Circular No. 11/2019/TT-BCA on spokesperson activities and provision of information to the press by the People's Public Security

CIRCULAR

Regulations on Spokespersonship and Provision of Information to the Press
of the People's Public Security

Pursuant to Decree No. 09/2017/NĐ-CP dated February 9, 2017 of the Government detailing public statements and provision of information to the press by state administrative agencies;

Pursuant to Decree No. 01/2018/NĐ-CP dated August 6, 2018 of the Government"b) In addition to the lists of public services issued according to the provisions of Clause 2, Article 4 of this Decree, specialized agencies under provincial People's Committees shall report to the provincial People's Committee for decision-making on amending, supplementing, or issuing the list of public services funded by the state budget within their jurisdiction and consistent with the local budget capacity within the approved budget by the Provincial People's Assembly, and send it to the Ministry of Finance and relevant ministries and sectors for supervision during implementation.""4. As of March 31, 2021, credit card issuers that issue cards with BINs issued by the State Bank of Vietnam must comply with the Domestic Chip Card Standard."onof the State Treasury;, amended and supplemented by Decree No. 109/2025/NĐ-CP and Decree No. 193/2025/NĐ-CP organization of the Ministry of Public Security;

At the proposal of the Director of the Office;

The Minister of Public Security issues this Circular on spokespersonship and provision of information to the press by the People's Public Security.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular stipulates spokespersonship and provision of information to the press; responsibilities and authorities of individuals performing spokespersonship and provision of information to the press by the People's Public Security.

Article 2. Individuals Performing Spokespersonship and Provision of Information to the Press

1. Individuals performing spokespersonship and provision of information to the press of the Ministry of Public Security include:

a) The Minister of Public Security;

b) The Director of the Office assigned by the Minister of Public Security to perform regular spokespersonship and provision of information to the press (hereinafter referred to as the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security).

In case the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security cannot perform spokespersonship and provision of information to the press, they must report to the Minister for authorization to delegate another person to perform these tasks;

c) Individuals with responsibility under the Ministry of Public Security authorized by the Minister of Public Security to perform spokespersonship and provision of information to the press (hereinafter collectively referred to as Authorized Spokespersons of the Ministry of Public Security) or assigned to coordinate with the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security to perform spokespersonship or provision of information to the press on specific issues assigned.

2. Individuals performing spokespersonship and provision of information to the press of business units, advisory, political, logistics, inspection agencies under the Ministry; academies, police colleges, security agencies, hospitals, and other organizations (hereinafter collectively referred to as units under the Ministry), include:

a) Heads of units;

b) In case the Head of the unit cannot perform spokespersonship and provision of information to the press, they shall authorize the Deputy Head to perform spokespersonship and provision of information to the press.

3. Individuals performing spokespersonship and provision of information to the press of provincial public security organs (hereinafter referred to as provincial-level public security organs), include:

a) Directors of provincial-level public security organs;

b) In case the Director of the provincial-level public security organ cannot perform spokespersonship and provision of information to the press, they shall authorize the Deputy Director of the provincial-level public security organ to perform spokespersonship and provision of information to the press.

4. The delegation of spokespersonship as provided for in point c Clause 1, point b Clause 2, and point b Clause 3 of this Article shall only apply in specific cases, incidents, and for a definite period.

5. The spokespersons and authorized spokespersons as provided for in point b Clause 1, point c Clause 1, point b Clause 2, and point b Clause 3 of this Article shall not further delegate their authority to others.

Article 3. Forms of Spokespersonship and Provision of Information to the Press

1. Organizing press conferences.

2. Publishing the content of spokespersonship and provision of information on the electronic portal or website of the agency or unit.

3. Directly speaking or responding to interviews by journalists and reporters.

4. Sending press releases or responses to the press, journalists, and reporters in writing or via email.

5. Providing information through direct exchanges or at press briefings when requested.

6. Issuing documents requesting the press to publish corrections, apologies, or responses to information published in the press.

Chapter III

 SPOKESPERSONSHIP AND PROVISION OF INFORMATION TO THE PRESS

Article 4. Public Statements and Regular Information Provision

1. Public Statements and Information Provision to the Press by the Ministry of Public Security

a) The Director of the Office shall take the lead and coordinate with Heads of Units under the Ministry and Provincial Police Directors to regularly organize the provision of information not classified as state secrets to the press on the following contents:

Situations and results of national security protection work, social order and safety assurance, crime prevention and suppression, law violations, and People's Public Security construction;

Policies, solutions, programs, and plans for national security protection work, social order and safety assurance, crime prevention and suppression, law violations, and People's Public Security construction by the Central Party Committee of the Public Security and the Ministry of Public Security. Views and policies of the Ministry of Public Security on issues of public concern and media attention;

Contents of meetings and conferences of the Ministry of Public Security that need to be widely publicized among the people;

Other activities of the Ministry of Public Security that need to be announced to the press as decided by the Minister of Public Security.

b) The regular organization of information provision to the press by the Ministry of Public Security shall be carried out through the following forms:

Monthly provision of information to the press on the Ministry of Public Security’s Electronic Information Portal;

Holding a press conference every three months to provide information to the press;

In necessary cases, organizing the provision of information to the press in writing or directly at weekly press briefings organized by the Central Propaganda Department, the Ministry of Information and Communications, and the Vietnam Journalists Association;

Timely and accurately providing information to the Government’s Electronic Information Portal in accordance with the law.

2. Regular Public Statements and Information Provision to the Press by Provincial Police

Provincial Police shall regularly organize the provision of information not classified as state secrets to the press on the situation and results of national security protection work, social order and safety assurance, crime prevention and suppression, law violations, and People's Public Security construction of their units as follows:

a) Regularly providing monthly information to the press and updating information on the Unit’s Electronic Information Portal or Website in accordance with the Government’s regulations on information provision and online public services on the Electronic Information Portal or Website of state agencies;

b) Appointing personnel to perform public statements and information provision at press conferences of the Ministry of Public Security and provincial People's Committees when required;

c) Providing direct information at press briefings organized by the Provincial Party Committee’s Propaganda Department, Municipal Party Committee’s Propaganda Department; Provincial Department of Information and Communications, and Provincial Journalists Association;

d) Organizing the provision of information to the press in writing when necessary;

đ) Timely and accurately providing information to the Ministry of Public Security’s Electronic Information Portal and the Provincial People's Committee’s Electronic Information Portal in accordance with the law.

Article 5. Public Statements and Information Provision in Emergency and Unusual Circumstances

1. The Spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security or the person authorized to speak on behalf of the Ministry of Public Security shall be responsible for timely and accurate public statements and information provision to the press in the following emergency and unusual circumstances:

a) When the Ministry of Public Security is assigned by the Government to take the lead in handling incidents involving multiple ministries, sectors, provinces, and centrally-administered cities;

b) When important events or issues with significant impacts on society occur, or when there are many inconsistent opinions in public discourse about issues within the Ministry of Public Security's jurisdiction, aiming to promptly warn and guide public opinion.

In case of an incident requiring immediate initial information from the Ministry of Public Security, the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security or the person authorized to speak on behalf of the Ministry of Public Security shall proactively make public statements and provide information to the press within the latest 24 hours from the time of the incident;

c) When the press agency or the state management agency for the press requests public statements and information provision on events or issues within the Ministry of Public Security's jurisdiction that have been reported in the press or on events or issues specified in point b of this clause;

d) When there is evidence that the press has published or broadcast false information related to the Ministry of Public Security, the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security or the person authorized to speak on behalf of the Ministry of Public Security shall be responsible for requesting the press agency to publish or broadcast responses and corrections according to the law.

2. Personnel performing public statements and information provision to the press of units under the Ministry and Provincial Police shall be responsible for timely and accurate public statements and information provision to the press in the following emergency and unusual circumstances:

a) When important events or issues with significant impacts on society occur, or when there are many inconsistent opinions in public discourse about issues within their unit's jurisdiction, aiming to promptly warn and guide public opinion;

b) When the press agency or the state management agency for the press requests public statements and information provision on events or issues within their unit's jurisdiction that have been reported in the press or on events or issues specified in point a of this clause;

c) When there is evidence that the press has published or broadcast false information related to their unit, personnel performing public statements and information provision to the press of units under the Ministry and Provincial Police shall be responsible for requesting the press agency to publish or broadcast responses and corrections according to the law;

d) In case of organizing a press conference to provide information to the press, the Head of the Unit under the Ministry or the Provincial Police Director must report and seek approval from the Minister or Deputy Minister in charge.

Article 6. Providing information to the press by officers and soldiers

1. Officers and soldiers who are not assigned the task of spokespersons and providing information to the press shall provide information to the press in accordance with the provisions of the law and the Ministry of Public Security, but shall not act on behalf of their units and the Ministry of Public Security; they shall not disclose state secrets, investigation secrets, work secrets, internal affairs of their units and the Ministry of Public Security; they must report and seek approval from unit leaders before providing information and bear responsibility before their unit leaders and the law for the content of the provided information.

2. Officers and soldiers serving as contributors to news agencies must report and obtain the consent of the head of the local public security agency; they must comply with the laws on press, protect state secrets, and the regulations of the Ministry of Public Security.

Article 7. Rights and responsibilities of the Minister of Public Security in spokesperson activities and providing information to the press

The rights and responsibilities of the Minister of Public Security in spokesperson activities and providing information to the press shall be implemented in accordance with Article 7 of Decree No. 09/2017/NĐ-CP dated February 9, 2017, of the Government detailing spokesperson activities and providing information to the press by administrative state agencies.

Article 8. Rights and responsibilities of the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security and the authorized spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security

1. The Spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security and the authorized spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security have the right to represent and speak on behalf of the Ministry of Public Security in spokesperson activities and providing information to the press.

2. The Spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security and the authorized spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security have the right to request units and individuals related to the Ministry of Public Security to provide information, collect information for regular and urgent spokesperson activities and information provision as stipulated in Articles 4 and 5 of this Circular; to respond to reflections, suggestions, criticisms, complaints, and accusations from organizations and citizens transferred by news agencies or published in the press according to the law.

Units and individuals related to the Ministry of Public Security, when requested by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security or the authorized spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security to provide information for spokesperson activities and information provision to the press, shall fulfill the requirements regarding the content and deadline for providing information.

3. The Spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security and the authorized spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security have the right to refuse to speak and not provide information to the press in cases prescribed in Clause 2, Article 38 of the Press Law 2016.

4. The Spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security and the authorized spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security shall be responsible before the law and the Minister of Public Security for the content of their spokesperson activities and information provided to the press.

5. When there is evidence that news agencies publish or broadcast inaccurately the information they have provided, the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security and the authorized spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security have the right to submit written comments to the news agency, the main management body of the news agency, the state management body for the press, or file a lawsuit at the court.

Article 9. Rights and responsibilities of Heads of Units under the Ministry of Public Security and Provincial Police Directors in making statements and providing information to the press

1. Directly make statements or authorize deputy officials to make statements and provide information to the press in accordance with this Circular.

2. Bear responsibility before the Minister of Public Security for their units' statements and provision of information to the press, including when authorizing others to make statements and provide information to the press.

3. Direct the preparation of information and statement procedures for their units.

4. Provide complete, accurate, and timely information content serving statements and provision of information to the press according to the requirements of the Ministry of Public Security's Spokesperson and authorized spokespersons of the Ministry.

5. Direct the verification, conclusion, response, or provision of information to the press in a timely manner; simultaneously report to the Minister of Public Security as prescribed in the following cases:

a) When complex incidents related to security and public order occur at their units or localities, immediate initial information must be provided to the press;

b) When the press reflects signs of misconduct by officers under their unit's or locality's management.

Article 10. Rights and responsibilities of individuals implementing statements and provision of information to the press for units under the Ministry and Provincial Police

1. Individuals implementing statements and provision of information to the press for units under the Ministry and Provincial Police have the right to represent their agencies in making statements and providing information to the press.

2. When there is evidence that news agencies publish or broadcast inaccurately the information they provided, individuals implementing statements and provision of information to the press for units under the Ministry and Provincial Police have the right to submit written feedback to the news agency, the main managing body of the news agency, or the state management body for the press, or initiate litigation in court.

3. Individuals implementing statements and provision of information to the press for units under the Ministry and Provincial Police have the right to refuse to make statements and not provide information to the press in cases stipulated in Clause 2, Article 38 of the Press Law 2016.

4. In cases where they are authorized to make statements, Deputy Heads and Deputy Directors bear legal responsibility before the law, before the Head, Director, and the Minister of Public Security for the content of their statements and information provided to the press.

Chapter III

IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

Article 11. Effective Date

1. This Circular shall take effect from July 1, 2019.

2. Repeal Decision No. 6263/QĐ-BCA dated November 12, 2013 of the Minister of Public Security on the Regulation on Statements and Provision of Information to the Press of the Ministry of Public Security from the date this Circular takes effect. Provisions regarding statements and provision of information to the press in the People's Public Security shall cease to be effective from the date this Circular takes effect.

Article 12. Responsibility for Implementation

1. Heads of Units under the Ministry and Provincial Police Directors are responsible for implementing this Circular; promptly reflect difficulties encountered during implementation to the Ministry (through the Office).

2. The Foreign Affairs Department and units under the Ministry and Provincial Police have the responsibility to coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security's Spokesperson and authorized spokespersons of the Ministry in collecting, processing information, and conducting related activities when making statements and providing information to foreign press on areas within the Ministry of Public Security's administrative jurisdiction.

3. The Ministry of Public Security's Electronic Information Portal and the Electronic Information Portal, Electronic Information Page of units under the Ministry and Provincial Police have the responsibility to update information in accordance with legal regulations to provide timely and accurate official information to news agencies.

4. The Planning and Finance Department has the responsibility to ensure funding for activities of making statements and providing information to the press as prescribed.

5. The Office has the responsibility to assist the Minister in organizing the implementation and supervising, inspecting the implementation of this Circular; collect difficulties of units under the Ministry and Provincial Police in implementing this Circular, promptly study and guide.