The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government gazetted the "Implementation Rules of Article 4 of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (Amendment) 2026" on the 23rd, which came into effect immediately. The amendments to the provisions concerning electronic devices empower customs officers to take national security enforcement actions and increase penalties for violations by foreign organizations. The government will brief the Legislative Council on today's details tomorrow (the 24th).
New Provisions Regarding Electronic Devices
The Amendment adds supplementary provisions to the provisions concerning electronic devices, allowing police officers holding magistrate's warrants to inspect, search, seize, and transfer any items reasonably believed to be designated evidence within electronic devices, and to convert the relevant materials into paper form.
Police officers may request any "designated person" to provide the password or other decryption method for electronic devices. Refusal to comply is a crime, punishable by a fine of HK$100,000 and imprisonment for one year upon conviction on indictment. If the person makes a statement, it is also a crime, with a more severe penalty, up to a maximum fine of HK$500,000 and imprisonment for three years.