2020 in Hong Kong explained

Events in the year 2020 in Hong Kong.

Incumbents

Executive branch

• Chief Executive: Carrie Lam
  • Chief Secretary for Administration: Matthew Cheung
  • Financial Secretary: Paul Mo-po Chan
  • Secretary for Justice: Teresa Cheng

Legislative branch

• President of the Legislative Council: Andrew Leung

Judicial branch

• Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal: Geoffrey Ma

Events

January

• 1 January – 2019–20 Hong Kong protests: Protesters take part in the annual new year day march with organisers claiming that over one million people took part.^[1]
• 5 January – Thousands of protesters march in the Sheung Shui neighbourhood, leading to dozens of arrests.^[2]

February

• 9 February – Thousands of passengers leave cruise ship after being quarantined for days.^{[3] [4]}

March

• 24 March – Andrew Cheung appointed as Chief Justice of the CFA when Geoffrey Ma retires on 11 January 2021.^[5]

April

• 9 April – A court ruled that it is okay to prohibit face covering at certain "unauthorised assemblies".^[6] On the other hand, it is legal to wear masks in permitted assemblies.^[7]

May

• 8 May – The ban on gathering of more than 4 people relaxes to 8 people.^{[8] [9]}
• 15 May – The Independent Police Complaints Council exonerates the police.^[10]
• 27 May
  • The Chinese National People's Congress votes in favour of national security legislation that criminalizes "secession," "subversion," "terrorism," and foreign interference in Hong Kong;^[11] the legislation grants sweeping powers to the Chinese central government to suppress the Hong Kong democracy movement, including by banning activist groups and curtailing civil liberties.^[12] The U.S. government responds by declaring Hong Kong is "no longer autonomous" under the United States-Hong Kong Policy Act.^[13]
  • After being closed for months, schools resume classes.^{[14] [15]}

June

• 4 June – Legislative council passes the National Anthem Ordinance.^{[16] [17]}
• 19 June – The ban on gathering of more than 8 people relaxes to 50 people.^[18]
• 30 June – China passes the Hong Kong national security law.^[19]

July

• 7 July – Implementation Rules for Article 43 of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region effective.^[20]
• 8 July – Office for Safeguarding National Security of the CPG in the HKSAR Opened in Causeway Bay.^[21]
• 9 July – Hong Kong Legislative Council passed the bill to extend maternity leave from 10 weeks to 14 weeks.^[22]
• 14 July – The United States government passes the Hong Kong Autonomy Act.^{[23] [24]}
• 15 July – The ban on gathering tightens to 4 people.^[25] Eating in restaurants from 6 pm to 5 am banned.^[26]
• 29 July – Eating in restaurants totally banned, but that lasted for 2 days only.^[27] The ban on gathering tightens to 2 people.^[28]
• 31 July – Eating in restaurants from 5 am to 6 pm allowed.^[29]

August

• 12 August – The police releases Jimmy Lai on bail, Lai was arrested on 10 August.^[30]
• 23 August - Twelve Hong Kong people who were allegedly in China’s territorial waters and trying to flee to Taiwan were detained by mainland authorities^[31] and denied access to their families and their appointed legal counsel. They are accused of "separatism" due their involvement in pro-democracy protests.^[32]
• 28 August – Eating in restaurants allowed until 9pm (extended 3 hours).^[33]

September

• 4 September – Eating in restaurants allowed until 10 pm (extended 1 hour).^[34]
• 18 September – Eating in restaurants allowed until 12 am (extended 2 hours).^[35]
• 27 September – The Central Military Dock officially hand over to People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison.^[36]
• 27 September - The Sheung Shui to Yuen Long cycling track officially opens.^[37]

October

• 6 October - Hong Kong Government disqualified a primary school teacher for promoting "independence movement".^[38]

November

• 11 November - China Standing Committee of the National People's Congress issued a decision order to disqualify four Hong Kong legislators.^[39]
• 12 November - In response to four lawmakers disqualification, Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmakers resign en masse.^[40]
• 26 November - An emergency alert system is launched to disseminate emergency messages to mobile users.^[41]

December

• 1 December - The digital switchover is completed and the transmission of analogue television ceases. The signals are shut on the same day.^[42]
• 11 December - The Open University of Hong Kong officially applied for rename its university name to Hong Kong Metropolitan University.^[43]
• 12 December - Jimmy Lai, the CEO of the famous local newspaper Apple Daily, is arrested due to the Hong Kong National Security Law.^[44]
• 21 December - The Hong Kong Final Court of Appeal rules the Emergency Regulations Ordinance and the Prohibition on Face Covering Regulation Constitutional.^[45]
• 27 December - The Tuen Mun–Chek Lap Kok Link officially opens.^[46]
• 30 December - The Hong Kong Government officially launched the new electronic identity Mobile Apps named "iAM Smart".^[47]
• 31 December - Hong Kong Correctional Services Department celebrate its 100th anniversary.^[48]

Deaths

• 15 May – Allen Lee, former member of the Executive Council and the legislative council, founding chairman of Liberal Party (b. 1940).^[49]
• 26 May – Stanley Ho, casino owner (b. 1921).^[50]
• 23 August – Benny Chan, film director (b. 1961).^[51]

See also

• List of Hong Kong films of 2020

Notes and References

1. Web site: Organisers say over 1mn took part, condemn police – RTHK. 7 June 2020. RTHK. en-gb.
2. News: Dozens arrested after Hong Kong protest taking aim at Chinese traders . Reuters . 5 January 2020 . 9 January 2020. Saito . Clare Jim .
3. News: Denyer . Simon . Honeymooner among 61 people on cruise ship confirmed as having coronavirus . 7 February 2020 . . 7 February 2020 . https://archive.today/20200207164834/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/honeymooner-among-61-people-on-cruise-ship-confirmed-as-having-coronavirus/2020/02/07/30a980b4-4961-11ea-8a1f-de1597be6cbc_story.html . 7 February 2020 . live . limited.
4. News: Passengers leave Hong Kong cruise ship after coronavirus quarantine lifted . 9 February 2020 . CBC News . 9 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200210000225/https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/coronavirus-hong-kong-1.5457471 . 10 February 2020 . live .
5. Web site: Senior Judicial Appointment: Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal . 24 March 2020 . Government of Hong Kong. 29 June 2020.
6. Web site: 政府部分上訴得直 引用緊急法訂立禁蒙面法沒有違憲 . Oriental Daily News . 1 June 2020.
7. Web site: Judgment on mask ban strengthens rule of law. Kwok. Tony. 15 April 2020. China Daily. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200421142219/https://www.chinadailyhk.com/article/127518. 21 April 2020.
8. News: Pang . Jessie . Hong Kong to relax some restrictions as new coronavirus cases dwindle . Reuters . 5 May 2020 . 1 June 2020.
9. Web site: Wong . Rachel . Creery . Jennifer . Hong Kong to relax business restrictions with gathering limit upped to 8 people . Hong Kong Free Press . 5 May 2020 . 1 June 2020.
10. Web site: Hong Kong police watchdog clears force of misconduct citing online 'propaganda', but says 'room for improvement'. 15 May 2020. Hong Kong Free Press.
11. Web site: Hong Kong security bill backed by China's parliament . BBC News . 28 May 2020 . 28 May 2020.
12. Web site: China Approves Plan to Rein In Hong Kong, Defying Worldwide Outcry. Keith Bradsher. 28 May 2020. The New York Times.
13. Nick Wadhams and Ben Bartenstein. U.S. Says Hong Kong's Autonomy Is Gone, Sowing China Trade Doubt, Bloomberg (27 May 2020).
14. Web site: Coronavirus: 'little, if any, possibility' Hong Kong schools resume fully on April 20, Lam says. South China Morning Post . 17 March 2020. 23 March 2020.
15. Web site: Coronavirus: Hong Kong to relax business restrictions with gathering limit upped to 8 people . Jennifer. Creery. Rachel. Wong. Hong Kong Free Press. 5 May 2020. 12 May 2020.
16. News: 4 June 2020. Hong Kong Legislature Passes Controversial National Anthem Law. en. Voice of America. 4 June 2020.
17. News: 4 June 2020. Hong Kong passes controversial bill to make disrespecting China's national anthem a crime. en. Business Insider. 4 June 2020.
18. Web site: 限聚令放寬至50人無分室內或室外. RTHK . 19 June 2020.
19. News: Buckley . Chris . Bradsher . Keith . May . Tiffany . New Security Law Gives China Sweeping Powers Over Hong Kong . 2 July 2020 . . 29 June 2020.
20. News: Implementation Rules for Article 43 of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. 21 July 2020 . Hong Kong SAR Government Press Release . 6 July 2020.
21. News: Central government office for safeguarding national security in Hong Kong inaugurated. https://web.archive.org/web/20200708193250/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-07/08/c_139196747.htm . dead . 8 July 2020 . 21 July 2020 . Xinhua News. 8 July 2020.
22. News: Statutory Maternity Leave to be Extended to 14 Weeks in Hong Kong. 21 July 2020 . Lexology. 10 July 2020.
23. News: The President's Executive Order on Hong Kong Normalization. 13 July 2020 . US Consulate in Hong Kong and Macau . 14 July 2020.
24. News: US President Donald Trump signs Hong Kong Autonomy Act, and ends the city's preferential trade status. 15 July 2020 . South China Morning Post. 15 July 2020.
25. Web site: Grundy . Tom . Masks compulsory on public transport and new restaurant restrictions as Hong Kong enacts strict new Covid-19 measures . HKFP . 13 July 2020 . 14 July 2020.
26. News: 指定時間不能堂食 有食肆提早關門或自取外賣優惠 . 16 July 2020 . RTHK . 1 July 2020.
27. Web site: officials scrap coronavirus-related ban on eating in restaurants after just 24 hours. 30 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200730141345/https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3095283/hong-kong-third-wave-government-changes-mind . 30 July 2020 . live . 30 July 2020 .
28. Web site: Hong Kong third wave: Covid-19 total exceeds 3,000 with 118 new infections, one related death as new hotline service launched. 29 July 2020. Elizabeth. Cheung. Victor. Ting. South China Morning Post. 29 July 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200729085537/https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3095115/hong-kong-third-wave-elderly-woman-latest-covid. 29 July 2020. live.
29. News: Yu . Elaine . Hong Kong Bans Eating in Restaurants. And Then It Doesn't. . The New York Times . 31 July 2020 . 20 August 2020.
30. News: Hong Kong pro-democracy tycoon Lai arrested . 10 August 2020 . BBC News . 10 August 2020.
31. Web site: China approves arrest of 12 Hong Kong speedboat fugitives.
32. Web site: Protests in 35 cities to save 12 Hong Kong prisoners held in China. www.asianews.it.
33. 鍾采餘. 限聚令禁堂食 . Hong Kong Economic Times. 2020/09/03
34. Web site: Dine-in measures further eased . 7 September 2020 . 13 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200913060925/https://www.news.gov.hk/eng/2020/09/20200902/20200902_151252_755.html . live .
35. Web site: 食肆堂食可延長至午夜，惟暫不放寬四人限聚令 . 16 September 2020 . 17 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200917120135/http://www.etnet.com.hk/www/tc/news/categorized_news_detail.php?newsid=ETN300915917 . live .
36. Web site: Central waterfront dock handed over to PLA garrison. 27 September 2020. RTHK.
37. Web site: New cycle track to open. 27 September 2020. HK Official Government News.
38. Web site: Teacher disqualified for 'promoting Hong Kong independence'. 6 October 2020. BBC News.
39. News: China forces ouster of Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmakers, quashing opposition. 11 November 2020. The Washington Post.
40. Pro-Democracy Hong Kong Lawmakers Resign en Masse After 4 Disqualified. https://web.archive.org/web/20201111080716/https://time.com/5910484/hong-kong-disqualifies-lawmakers/. dead. 11 November 2020. 12 November 2020. Time.
41. Web site: Government launches emergency alert system for dissemination of important real-time messages . GovHK . 10 October 2021 . 26 November 2020.
42. Web site: Hong Kong to enter era of full digital TV broadcast tomorrow . Commerce and Economic Development Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR Government. 2020-11-30. 2020-12-01.
43. Web site: OUHK to be renamed Metropolitan University. RTHK. 2020-12-11. 2020-12-11.
44. Web site: Hong Kong Democracy Activist Jimmy Lai Denied Bail. npr. 2020-12-12. 2020-12-12.
45. Web site: Hong Kong mask ban constitutional for all public meetings and processions, top court rules, backing use of colonial-era law. 21 December 2020. South China Morning Post.
46. Web site: New link from Tuen Mun to airport speeds up drive. 27 December 2020. Hong Kong Standard.
47. Web site: Government launches "iAM Smart" (with photos). Hong Kong Government News. 30 December 2020.
48. Web site: 100th anniversary of establishment of Hong Kong Correctional Services Department (with photos). Hong Kong Government News. 31 December 2020.
49. News: 自由黨創黨主席李鵬飛上周五逝世 . zh-hk . 1 May 2020. 19 May 2020.
50. News: 2 May 2020. 賭王何鴻燊病逝 享年98歲. Oriental Press Group Limited. 26 May 2020.
51. [:n:zh:陈木胜导演罹患鼻咽癌逝世|陈木胜导演罹患鼻咽癌逝世]