Travel alerts on HK not grounded in facts: Eric Chan

　　Chief Secretary Eric Chan has accused countries and regions of political motivation for upgrading travel alerts. Photo courtesy of Commercial Radio.

　　Chief Secretary Eric Chan has hit out at certain countries and regions deciding to issue travel alerts on Hong Kong, saying the warnings are simply not grounded in facts.

　　Taiwan recently upgraded the warning to its second highest after the United States renewed the SAR's emergency status, which were widely condemned.

　　The senior official told a Commercial Radio programme on Saturday that the moves were politically motivated and the SAR must rebut the accusations.

　　“We have one mega event almost every two days on average. We also have a lot of international events. The aim is to have overseas tourists come to Hong Kong and see if it's as others say it is, that police are arresting people arbitrarily on the streets after the introduction of the national security law,” he said.

　　“It's best for people to come and see for themselves, and they will see that the situation isn't what they think it is.”

　　The chief secretary also said the administration will promote patriotic education through a “soft approach”, and that people must first understand the nation before forming an identity and eventually loving and safeguarding the country.

　　He added that there will be activities across all 18 districts on October 1, combining National Day celebrations and patriotic education.