The Government today said that it has no issue with people purely “checking in” or taking photos near prohibited places while passing by, provided there is no intention to endanger national security.

The Government was responding to media enquiries about reporting, photo-taking and video-shooting at locations specified prohibited places under new subsidiary legislation under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO).

It outlined that if people deliberately take photos or footage of the entrances or interiors of prohibited places so as to inspect such places, or engage in other conduct while filming or taking pictures that gives reasonable grounds to believe that they may endanger national security, police officers or guards at these sites have the power to ask them to leave.

At a meeting of the Legislative Council subcommittee and a subsequent media session yesterday, Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung said that under section 45 of the SNSO a “specified officer” who has reasonable grounds to believe that exercising such power is necessary for safeguarding national security, may order any person to refrain from approaching or inspecting a prohibited place, including by electronic or remote means, and may order persons to leave. Any person who contravenes such an order commits an offence.