Hong Kong’s police chief has said that national security remains a priority despite the city’s overall stabilising social situation, citing absconders and foreign forces among lingering threats.

Commissioner of Police Joe Chow Yat-ming said on Wednesday the force would continue to ramp up intelligence gathering and enhance national security education among officers and the public, especially young people.

“National security is a concept that requires everyone’s participation. That’s why we need to put more effort into education and promotion for the idea of everybody being responsible for national security to take root,” Chow said.

During an annual press conference on law and order, Chow said that soft resistance, foreign forces, “infiltration” of absconders and domestic terrorism remained lingering “undercurrents” despite Hong Kong’s overall stability.

“We could see the overall situation stabilising, but we always say that national security cannot be relaxed. There are still undercurrents out there,” Chow said.

He added that the city’s national security hotline had received more than a million tip-offs, averaging 590 messages per day. Among them, 10 per cent were considered worth pursuing.