London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Apr 23, 2026

Beijing’s national security office in Hong Kong takes over second hotel

Beijing’s national security office in Hong Kong takes over second hotel

Island Pacific Hotel in Sai Ying Pun will provide ‘additional workspace’, source says.

Beijing’s national security office in Hong Kong is set to take over a second hotel in the city to provide additional workspace, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

The Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People’s Government would occupy the Island Pacific Hotel in Sai Ying Pun for “some period as the additional work site”, the source said.

According to listings on hotel booking websites, the 29-storey property, which is owned by Sino Hotels (Holdings) Ltd, has 343 rooms.

The national security office has occupied the Metropark Hotel Causeway Bay in the city since July. The 33-storey property is owned by the state-run China Travel Service and has 266 rooms.

The source said both hotels were “temporary worksites” and that a permanent site would be “finalised soon”.

The national security office has occupied the Metropark Hotel Causeway Bay since July.


There were no signs of heightened security around the Island Pacific, which is close to Beijing’s Hong Kong Liaison Office, on Friday afternoon.

A second source said the hotel in Sai Ying Pun was undergoing some “necessary conversions” but the new arrangement would not result in any hotel staff losing their jobs.

The hotel’s online and telephone booking systems had been out of service for several days while they were “undergoing retrofitting”, the person said.

The property is no longer listed on Sino Hotels’ website.


Hong Kong on Thursday marked National Security Education Day with a series of citywide events including Chinese military-style marches, anti-terrorism drills and promotional activities in schools.

Zheng Yanxiong, director of Beijing’s national security office in Hong Kong, said the national interests of China were “not negotiable” and that the residents of the former British colony should not “fantasise that the city’s true bosses are the United States and Britain”.

The office was created after Beijing introduced a national security law for Hong Kong. It is responsible for supervising and guiding the local government’s enforcement of the legislation, which outlaws acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces.

It will also be responsible for helping to vet candidates for Hong Kong’s upcoming legislative and chief executive elections after the city’s recent electoral overhaul.

In a recent interview with the South China Morning Post, Hong Kong’s Secretary for Security John Lee Ka-chiu said the National Security legislation had driven away foreign agents, caused funding from overseas for anti-government activists to dry up, and chased off or silenced troublemakers.

In February Hong Kong police arrested and charged 47 former opposition lawmakers and activists with conspiring to subvert state power under the new legislation. The charges relate to their role in an unofficial primary election.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Crypto Scammers Capitalize on Maritime Chaos Near the Strait of Hormuz: A Rising Threat to Shipping Companies
Changi Airport: How Singapore Engineered the World’s Most Efficient Travel Experience
Power Dynamics: Apple’s Leadership Shakeup, Geopolitical Risks in the Strait of Hormuz, and Europe's Energy Strategy Amidst Global Challenges
Apple's Leadership Transition: Can New CEO John Ternus Navigate AI Challenges and Geopolitical Pressures?
Italy’s €100K Tax Gambit: Europe’s Soft Power Tax Haven
News Roundup
Microsoft lost 2.5 millions users (French government) to Linux
Privacy Problems in Microsoft Windows OS
News roundup
Péter András Magyar and the Strategic Reset of Hungary
Hungary After the Landslide — A Strategic Reset in Europe
Meghan Markle Plans Exclusive Women-Focused Retreat During Australia Visit
Starmer and Trump Hold Strategic Talks on Securing Strait of Hormuz Amid Rising Tensions
Unofficial Australia Visit by Prince Harry and Meghan Expected to Stir Tensions with Royal Circles
Pipeline Attack Cuts Significant Share of Saudi Arabia’s Oil Export Capacity
UK Stocks Rise on Ceasefire Momentum and Renewed Focus on Diplomacy
UK to Hold Further Strategic Talks on Strait of Hormuz Security
Starmer Voices Frustration as Global Tensions Drive Up UK Energy Costs
UK Students Voice Concern Over Proposal for Automatic Military Draft Registration
Rising Volatility Drives Uncertainty in UK Fuel and Petrol Prices
UK Moves to Deploy ‘Skyhammer’ Anti-Drone System to Strengthen Airspace Defense
New Analysis Explores UK Budget Mechanics in ‘Behind the Blue’ Feature
Man Arrested After Four Die in Channel Crossing Tragedy
UK Tightens Immigration Framework with New Sponsor Rules and Fee Increases
UK Foreign Secretary Highlights Impact of Intensified Strikes in Lebanon
UK Urges Inclusion of Lebanon in US-Iran Ceasefire Framework
UK Stocks Ease as Ceasefire Doubts in Middle East Weigh on Investor Confidence
UK Reassesses Cloud Strategy Amid Criticism Over Limited Support Measures
UK Calls for Full and Toll-Free Access Through Strait of Hormuz Amid Rising Tensions
Starmer Signals Strategic Shift for Britain Amid Escalating Iran-Linked Tensions
UK Issues Firm Warning to Russia Over Covert Underwater Military Activity
OpenAI Halts Stargate UK Project, Casting Uncertainty Over Britain’s AI Expansion Plans
Starmer Voices Frustration Over Global Pressures Driving UK Energy Costs Higher
UK Deploys Military Assets to Protect Undersea Cables From Suspected Russian Threat
Canada Aligns With US, UK and Australia as Europe Prepares Major Digital Border Overhaul
Meghan Markle’s Planned Australia Appearance Sparks Fresh Speculation
Starmer Warns Sustained Effort Needed to Ensure US–Iran Ceasefire Holds
UK to Partner with Shipping Industry to Rebuild Confidence in Strait of Hormuz, Cooper Says
UK Interest Rate Expectations Ease Following US–Iran Ceasefire Agreement
Starmer Signals Major Effort Needed to Fully Reopen Strait of Hormuz During Gulf Visit
UK Fuel Prices Face Ongoing Volatility Amid Global Pressures and Domestic Factors
Kanye West’s Planned Italy Festival Appearance Draws Debate After UK Entry Ban
Smuggling Routes Shift Toward Belgium as Migrant Crossings to UK Evolve
Ceasefire Offers Potential Relief for UK Fuel and Food Prices Amid Ongoing Uncertainty
Iran Conflict Raises Questions Over UK’s Global Influence and Military Preparedness
Senator McConnell Visits Kentucky to Highlight Federal Investment in Local Projects
Kanye West Barred from Entering UK as Legal Grounds Come into Focus
UK Denies Visa to Kanye West After Sponsors Withdraw from Wireless Festival
Trump-Era Forest Service Restructuring Leads to Closure of UK Lab Focused on Kentucky Woodland Health
Foreign Students in the UK Describe Harsh Living Conditions and Financial Pressures
×