UK Concerned Over Hong Kong Government's Decision To Ban Pro-Independence Party -Statement

The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office expressed on Monday its concerns over the decision of the Hong Kong government to prohibit the National Party (HKNP), which advocates the idea of Hong Kong turning from a Chinese special administrative region into an independent sovereign state.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th September, 2018) The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office expressed on Monday its concerns over the decision of the Hong Kong government to prohibit the National Party (HKNP), which advocates the idea of Hong Kong turning from a Chinese special administrative region into an independent sovereign state.

Earlier in the day, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) authorities issued the relevant order which took effect immediately.

"We are concerned by the decision of the Hong Kong SAR Government to prohibit the HKNP. This is the first time a party has been banned under the Societies Ordinance since the handover," the UK foreign office said in a statement.

London reaffirmed its support for Hong Kong remaining part of China, while stressing that region's rights and freedoms should be respected.

The European Union also condemned the ban and called on the region's authorities to protect fundamental freedoms.

"The order by the Security Secretary of the Hong Kong Government to ban the Hong Kong National Party limits the freedom of expression and association, as well as political activity in Hong Kong, and risks having a wider negative impact," EU foreign affairs spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic said, as quoted in the statement.

Southern China's region Hong Kong, which used to be a British colony since 1842, was returned to China in 1997 on the condition that the Chinese government would adhere to the "one country, two systems" concept, which means the region would remain capitalist and would not comply with the Chinese socialist system until 2047.