Hong Kong bans proindependence group
HONG KONG: Hong Kong authorities have formally banned a group promoting independence from China — the first outlawing of a political organisation since Britain handed its former colony back to Chinese rule in 1997.
The city’s Secretary for Security, John Lee, announced the ban on the Hong Kong National Party yesterday in a brief statement published in the Government’s gazette, 10 days after the party submitted arguments against the move.
Lee ordered the ban under Hong Kong’s Societies Ordi nance, a previously little noticed colonialera law that requires all social groups and organisations to register with the police.
It allows the Government to ban groups ‘‘in the interests of national security, public order or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others’’.
Lee later told reporters the twoyearold group was prepared to use ‘‘all methods’’ to forge independence, which posed a threat to national security and broke the Basic Law, the miniconstitution that governs Hong Kong’s relations with China.
‘‘It has a clear agenda in making Hong Kong a republic.’’
Lee also said the group had spread ‘‘hatred and discrimination against mainland Chinese’’.
The authorities could not rule out action against other groups, including those promoting ‘‘self determination’’ as well as full independence, he said.
Hong Kong’s nascent independence movement shows little sign of generating widespread public support but the government’s move in July to announce it was considering a ban on the Hong Kong National Party propelled its leader, Andy Chan, to prominence.
Hong Kong is governed under a ‘‘one country, two systems’’ principle which allows the global financial hub a high degree of autonomy, including an independent legal system and freedoms of speech and assembly. — Reuters