UK double standard on proposed HKNP ban
Foreign Office urges respect for rights but ignores group’s radical aim, which was ‘HK independence’, Chan Tak-leung notes
Hong Kong’s secretary for security confirmed on Tuesday that he had issued the Hong Kong National Party an official notice that he was considering banning the unregistered group in response to a recommendation from the assistant societies officer with the Hong Kong Police Force citing Section 8 of the Societies Ordinance. The recommendation for the prohibition is considered necessary in “the interests of national security or public safety, public order or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others” as stated clearly and categorically in the ordinance.
Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office promptly published a statement on July 17 which read: “We note with concern the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government plans to prohibit the continued operation of the HKNP.” It went on to state that “the rights to stand for election, of free speech and of freedom of association are enshrined in the Basic Law of the HKSAR and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights.”
The statement also noted: “The United Kingdom does not support Hong Kong independence but Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy, and its rights and freedoms, are central to its way of life, and it is important they are fully respected.”
Warm words indeed but one doubts very much the FCO is aware of the fact that the founding objectives of HKNP were neither to stand for elections nor to practice free speech but for the ultimate goal of establishing “a free and independent Republic of Hong Kong”. Other principles of the party included the “abolition of the Basic Law” and “to garner support of Hong Kong’s independence and to build the power for self-determination”.
One does not believe the UK or indeed any sovereign nation would permit separatist organizations in its midst to operate freely under the mantra of “freedom of association”. It is surprising to read such a bland statement as the FCO is no stranger to the Sino-British Joint Declaration. Successive foreign secretaries since 1997 have continued to refer to it in their six-monthly reports since Hong Kong returned to China. To allow separatist groups such as the HKNP to engage in pro-independence activities, the newly appointed foreign secretary should know, will certainly go beyond what’s permissible within the “one country, two systems” principle and the Basic Law.
The HKNP, in this case, is not only separatist in name but in deed as well. Andy Chan, its convenor and protagonist, linked up with separatist groups in Taiwan and rallied for more radical and militant approaches in order to achieve his party’s pro-independence objectives — deeds which were clearly in breach of the Societies Ordinance and infringing on the rights of the majority of the SAR’s citizens.
Let’s examine the facts for the benefit of the FCO, parliamentarians, senators, other HKNP supporters such as Amnesty International, Hong Kong Watch and keen observers of the SAR. To begin with there are currently 28 political groups represented in Hong Kong’s legislative and district councils. The freedom and rights to stand for election has been overwhelmingly achieved. As a matter of fact, political representation diversities and interests in Hong Kong compare favorably to the only nine political groups represented in the UK House of Commons, while just two and three political parties are currently in the United States’ House of Representatives and Senate respectively.
The banning of political groups is, as a matter of fact, nothing new in the UK. Including Northern Ireland, for example, under the authority of the home secretary, 80 extreme rightwing, racist neo-Nazis, anti-Semitic and homophobic groups are currently being banned. In Germany and Spain, neo-Nazi and far-left nationalist groups are also banned from the political arena.
Let’s remind the FCO and other separatist supporters that Hong Kong has now been an SAR of China for 21 years. Any local separatist activities such as support for independence, to link up with local as well as overseas powers and ultimately set up a separate nation are all fanciful and impractical pipe dreams. They are ideas and activities in breach not only of the Societies Ordinance but also the Basic Law. What the HKNP promotes is not in Hong Kong’s best interests and will only have a detrimental effect on the city’s continuing prosperity and stability.
Any local separatist activities such as support for independence, to link up with local as well as overseas powers and ultimately set up a separate nation are all fanciful and impractical pipe dreams. They are ideas and activities in breach not only of the Societies Ordinance but also the Basic Law. What the HKNP promotes is not in Hong Kong’s best interests and will only have a detrimental effect on the city’s continuing prosperity and stability.