Hong Kong banned two pro-democracy groups from operating locally as they posed a threat to the state and aimed to subvert the democratic mindset by promoting ‘self-determination’ and undermining the basic principles of the government.
Hong Kong banned the operations of two pro-democracy groups from operating locally — named Hong Kong Parliament and the Hong Kong Democratic Independence Union — the government said on Tuesday. The government believes that these organisations aim to subvert state power and damage the democratic mindset by promoting “self-determination” for Hong Kong and undermine the basic principles of the Hong Kong SAR government.
The order was issued by the city’s security chief under Hong Kong’s Article 23 which passed last year. Both the organisations have been fined up to $128,000 and imprisonment for 14 years.
Protecting national security
A statement said the prohibition was necessary for safeguarding national security. But what remains unclear is the impact of the ban. Since both the groups were active on social media. This may be seen as Beijing’s control over the activist movement by challenging the political status and undermining the status quo that once existed in Hong Kong.
Many pro-democracy groups have already faced legal prosecution, disbandment, and harsh sentences under the national security framework.
Any activists affiliated with them, or who give them money, face a maximum fine of HK$1 million ($128,000) and imprisonment for 14 years, according to the ban published in the city’s law gazette.
National Security law
Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law in 2020 to protect the acts of criminalism, succession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with the help of foreign forces.
A 19-year-old woman who took part in two videos to promote the Hong Kong Parliament pleaded guilty to sedition and last month received a one-year prison term.
Under the national security crimes, Hong Kong convicted about 172 people and arrested 348, radicalising tough stands.
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