THE Scottish National Party has been cited by Hong Kong independence activists in their claim that the peaceful pursuit of self-determination is an ordinary political activity.
The co-founder of the Hong Kong National Party (HKNP) Andy Chan used the SNP as an example of a party pursing independence through peaceful democratic means in his appeal against the former crown colony’s Security Secretary’s decision to ban the HKNP on "security" grounds.
Chan cited the SNP, Parti Quebecois in Canada and New Flemish Alliance in Belgium as parties which are democratically represented in their legislatures.
His appeal stated: “All these parties openly and peacefully advocate for the independence of a region from their respective countries, yet they are accepted as ordinary political party in these democracies.”
Chan added: “Unless the Security Secretary is of the view that Hong Kong is somehow less capable of enjoying democracy and freedom of political participation of these other countries, the Security Secretary’s assertion that HKNP is beyond ‘ordinary political activity’ simply because it advocates for independence is completely naive and absurd.”
Issuing the ban, Hong Kong Security Minister John Lee said the HKNP’s agenda advocating independence “is in strict contravention to the Basic Law and also against national security”.
He added: “I understand residents are concerned about freedom of assembly. I want to stress that Hong Kong residents have freedom of assembly, but this freedom is not without limits.”
Lee said the party has indicated that it will use all means to achieve its goal, including using force.
He added: “While its convener has on some occasions indicated they would use non-violent means to achieve the goal, I cannot ignore the fact that the Hong Kong National Party has repeatedly advocated that it would use all methods including the use of force and also encouraging its supporters to use force.”
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