The United States on Tuesday urged Hong Kong to allow freedom of expression as it voiced concern over a ban on the pro-independence party.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a statement said the United States was “concerned” by the ban on the Hong Kong National Party, a first since Britain handed back the trading port 21 years ago to China which assured it would allow semi-autonomy.
“The US supports the freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly, and association,” Pompeo said.
“These are core values we share with Hong Kong, and that must be vigorously protected,” added Pompeo who is in New York for the annual United Nations General Assembly.
Hong Kong said it was upholding a request from the police to ban the tiny party — whose core membership is only around a dozen people — in the interest of preserving public order.
Britain also said it was “concerned” about the move, while stressing that it did not advocate independence for the city.
China voiced “strong dissatisfaction” over foreign criticism, calling on countries not to interfere in Hong Kong or Chinese affairs.
“Certain countries and institutions have made numerous and irresponsible remarks on the Hong Kong SAR (special administrative region) government’s move to ban the Hong Kong National Party,” said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang on Tuesday.
“We express strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to this,” Geng told a regular news briefing, adding that countries should “stop interfering in Hong Kong’s affairs and Chinese internal affairs under the pretext of freedom of speech.”
Geng said the city’s government had acted in accordance with the law, and “any organisation or attempts to promote Hong Kong independence and to separate our nation cannot be tolerated.”
Police requested the party ban in July under the Societies Ordinance, which stipulates groups can be prohibited in the interests of national security and public safety.
The police application thrust the small party, with a core membership of only around a dozen, back into the headlines.
It gained additional prominence when its leader Andrew Chan gave a high-profile talk at the city’s press club which Beijing also tried in vain to stop.
Under China’s “one country, two systems” policy, semi-autonomous Hong Kongenjoys freedoms unseen on the mainland including freedom of expression.
But the space for dissent is shrinking in the face of an increasingly assertive China under President Xi Jinping.
Geng said the ban on the party was “an attempt to uphold national security and HongKong’s rule of law”.
“This is totally Hong Kong’s affair, as well as China’s internal affairs, and has no room for foreign interference,” he added.
