The United Kingdom has expressed “concern” over the Hong Kong government’s proposed use of a colonial-era law to ban a pro-independence group.
Under the ordinance, if HKNP is banned it will be illegal to be a member of the party, act on its behalf, or raise funds for it. Offenders could face up to three years in prison and fines of up to $12,000.
Hong Kong’s secretary for security John Lee told reporters Tuesday that HKNP had 21 days to explain why he should not issue a “prohibition order” against it.”In Hong Kong we have freedom of association, but that right is not without restrictions,” Lee said, adding the HKNP could be banned “in the interests of national security.”
It was not clear what the specific concerns related to national security were.
Amnesty International researcher Patrick Poon said the move had “potentially far-reaching consequences.”
“To use sweeping references to ‘national security’ to silence dissenting voices is a tactic favored by repressive governments,” he said.
“Under international law and standards, any prohibition of an organization is subject to a strict test of justification, with the burden of proof on the government to demonstrate that a real, not just hypothetical, danger to national security exists.”
Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong said the threat showed “we have entered a new era of white terror, where anyone’s thoughts and words could condemn them with a criminal charge.” Wong has been jailed in the past on what some observers said were politically motivated charges.
