Convenor Chan Ho-tin Membership 30 to 50 claimed | Spokesman Jason Chow Ho-fai Colours Maroon | |
Founded 28 March 2016 (2016-03-28) Ideology Hong Kong nationalism
Localism | ||
The Hong Kong National Party (Chinese: 香港民族黨) is a localist political party in Hong Kong. It is the first political party in Hong Kong advocating for Hong Kong independence. In the 2016 Hong Kong Legislative Council election, its convenor Chan Ho-tin was barred from standing due to his pro-independence stance for Hong Kong. Hong Kong SAR government states that Hong Kong independence contravenes the principle of 'One country, two systems' and Article 1 of the Basic Law.
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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:
- 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.
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.
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.
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. 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."
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.”
Disqualification from 2016 election
In the 2016 Legislative Council election, convenor Chan Ho-tin intended to run in the New Territories West. The Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC) carried out a new election measure, requiring all candidates to sign an additional "confirmation form" in the nomination to declare their understanding of Hong Kong being an inalienable part of China as stipulated in the Basic Law of Hong Kong. Chan refused to sign the form and his candidacy was "invalidated" along with five other pro-independence activists after the end of the nomination period. The Hong Kong National Party launched a rally on 5 August which was dubbed the "first pro-independence rally in Hong Kong" against the EAC's disqualifications.