Hong Kong National Party
Hong Kong National Party 香港民族黨 | |
|---|---|
| Convenor | Chan Ho-tin |
| Spokesman | Jason Chow Ho-fai |
| Founded | March 28, 2016 |
| Membership | 30 to 50[1] |
| Ideology |
Localism Hong Kong nationalism |
| Political position | Far right |
| Colours | Dark red |
| Slogan |
A self-reliant nation An independent Hong Kong |
| Legislative Council |
0 / 70 |
| District Councils |
0 / 458 |
| Website | |
| Hong Kong National Party's Facebook page | |
The Hong Kong National Party (Chinese: 香港民族黨) is a political party of the localism camp in Hong Kong. It is also the first political party in Hong Kong, founded in March 2016, advocating for building a Hong Kong nation state.[note 1]
The Hong Kong National Party believes that, since Hong Kong has became a British colony from 1842 by stages, she has experienced a different historical progress from the mainland China, which has led to the uniqueness of Hong Kong in social, economic, political and cultural aspects. With these objective conditions, the Hong Kong nation was actually formed without people's awareness. The sovereignty of Hong Kong was transferred to People's Republic of China in 1997, Hong Kong has then been facing another colonial rule by the Chinese Communist regime, who is intending to destroy the Hong Kong community or the Hong Kong nation. The invasion of the non-native regime has otherwise raised Hong Kongers' sense of community and furthermore led to the development of the national consciousness among Hong Kongers. However, with the continuous colonisation by the Chinese Communist regime, the living space of the Hong Kong nation is restricted, therefore the party believes that building a Hong Kong nation state is the only way to protect the nation from any forms of colonisation and invasion.
Platform
The Hong Kong National Party upholds "a self-reliant nation. An independent Hong Kong" as the party's goal. In addition, the party lays out six agendas as their platform:[2]
- build an independent and free Republic of Hong Kong;
- defend the interests of Hong Kongers and maintain such interests as fundamental;
- consolidate the national consciousness of the Hong Kong nation to define Hong Kong citizenship;
- support and participate in all effective actions of resistance;
- abolish the illegitimate Basic Law and let Hongkongers make their own Constitution; and
- construct influential powers which support the independence of Hong Kong, and establish Hong-Kong-oriented organisations and pressure groups in various fields such as economics, culture and education, so as to found the powers for independence.
The ultimate goals are to end the Chinese rule in Hong Kong and build an independent and autonomous Republic of Hong Kong. The party said it would use “whatever effective means” to push for independence, including fielding candidates in the 2016 Legislative Council election.[3]
Founding
The Hong Kong National Party was established on 28 March 2016 by members consisting of mostly active university students, also some fresh graduates who have been working for a few years and professionals who were mostly in their 20s. The party was convened by Chan Ho-tin, a Hong Kong Polytechnic University student who participated in the protests of 2014 and led a campaign in an attempt to split the HKPU student union from the Hong Kong Federation of Students.[4][5]
Suppression
The Companies Registry refused to register the Hong Kong National Party without giving explanation. District Councillor and solicitor Maggie Chan Man-ki said it was legal for the Companies Registry to deny the application as advocating Hong Kong independence is an illegal activity according to the Crimes Ordinances Sections 9 and 10.[6]
An editorial piece in the Chinese government-owned Global Times slammed the Hong Kong National Party by stating that it is "impossible to achieve" independence for Hong Kong and calling it "a practical joke". "Today, there is a proliferation of extremism in Hong Kong. The ‘Hong Kong National Party’ can be considered to be at the forefront of extremism – even the possibility of using violence is mentioned,” the editorial added.[7] The State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office issued a statement through the official Xinhua News Agency on 30 March 2016, following the declaration of the formation of Hong Kong National Party, condemning the party: "The action to establish a pro-independence organisation by an extremely small group of people in Hong Kong has harmed the country’s sovereignty, security, endangered the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, and the core interests of Hong Kong... It is firmly opposed by all Chinese people, including some seven million Hong Kong people. It is also a serious violation of the country’s constitution, Hong Kong’s Basic Law and the relevant existing laws."[8]
The Hong Kong government issued a statement after the formation of the party, stating that "any suggestion that Hong Kong should be independent or any movement to advocate such 'independence' is against the Basic Law, and will undermine the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong and impair the interest of the general public… The SAR Government will take action according to the law.”[8]
See also
Notes
- ↑ The first political party outside Hong Kong advocating for building a Hong Kong nation state is Hong Kong Independence Party
References
- ↑ "Hong Kong National Party taps desire for independence". China Post. Agence France Presse. 31 March 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
- ↑ "Declaration of Establishment by the Hong Kong National Party". Hong Kong National Party.
- ↑ Ng, K.C.; Fung, Owen (28 March 2016). "Hong Kong National Party is born: will push for independence, will not recognise the Basic Law". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
- ↑ Fung, Owen (31 March 2016). "Face of the pro-independence Hong Kong National Party: students and 20-somethings who shun outside donors". South China Morning Post.
- ↑ Siu, Phila (30 March 2016). "Beijing slams creation of Hong Kong independence party, saying it endangers national security". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
- ↑ Wong, Hermina (29 March 2016). "Newly formed pro-independence Hong Kong National Party ‘denied registration’ by Companies Registry". Hong Kong Free Press.
- ↑ Wong, Hermina (30 March 2016). "Hong Kong independence ‘impossible’, HK National Party ‘a practical joke’, says pro-gov’t paper". Hong Kong Free Press.
- 1 2 Cheng, Kris (31 March 2016). "Beijing slams new pro-independence party as gov’t warns of legal action". Hong Kong Free Press.
External links
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