Ignoring Hong Kong National Party’s requests for evidence and more time will boost legal efforts to overturn a ban, source says
Pro-independence group has been given until August 7 to say why it should not be banned but it wants an extension
A pro-independence party labelled as an “imminent threat” to Hong Kong’s national security said it would have a stronger legal case against the authorities if they ignored its demands for more time to respond to a plan to ban it and for police surveillance materials to be handed over.
“The lack of an extension to reply may be grounds to seek a judicial review, if there is a ban on the party,” the source said.
“Even if the evidence the police are relying on comes from media reports, one still has to ensure accuracy in the documents used to [build a case against the party], and Chan just doesn’t have enough time [to go through all the media reports].”
Chan’s legal team issued a request to the city’s Security Bureau for a two-month extension to reply to the ban proposal last week. On Friday, it asked for surveillance materials to be handed over by Monday, three days later.