The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has released new guidelines advising government employees visiting Hong Kong and Macau not to take part in any activity that could be construed as contravening the Chinese territories’ new national security law.
Officials from the Executive Yuan and its affiliated organizations or agencies should also refrain from making comments deemed illegal by the territories’ governments and not visit “banned areas,” the council said.
The council recently amended the Regulations for Executive Yuan and Affiliated Organizations and Agencies on Visiting Hong Kong or Macau (行政院及所屬各機關(構)人員赴香港或澳門注意事項) following the Hong Kong government’s passage in March of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, commonly known as Article 23.
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According to an unnamed source, the Executive Yuan has notified ministries and agencies that the amendment takes effect immediately.
The amendment urges government officials traveling to Hong Kong or Macau to attend events or meetings to plan their trips carefully, avoid discussing sensitive matters, and assess and form contingency plans regarding possible risks.
Government officials can solicit the opinions of the council if necessary, the statement said.
Officials should observe standing regulations and refrain from taking official files unrelated to the events or meetings they would attend in Hong Kong or Macau, and ensure that any cellphones or laptops they carry contain only information about those events or meetings, the statement said.
Officials traveling to Hong Kong or Macau should, in principle, take planes or ships operated by Taiwanese companies whether on official business or not, the amendment states.
During their stay in Hong Kong or Macau, government officials should refrain from speaking or acting in ways which the local governments would consider illegal.
Additionally, they should not stray close to “banned areas” as defined by the national security laws.
Article 23 states that any acts of espionage, defined as infiltrating, coming near to or investigating “banned areas,” either in person or via uncrewed vehicles, or attempts to intercept communications to obtain directly or indirectly helpful information benefiting foreign forces, could be punishable by imprisonment for 20 years.
Banned areas are defined as military or national defense-related areas within the Hong Kong and Macau regions, areas that the Garrison Law designate as off-limits military areas, or locations and transportation facilities that the local governments occupy for military or national defense purposes.
Officials are also advised to be cautious, travel in groups and not visit areas with known protests or processions or enter questionable facilities alone, the council said.
If officials experience any attempts by the Chinese authorities to detain, arrest, restrict their freedom of movement, search or interrogate them, they should contact the MAC Hong Kong or Macau office for assistance, the council said.
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