Having served in the Force for 35 years, Deputy Commissioner (National Security) (DCP NS) Kan Kai-yan is retiring this month, marking the conclusion of a remarkable police career. “The security of Hong Kong is premised on that of our motherland, and the security of our home is premised on that of our country.” As he prepares to retire, Kan is pleased to see that frontline officers’ awareness of national security has grown in recent years. Noting that national security risks have not subsided, he encourages his fellow colleagues to continue discharging their duties diligently and make every effort to safeguard national security.

Safeguarding national security is a continuous endeavour with no end point

In February this year, the State Council Information Office released the white paper “Hong Kong: Safeguarding China’s National Security Under the Framework of One Country, Two Systems”, which fully supported and commended the city’s efforts in safeguarding national security. The white paper also emphasised that safeguarding national security is a continuous endeavour with no end point.

Kan pointed out that while society may appear calm on the surface, hidden currents are running deep. “Hong Kong still faces four major national security risks: ‘soft resistance’, interference by external forces, absconders abroad continuing to participate in activities that endanger national security, and the lingering threat of local terrorism.” Among these, the most treacherous and turbulent is the pervasive and insidious “soft resistance”.

“In the past, some bookshops were suspected of selling publications with seditious intent, and certain eateries printed seditious political slogans on their receipts. This shows that anti-China and destablising elements remain unrepentant, using channels encountered in citizen’s daily lives to infiltrate and spread anti-government and protest ideologies.”

Law enforcement officers operate openly, whereas offenders work in the shadows. The keen vigilance of frontline officers is akin to an air-defence radar, providing timely warnings to build a defensive line and prevent “soft resistance” from causing harm to the community. Kan expressed special appreciation for the vigilance of frontline colleagues. The National Security Department has, on numerous occasions, received reports from frontline officers regarding suspected “soft resistance” activities, thereby enabling early intervention, investigation and enforcement actions. He was pleased to see that officers had integrated the prevention of national security risks into their daily duties.

The security of our homes is premised on that of our country
Colleagues bear heavy responsibilities with a long road ahead

Looking back on his policing career, Kan said that his extensive frontline experience had enabled him to observe first-hand the changes in social atmosphere. In the past, the Force adopted a relatively accommodating approach towards peaceful demonstrations and public meetings. However, amid fundamental changes in geopolitical landscape, demonstrations and public meetings grew increasingly intense and eventually escalated into the “black-clad violence” in 2019, pushing national security risks to a critical point.

“With the country’s promulgation of the Hong Kong National Security Law and the local enactment of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, Hong Kong’s legal shortcomings in safeguarding national security have been addressed, and older laws that had rarely been invoked have been revitalised.” Kan believed that legislation and law enforcement complement each other. Only when law enforcement officers applies the Hong Kong National Security Law and relevant laws pragmatically, as well as upholding the principle that laws are observed and strictly enforced, so as to bring offenders to account, can the power of the law serve as a strong deterrent effect.

“The security of our home is premised on that of our country.” As Kan approaches retirement, he reminds his fellow colleagues of their heavy responsibilities and long road ahead, stressing that as law enforcement officers, they must internalise and put into action their mission to safeguard national security.