My Take | Crackdown on university radicals looms
- A report into the banning of the Hong Kong National Party will allow the central and Hong Kong governments to set a red line on separatism in writing, and student leaders may be the next target
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor announced early this week Beijing’s unprecedented request for an official report on the banning of a separatist party. At the same time, students at City University were fighting over localist and anti-Chinese messages posted on the campus’ “democracy wall”.
Opposition party leaders, such as those from the Democratic Party and Civic Party, have objected to the central government’s request.
Some critics claim it has, once again, failed to respect Hong Kong’s legal system and governance. But they are arguing over procedures and precedents. Even if they are right, they are missing the real threat.
Their legal argument seems to rest on the possibility that the banned Hong Kong National Party could still launch a judicial review against the Executive Council’s decision to uphold the ban. By asking for a report now, the central government is interfering with judicial processes, which have yet to be exhausted, and local autonomy.
But how can anyone know when and whether HKNP would launch a judicial review and if the court would accept it? HKNP is as good as dead. The real question is, what will happen to similar localist groups with an open or covert separatist agenda?