As Hong Kong enters the final countdown to the annual National Security Education Day, which falls on April 15, 2026, a wide range of official and community events are unfolding across the city to reinforce the core link between national security, sustained development and long-term prosperity, while calling on all sectors of Hong Kong society to take shared responsibility for upholding the country’s territorial and systemic integrity.
In a public blog post released on Sunday, Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, laid out the foundational importance of national security to the country’s overall development, as well as to Hong Kong’s social stability and residents’ quality of life. He highlighted that the overarching principle of “upholding both development and security” is formally inscribed in the outline of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, and was also reaffirmed in a national white paper on safeguarding national security under the “one country, two systems” framework published this past February.
As a globally recognized hub for international finance, trade, shipping and innovation and technology, Chan stressed that Hong Kong has a unique need to strike a careful, sustainable balance between expanding development opportunities and maintaining robust security guardrails. He advocated for embedding proactive risk prevention into the city’s ongoing efforts to open up to global markets, pursue technological innovation and consolidate its competitive advantages.
Using the city’s financial sector as a case in point, Chan noted that Hong Kong’s financial system has long earned a reputation for stability and operational efficiency, supporting the smooth functioning and rapid growth of its global markets. At the same time, the sector has consistently prioritized security, maintaining close, coordinated oversight of cross-market dynamics and systemic interconnections, while building strong reserve buffers to absorb unexpected shocks. Only when innovation is rooted in solid security and risk management frameworks can it deliver a more resilient, dynamic and competitive financial system, he explained, allowing Hong Kong to better withstand external volatility and achieve long-term, inclusive growth.
Against the backdrop of a shifting global geopolitical landscape, growing great power rivalry, and emerging cross-sector risks and challenges, Chan emphasized that Hong Kong must place security at the center of all development planning, while reinforcing security foundations through high-quality growth. Only by upholding both development and security can Hong Kong seize new opportunities amid global uncertainty and open a new chapter of greater prosperity, stability and accelerated progress, he added.
On the same day, the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) launched its joint “National Security Education Day 2026 cum Hong Kong Police Force Fun Day”, an outreach event designed to boost public understanding of national security, strengthen a sense of national identity among Hong Kong residents, and showcase the force’s work and achievements in upholding national security to the wider community.
Speaking at the event’s opening ceremony, Cheuk Wing-hing, Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration of the HKSAR Government, praised the HKPF for its unwavering commitment to upholding national security, its fearless response to unrest and its decisive action to curb disorder. Cheuk noted that the force has made enormous, irreplaceable contributions to building an impenetrable line of defense for national security in Hong Kong, which has helped cement the city’s status as one of the safest in the world.
Chow Yat-ming, Commissioner of Police of the HKSAR, reflected on the city’s recent progress, noting that supported by a comprehensive national security legal framework, enforcement systems and mechanisms, Hong Kong has successfully transitioned from a period of chaos to restored order, and has now entered a new phase of moving from stability to lasting prosperity. This hard-won stability, he emphasized, is a clear demonstration of the strong support and protection the central government provides to Hong Kong.
Upholding national security is not a responsibility that falls only to authorities — no resident can remain a passive bystander, and every citizen has a role to play in defending national interests, Chow said. He expressed hope that through the events held for National Security Education Day, Hong Kong residents will gain a deeper understanding of the principles laid out in this year’s national security white paper, strengthen their own national security awareness, and work collaboratively to protect both national security and Hong Kong’s hard-won stability.
The public event featured a dedicated national security education exhibition zone and interactive educational games tailored for attendees, with a particular focus on engaging Hong Kong’s younger generation. It also included a static display of specialized operational equipment from multiple police units, including the Counter Terrorism Response Unit, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau and the Police Dog Unit, giving attendees a first-hand look at the force’s professional capabilities and the breadth of its work safeguarding the city.