all comments received before making a final decision on the proposed MRL for metsulfuron-methyl. View the proposed MRL decision Reporting to Canadians If you have any questions, contact the Pest Management Information Service. Interested in our other consultations? Sign up and stay informed about topics that matter to you. Current status: Open Opened on 30 May 2024 and will close for consultation on 13 August 2024 Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) invites the public to submit written comments on the proposed maximum residue limit (MRL) for broflanilide up to 75 days from the date of publication of this consultation document (by 13 August 2024). How to get involved To comment on PMRL2024-08: Step 1: Open “View the proposed MRL decision” below to access the document. Please be sure to include the title of the consultation document on which you are commenting. Heath Canada will consider all comments received before making a final decision on the proposed MRL for broflanilide. View the proposed MRL decision Reporting to Canadians If you have any questions, contact the Pest Management Information Service. Interested in our other consultations? Sign up and stay informed about topics that matter to you. With rising urbanization and digitization in every sphere of life, technology has become a driving force to boost our economy. This rapid adoption of technology has also opened new prospects in the Indian market with promising potential for disrupting traditional sectors. Speaking of the traditional industries, real estate in India has seen a major transformation in terms of technology in the recent years. This can be evident from the emergence of ‘proptech’ companies across the top cities of the country. As the Indian real estate sector is poised to reach $1 trillion revenue by 2030, significantly contributing to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP), proptech has become a major catalyst helping drive this growth. According to the latest media reports, the proptech market in India is anticipated to increase at a rate of 9.6 percent from 2021 to 2025, reaching the $100 billion benchmark by 2030. The rising demand momentum in the realty sector, specifically in the residential real estate, has spurred the growth of PropTech unicorns in India. Currently, there are already multiple unicorns in the proptech sector including some household names such as NoBroker, Livspace among others. These proptech companies use technologies like artificial intelligence, Big Data analytics, machine learning, virtual reality, and blockchain to transform the way properties are purchased, sold, rented, financed, and managed. Considering the crucial role played by proptechs in India, the Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Association of India (CREDAI) launched a $100 million proptech fund, Spyre Proptech Venture Fund, in February in collaboration with several Venture Catalysts and Neovon – a consortium of developers who have committed to contributing one-fifth of the corpus (total money invested in the fund). The fund has already received commitments for around 35-40 percent of its total. The fund is planning to eventually end up with a portfolio of approximately 35 startups. There are several emerging proptech trends that have gained momentum in the past few years and ushered a wave of tech-driven real estate. Check out some of the most popular trends impacting the realty sector in India. These platforms leverage advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence to provide valuable market insights and predictions to real estate stakeholders. By analyzing the bulk data, including property prices, demand-supply dynamics, demographic trends, and consumer preferences, proptech companies are empowering investors, developers, and policymakers across the country to make informed decisions. Smart buildings use IoT-enabled devices, sensors, and systems to improve and maximize operations, comfort, energy, security, etc. The use of physical items, such as sensors and systems, to collect and process data from a variety of activities is known as the Internet of Things (IoT). Property management companies and building owners can use this collected data for analytical monitoring and proactive management. PropTech has also transformed property management practices in India, enabling landlords, property managers, and residential societies to streamline operations, enhance tenant experiences, and maximize returns on investment. Through cloud-based property management platforms, one can automate tasks such as rent collection, maintenance requests, tenant communications, and financial reporting. This will improve the overall efficiency, reducing administrative burden, and ensuring better asset performance. This is an effective business model wherein landlords offer services to tenants that help them make better use of the space. Its primary goal is to switch from asset ownership to the monetization of free spaces in commercial real estate. Some of the best examples of this may include biometric entrance systems, surveillance, fittings, etc. As these facilities are very easy to implement, many coliving and coworking spaces are gaining more and more popularity among millennials. Another segment where proptech services are being highly used is offering property tours with the help of AR/VR technology. With the use of this technology, buyers can look at several property listings without having to deal with the inconvenience or cost of travel. Even while VR and AR technologies have been around for a while, the COVID-induced pandemic has given them more traction. Virtual reality gives you the ability to present 360-degree views of your house, while augmented reality lets you stage it in various different ways. Almost in every sector in India, customer satisfaction is the number one priority for businesses and real estate is no different. Many Companies are now emphasizing quick gratification to deliver the best customer experience. The realty sector has also been utilizing proptech to meet client expectations as it recognizes the need of conducting business with a customer-centric approach. There are several CRM software that can help you in following up with leads, managing communications, and tracking your overall success. To sum up, PropTech is driving the real estate revolution in India by harnessing the power of technology to innovate, disrupt, and transform traditional practices. PropTech is changing the way real estate is bought, sold, developed. It is laying the groundwork for a more effective, transparent, and sustainable future. De-risking supply chains will push diversification of manufacturing hubs beyond China. According to JLL, Southeast Asia and India stand out to be net beneficiaries for companies keen to complement or diversify from their existing manufacturing bases in China. “The Make in India initiative, Industrial Corridor Development Program, Production Linked Incentives (PLI), India Semiconductor Mission & National Logistics Policy are a few policies and initiatives that has helped propel the India story globally today. Not just that, the country’s demographic dividend and therefore being one of the largest consumer markets in World makes India an attractive proposition over other SEA countries. Manufacturing companies are exploring innovative transaction structures to complement their timeline targets and funding strategies in India,” said Chandranath Dey, Head (Operations & Business Development), Logistics & Industrial, India, JLL. Make in India 2.0 continues its impressive trajectory, fuelled by remarkable 55% increase in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) equity inflow in the manufacturing sector from 2014-2023, reaching a substantial USD 148.9 billion, compared to USD 96 billion between 2005-2014. This robust growth is further evidenced by notable 4.5 times increase in leasing activity for light manufacturing spaces in 2023, as compared to 2020, with projected Year -on -Year growth of ~25% in 2024. India’s growth story unfolds with remarkable contributions from the Engineering, Auto & Ancillary, and Electronics & White Goods sectors, driving the leasing demand for light manufacturing. “These thriving industries require spaces with advanced specifications, leading to a substantial 35% of manufacturing leasing being garnered through Built-to-Suit transactions. The remaining 65% is dominated by Ready-Built transactions, underscoring the eagerness of manufacturing companies to swiftly occupy readily available stock. Pune, Chennai, and NCR Delhi have emerged as prime destinations, luring manufacturing companies with their robust manufacturing ecosystems and well-developed infrastructure,” he added. Over the past few years, companies have begun exploring the relocation of manufacturing outside of China. In Asia Pacific, this near/re/friend shoring trend has resulted in the China+1 strategy where companies add additional manufacturing bases outside of China to hedge against supply chain disruptions by reducing reliance on a single country. According to JLL analysis, the impact has been mostly felt at the destination country, especially in Southeast Asia and India. As a result, governments are supporting these opportunities and implementing more policies that aim to boost their local manufacturing industries, placing a premium on land availability and access to capital sources. The driving force behind this trend is not only the need for supply chain diversification, but also to capitalise on the strong economic fundamentals of this region, including a large population and labour pool, favourable costs, and various incentives. From a manufacturing investment perspective, these factors position SEA and India as major manufacturing hubs for global markets. According to multiple sources, rising costs in China over the past decade have served as the primary accelerator of this shift towards diversification. Higher demand for industrial land, coupled with rising wages and material costs, has also pushed up land prices in China, which can be up to two times higher compared to some SEA countries and India. JLL estimates China holds the lion’s share of manufacturing FDI in the region, but the gap is narrowing. Indonesia raked in USD 28.7 billion in investment last year, up USD 4 billion from the year earlier. Vietnam’s FDI in manufacturing climbed over 30% to hit USD 23.5 billion. Furthermore, factors such as skilled labour, infrastructure, environmental regulations, proximity to suppliers and customers, and political stability contribute significantly to a factory’s long-term success and sustainability. JLL recommends careful evaluation of these non-cost or qualitative factors are crucial to make an informed decision and lay a strong foundation for future growth. Canada – Metsulfuron-methyl, Proposed Maximum Residue Limit (PMRL2024-09)
This consultation is available for comment from 30 May 2024 to 13 August 2024 (75 calendar days).
Step 2: Submit comments to the Pest Management Regulatory Agency Publications Section
Health Canada will make the results of this consultation available on this website. Once the decision on metsulfuron-methyl is finalized, the established MRLs will be legally in effect as of the date that they are entered into the MRL database, an online query application that allows users to search for established MRLs, regulated under the Pest Control Products Act, both for pesticides or food commodities.Canada – Broflanilide, Proposed Maximum Residue Limit (PMRL2024-08)
This consultation is available for comment from 30 May 2024 to 13 August 2024 (75 calendar days).
Step 2: Submit comments to the Pest Management Regulatory Agency Publications Section
Health Canada will make the results of this consultation available on this website. Once the decision on broflanilide is finalized, the established MRLs will be legally in effect as of the date that they are entered into the MRL database, an online query application that allows users to search for established MRLs, regulated under the Pest Control Products Act, both for pesticides or food commodities.Riding The Wave: PropTechs Are Transforming The Indian Real Estate Landscape
How PropTech Is Sparking Real Estate Revolution?
Emerging PropTech Trends in India
Conclusion
Supply chain realignments position India, SE Asia as leading manufacturing hubs, beyond China: JLL
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