Exclusive | Repentant protesters will be given priority case review, minister says

As Hong Kong marks the 29th anniversary of its return to Chinese rule on July 1, the South China Morning Post talks to the city’s senior officials about the administration’s achievements so far and what may lie ahead.
Protesters arrested during Hong Kong’s 2019 social unrest will be given priority for case reviews if they demonstrate remorse and a sense of national identity, the security chief has revealed, even as investigations continue.
In an interview with the SCMP, Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung also vowed to continue reviewing and refining the city’s national security laws, citing ongoing threats posed by geopolitical tensions, local terrorism, “soft resistance” and technological advancements.
According to police figures, 10,286 people aged between 11 and 87 were arrested in connection with the 2019 anti-extradition bill protests. As of the end of March, 2,978 had faced or entered judicial proceedings, while more than 7,000 had yet to be charged.
Some individuals who have not yet been charged have taken part in a government-run “special rehabilitation project” launched two years ago. The programme offers career planning services, internship opportunities and trips to mainland China.
Asked whether these participants could have their cases dropped, Tang said some would be given priority for a review.
“We will depend on many considerations, including whether they have a sense of remorse and whether they would like to identify as Chinese,” he said.

However, Tang stressed that prosecution would proceed where there was sufficient evidence.
“We still have to review those cases,” he said, adding that the absence of evidence at a given time did not mean the investigation would be suspended.
Some arrestees who attended a sharing session themed “New Opportunity, New Journey” with Hong Kong singer Hins Cheung in April were later notified by police that investigations into their cases had been terminated.
Tang said that the rehabilitation project was not just about potentially suspending investigations, but also about supporting the participants in their education and careers, while providing opportunities to better understand the mainland.
The appointment of the Cantopop singer as a mentor for the programme – who shared his personal “mental” journey and led youngsters on trips to the mainland – drew criticism because he had publicly supported the 2012 protests against national education and the 2014 Occupy Central movement.
Tang noted that the programme featured a wide range of mentors, including athletes and artists, calling on the public not to focus on individual figures.
“Anyone who can bring a positive attitude, educate or share their experiences with those young people will be suitable,” he said. “And then we will consider asking them to help.”
Nearly six years after the promulgation of the national security law and two years since the enactment of the home-grown Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, Tang said threats persisted, particularly amid geopolitical tensions.
He highlighted the risks of external infiltration, pointing to advertisements by the United States aimed at disaffecting Chinese officials and citizens, as well as overseas absconders who continued to advocate for Hong Kong independence.
Tang also warned of local terrorism risks, saying some groups had attempted to use extreme violence, including explosives, to cause extensive damage.
He added that “soft resistance” through the incitement of hatred via fake news and other means remained a concern.
“Safeguarding national security work is an ongoing task and there is no endpoint,” Tang said. “We are continuously reviewing if there is any need to further refine our legal system or our implementation mechanism.”
He also expressed concern about emerging threats from technological advancements, particularly artificial intelligence (AI).
“Any new technologies will bring new opportunities. But at the same time, it will create threats to all aspects, including national security,” Tang said.

He cited the example of identity theft through the use of AI as “something that we have to work against.”
Reflecting on his four years leading the Security Bureau, Tang highlighted efforts to safeguard national security, including the completion of the constitutional duty to enact Article 23 legislation.
He said the national security hotline had received more than 1.3 million tip-offs – “a lot of them carry weight” – leading to follow-up actions. Police previously said that 10 per cent of messages were considered worth pursuing.
Beyond national security, he pointed to a 5.9 per cent drop in the overall crime rate last year, attributing this in part to the use of AI, surveillance cameras and drones in crime detection.
Asked whether he would seek higher office ahead of the next government term in a year’s time, the 60-year-old policeman-turned-minister declined to comment on his future plans.
“I will always support Mr John Lee [Ka-chiu] to continuously lead our team to serve the public,” Tang said.
Pressed whether he would stay on if the city leader sought another term, Tang said his personal preference “is not important” and what mattered was where he was needed.