Secretary for Security Lai Tung-kwok repeatedly dodged critical remarks in a Legco meeting as lawmakers expressed worries that the illegal traders are fuelling Hongkongers’ hatred of mainlanders.

Setting a cap on the number of mainland tourists allowed into Hong Kong would be a tough call, the security chief says. "Of all the tourist cities in the world, I've never heard of any setting a cap on visitors," Lai Tung-kwok said yesterday. "Also, setting a clear-cut limit would not be an easy task."

Lai Tung-kwok, the secretary for security, has attracted the ire of women's groups and members of the public after saying that women should drink less to avoid being raped.

The Civil Human Rights Front has called on the police to make public their guidelines governing how male officers should physically handle female protesters, following remarks by secretary for security Lai Tung-kwok that police could decide the matter on a case by case basis.

Responding to a call on Saturday by Global Times for Hong Kong and Macau to join a boycott of the Philippines, possibly through tourism and trade, security chief Lai Tung-kwok said: "Taiwan has taken a series of actions [in response to the incident], but I think some of these actions would not be appropriate for Hong Kong."

Hong Kong’s security minister on Wednesday repeated calls by the government for the United States to clarify claims made by Edward Snowden that it had been hacking into computers in the city.

Outgoing US consul in Hong Kong Stephen Young said on Thursday the US did not owe any country an apology in relation to the alleged hacking activities disclosed by whistle-blower Edward Snowden.

The security chief was trying to placate a worried public following Snowden's claims in the media that US agencies have carried out hundreds of cyberspying operations in Hong Kong.

Secretary for Security Lai Tung-kwok said on Thursday he had no intention of putting the blame on rape victims when he earlier suggested women should drink less to avoid being assaulted.