The US Consulate General in Hong Kong has said the banning of a pro-independence party by the Hong Kong government was “inconsistent” with the values of freedom of expression and freedom of association.
Security chief John Lee issued a ban of the Hong Kong National Party (HKNP) citing the Societies Ordinance on the grounds of “national security, public safety, public order, protection of freedom and the rights of others.” The HKNP is the first group to be banned using the law after the 1997 Handover.
In response to the ban, Harvey Sernovitz, spokesperson of the US Consulate General in Hong Kong, told HKFP: “Freedom of expression and freedom of association are core values that we share with Hong Kong, and which must be vigorously protected.”
“The decision of the Hong Kong Government to ban a political party is inconsistent with those important shared values,” Sernovitz said.