HONG KONG - Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and her top policymaking advisers – the executive councilors – have dismissed an appeal filed by the separatist Hong Kong National Party over its ban by the Security Bureau, China Daily has learnt.

Local political leaders said the decision was reasonable

In October 2018, founder and convener of the HKNP Andy Chan Ho-tin submitted an appeal against the ban one month after Secretary for Security John Lee Ka-chiu said he would prohibit the party from operating in accordance with the Societies Ordinance.

The HKNP – the only political organization which explicitly advocates “Hong Kong independence” and “self-determination” – has been spreading separatist ideas in the city through different means. These included setting up street booths and distributing flyers to local schools.

READ MORE: HKNP ban is now official

This is the end of the reviewing procedure of such cases as stipulated in the Societies Ordinance. However, Chan can still initiate a judicial review over the ban if he does not accept the result. 

Local political leaders said the decision was reasonable. Priscilla Leung Mei-fun, a barrister and lawmaker, said she supports the ban as the actions and ideas of the HKNP clearly violate the Basic Law and the Societies Ordinance.

Leung said political parties which advocate separatism should not exist.

Echoing this view, Junius Ho Kwan-yiu, solicitor and lawmaker, believes the government’s move is well-founded and based on the Basic law and laws of Hong Kong.

Ho also urged the government to take more effective measures to punish pro-independence activists – such as introducing Section 9 and 10 of the Crimes Ordinance.

The section 10 of the ordinance says any person who prints, publishes, sells, offers for sale, distributes, displays or reproduces any seditious publication will be guilty of an offense and liable, initially, to a fine of HK$5,000 and to imprisonment for two years; for a subsequent offense they will be liable to imprisonment for three years.

ALSO READ: Ban on HKNP is legal and fair

According to the Article 23 of the ordinance, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall enact laws on its own to prohibit any act of treason, secession, sedition, subversion against the Central People’s Government. The laws should also prevent theft of state secrets and prohibit foreign political organizations or bodies from conducting political activities in the region, and to prohibit local political organizations or bodies from establishing ties with foreign political organizations or bodies.

kathyzhang@chinadailyhk.com