In exercise of the powers vested in him under section 60(1) of the National Security Ordinance (No. 6)(the National Security Ordinance) , Tang Bing-keung, Secretary for Security of the Government of the HKSAR, made an order in the gazette on May 2, the“Hong Kong council” and the“Hong Kong Alliance for Democracy” are prohibited from operating or continuing to operate in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region with immediate effect.
“By order of the Secretary for Security, the ‘Hong Kong Council’ and the ‘Hong Kong Democratic Alliance for the founding of the People’s Republic of China’ are prohibited from operating or continuing to operate in the HKSAR. They have immediately become prohibited organisations. Any person who engages in any of the acts specified in sections 62 to 65 of the NSO shall be guilty of an offence, including: acting as an officer or member of a prohibited organisation, or claiming or claiming to be an officer or member of a prohibited organisation; carrying out any activity on behalf of a prohibited organisation; participating in an assembly of a prohibited organisation; inciting another person to become a member of a prohibited organisation; providing any form of assistance to or obtaining membership dues or assistance for a prohibited organisation, etc. . On conviction, the maximum penalty is a fine of HK $10 and million imprisonment for 14 years.”
“Endangering national security is a very serious crime and such acts or activities may have extremely serious consequences,” the spokesman said. The police will strictly enforce the law on such crimes and call on the public not to break the law, not to participate in any activities of or have any connection with prohibited organizations, and to draw a line between themselves and prohibited organizations.”