Threat of violence from Hong Kong National Party at heart of police bid to have it banned
Assistant Commissioner Rebecca Lam argues for pre-emptive action, citing threats from party’s leaders to advance independence agenda through ‘whatever effective means’
The separatist party authorities are seeking to ban poses an “imminent threat” to national security because of its leaders’ concrete actions to advance an independence agenda for Hong Kong and pledge to achieve it by “whatever effective means”, according to an unprecedented proposal drafted by police.
While acknowledging that the Hong Kong National Party (HKNP) had yet to resort to violence, Assistant Commissioner of Police Rebecca Lam Hiu-tong argued in an 86-page document that the possibility should not be ruled out and pre-emptive action should be taken.
But some legal scholars warned the reasoning cited by police did not justify such a crackdown, arguing such a drastic approach would put Hongkongers’ freedom of association and expression at risk.
The police document – submitted to Secretary for Security John Lee Ka-chiu and seen by the Post on Wednesday – recommended halting the party’s operation under the Societies Ordinance because its actions posed “a clear and real” threat to national security and public safety.