Hong Kong National Party

The Hong Kong National Party was a localist political party in Hong Kong. It was the first political party in Hong Kong to advocate for Hong Kong independence.[note 1] The Hong Kong National Party is also the first political party to be outlawed since Hong Kong's 1997 handover to China.[1]

Hong Kong National Party

香港民族黨
ConvenorChan Ho-tin
SpokesmanJason Chow Ho-fai
Founded28 March 2016 (2016-03-28)
Banned24 September 2018
IdeologyHong Kong nationalism
Colours  Maroon
Website
www.hknationalparty.com (defunct)
Hong Kong National Party
Traditional Chinese香港民族黨
Simplified Chinese香港民族党

In the 2016 Hong Kong legislative election, the HKNP's convenor Chan Ho-tin was barred from standing due to his pro-independence stance for Hong Kong. Chan was among the first individual barred from participating in the election along with five other pro-independence activists. The Hong Kong SAR government states that Hong Kong independence contravenes the principle of "one country, two systems" and Article 1 and 12 of the Basic Law, which stipulates that Hong Kong is a SAR of the People's Republic of China.

On 24 September 2018, the Hong Kong SAR government officially declared HKNP to be an illegal society and banned the operation of HKNP on national security grounds under the Societies Ordinance.[2]

Platform

The Hong Kong National Party states that it wants to establish Hong Kong as "a self-reliant nation. An independent Hong Kong" as the party's goal. The party lays out six policies on their platform:[3]

  1. build an independent and free Republic of Hong Kong;
  2. defend the interests of Hong Kongers and maintain such interests as fundamental;
  3. consolidate the national consciousness of the Hong Kong nation to define Hong Kong citizenship;
  4. support and participate in all effective actions of resistance;
  5. abolish the Hong Kong Basic Law and let Hong Kongers make their own Constitution; and
  6. construct influential powers which support the independence of Hong Kong, and establish Hong-Kong-oriented organisations and pressure groups in various fields such as economics, culture, and education, so as to found the powers for independence.

The ultimate goals of the party as it claims are to end the Chinese rule in Hong Kong and build an independent and autonomous Republic of Hong Kong. The party said it would use "whatever effective means" to push for independence, including fielding candidates in the 2016 Legislative Council election.[4]

Founding
Chan Ho-tin, founder and convenor of the Hong Kong National Party

The Hong Kong National Party was established on 28 March 2016 by members consisting of mostly active university students, also some fresh graduates who have been working for a few years and professionals who were mostly in their 20s. The party was convened by Chan Ho-tin, a Hong Kong Polytechnic University student who participated in the protests of 2014 and led a campaign in an attempt to split the HKPU student union from the Hong Kong Federation of Students.[5][6]

The Companies Registry refused to register the Hong Kong National Party without giving explanation. District Councillor and solicitor Maggie Chan Man-ki said it was legal for the Companies Registry to deny the application as advocating Hong Kong independence is an illegal activity according to the Crimes Ordinances Sections 9 and 10.[7]

An editorial piece in the state-run Global Times slammed the Hong Kong National Party by stating that it is "impossible to achieve" independence for Hong Kong and calling it "a practical joke". The editorial opined, "Today, there is a proliferation of extremism in Hong Kong. The ‘Hong Kong National Party’ can be considered to be at the forefront of extremism – even the possibility of using violence is mentioned."[8] The State Council's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office issued a statement through the official Xinhua News Agency on 30 March 2016, following the declaration of the formation of Hong Kong National Party, condemning the party: "The action to establish a pro-independence organisation by an extremely small group of people in Hong Kong has harmed the country’s sovereignty, security, endangered the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, and the core interests of Hong Kong... It is firmly opposed by all Chinese people, including some seven million Hong Kong people. It is also a serious violation of the country’s constitution, Hong Kong’s Basic Law and the relevant existing laws."[9]

The Hong Kong government issued a statement after the formation of the party, stating that "any suggestion that Hong Kong should be independent or any movement to advocate such 'independence' is against the Basic Law, and will undermine the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong and impair the interest of the general public… The SAR Government will take action according to the law."[9]

Disqualification from election
Further information: 2016 Hong Kong Legislative Council candidates' disqualification controversy
Some claimed 2,500 people attended a rally organised by the National Party in the wake of the LegCo candidates' disqualification controversy on 5 August 2016.

In the 2016 Legislative Council election, convenor Chan Ho-tin intended to run in the New Territories West. The Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC) carried out a new election measure, requiring all candidates to sign an additional "confirmation form" in the nomination to declare their understanding of Hong Kong being an inalienable part of China as stipulated in the Basic Law of Hong Kong.[10] Chan refused to sign the form and his candidacy was "invalidated" along with five other pro-independence activists after the end of the nomination period.[11] The Hong Kong National Party launched a rally on 5 August which was dubbed the "first pro-independence rally in Hong Kong" against the EAC's disqualifications.[12]

Ban

On 17 July 2018, the Hong Kong Police Force served the party convenor a notice under the Societies Ordinance and sought to ban the Party. The police claimed that the party has engaged in sedition and that the party may be banned on grounds of national security with respect to Chinese territorial integrity. The notice contained highly-detailed surveillance material on the party leadership's public engagements.

The ban prohibited anyone who claims to be a HKNP member, or is found to provide aid to the party in any way, would be under the threat of being fined and jailed for up to two years. The definition of "providing aid" to the party and the two leaders were not made clear. Chan's lawyers wrote to the Department of Justice seeking an assurance that providing legal assistance to him would not be regarded as providing assistance to the HKNP, but that assurance was not forthcoming.[13][14]

On 24 October 2018, Andy Chan and party spokesman Jason Chow Ho-fai filed appeals against the ban with the chief executive and Executive Council. The two filed separate appeals to make clear they were acting as individuals, not as a party.[13]

Victor Mallet controversy
Main article: Victor Mallet visa controversy

In August, a controversy erupted in 2018 when the FCC hosted a lunchtime talk with convenor Andy Chan on 14 August. Victor Mallet, Vice-chairman of the press organisation, chaired the session.[15] The event was opposed by both Hong Kong SAR government and Chinese central government, because the issue of independence was said to cross one of the bottom lines on national sovereignty.[16][17] Upon returning to Hong Kong after a visit to Bangkok, Mallet was denied a working visa by the Hong Kong government.[18] Mallet was subjected to a four-hour interrogation by immigration officers on his return from Thailand on Sunday 7 October before he was finally allowed to enter Hong Kong on a seven-day tourist visa.[19]

Mallet's visa rejection was widely seen to be retribution for his role in chairing the Andy Chan talk which the FCC refused to call off.[15][17] Secretary for Security John Lee insisted the ban on Mallet was unrelated to press freedom, but declined to explain the decision.[19]

See also

Notes
  1. The first non-local political party advocating for Hong Kong independence was the Hong Kong Independence Party based in London.

References
  1. "A political party in Hong Kong may soon make history by being banned". The Economist. 13 September 2018.
  2. "Hong Kong: Pro-independence party faces possible ban". Al Jazeera. 18 July 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  3. "Declaration of Establishment by the Hong Kong National Party". Hong Kong National Party.
  4. Ng, K.C.; Fung, Owen (28 March 2016). "Hong Kong National Party is born: will push for independence, will not recognise the Basic Law". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  5. Fung, Owen (31 March 2016). "Face of the pro-independence Hong Kong National Party: students and 20-somethings who shun outside donors". South China Morning Post.
  6. Siu, Phila (30 March 2016). "Beijing slams creation of Hong Kong independence party, saying it endangers national security". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  7. Wong, Hermina (29 March 2016). "Newly formed pro-independence Hong Kong National Party 'denied registration' by Companies Registry". Hong Kong Free Press.
  8. Wong, Hermina (30 March 2016). "Hong Kong independence 'impossible', HK National Party 'a practical joke', says pro-gov't paper". Hong Kong Free Press.
  9. Cheng, Kris (31 March 2016). "Beijing slams new pro-independence party as gov't warns of legal action". Hong Kong Free Press.
  10. Ng, Joyce; Ng, Kang-chung (14 July 2016). "'Accept Hong Kong is part of China or you can't run in Legco elections'". South China Morning Post.
  11. Tsang, Emily; Cheung, Elizabeth (30 July 2016). "Hong Kong National Party convenor disqualified from running in Legislative Council polls". South China Morning Post.
  12. Ng, Joyce; Cheung, Tony; Fung, Owen (5 August 2016). "Hong Kong localists remain defiant at 'historic' rally". South China Morning Post.
  13. Lum, Alvin (24 October 2018). "Hong Kong National Party founders lodge separate appeals against ban in effort to avoid legal action". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  14. "Hong Kong National Party's call for 'armed revolution' no mere political slogan but a threat to safety and order, security minister John Lee says". South China Morning Post. 24 September 2018.
  15. "Financial Times Editor Barred Entry into Hong Kong". Time. 8 October 2018.
  16. "Hong Kong rejects visa for FT editor". BBC. 6 October 2018.
  17. "Ex-British foreign minister, US senator urge action on Hong Kong visa refusal". South China Morning Post. 9 November 2018.
  18. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2167429/financial-times-journalist-victor-mallet-re-enters-hong-kong
  19. "Ban on journalist risks undermining business confidence, UK minister warns". South China Morning Post. 9 November 2018.
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