The retiring deputy police commissioner responsible for national security, Andrew Kan, said "soft resistance" has become more covert after the implementation of national security laws in the SAR.

He stressed that national security education must continue to be strengthened in future.

Speaking in an interview ahead of his retirement this month, Kan said the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance has cleared street violence, but "soft resistance" is constantly present and has not decreased.

He said anti-government forces have turned underground instead, using various channels to spread anti-government ideology and incite hatred against the administration.

"They are trying to politicise everything with some false information... So 'soft resistance' of course is, I would say, the first national security threat."

Kan said homegrown terrorism is another threat, adding that interference from some foreign governments and absconders colluding with foreign anti-China forces are also posing threats to security.

The deputy police chief also said artificial intelligence could pose a new threat to national security.

He said he expects anti-China forces to make use of AI to help generate anti-government material.

"For the police force, we are well aware that AI will pose a threat. So we have been working to improve our capability in AI in this aspect. I can also tell you one of the tactics to combat AI crime is using AI. So we are working on these aspects."

Having served in the police force for 35 years, Kan described overseeing national security and working with his team to safeguard national security as an honour and a highly meaningful job.



Edited by Edmond Fong