Youngspiration and HKNP barred from operating stalls at Hong Kong’s largest Lunar New Year fair
Officials cite public order and safety concerns, but localist leaders decry decision as violation of free speech
Two pro-independence political parties have been barred by the government from operating stalls at the city’s largest Lunar New Year fair due to public order and safety concerns, prompting at least one localist leader to blast the decision as violating free speech.
Youngspiration and the Hong Kong National Party received a letter from the head of Food and Environmental Hygiene Department on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively, saying that the department believed that the items the parties intended to sell and the activities they had planned for the event in Victoria Park, Causeway Bay from January 22 to 28 would be related to their pro-independence messages.
It added that the fair would be packed with visitors, with some approving of and others disagreeing with the parties’ political ideas, and that such a situation would probably endanger public order and public safety.
The licence agreements signed by the parties and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department in November over the operation of the stalls had been terminated with immediate effect to safeguard public interest, the letter stated, noting that the agreement carried a clause empowering the LCSD to terminate it at any time.
Hong Kong National Party convenor Andy Chan Ho-tin fumed at the move, saying it was unreasonable to ban his party just because the government believed its political ideas might attract dissenters.
The party had secured a stall with HK$18,000 at a public auction last year.
“This could mean that any anyone with political ideas that might draw opponents should not join the fair. Then the FEHD should also disqualify all political parties at the fair,” Chan said.