Hong Kong bans group that wants independence from China

Hong Kong banned a pro-independence party in an unprecedented move on Monday, raising more concerns over China’s grip on the semiautonomous territory. John Lee, the region’s security secretary, announced the ban on the Hong Kong National Party without providing any additional details.

Hong Kong police in July recommended prohibiting the party under the Societies Ordinance, which allows authorities to ban groups on national security and public safety grounds. Hong Kong has not invoked the ordinance since 1997, the same year Britain returned the semiautonomous territory to China.

Hong Kong in 2016 barred Andy Chan, the party’s leader, and other pro-independence candidates from running in the legislative election after they refused to concede that Hong Kong remains an inalienable part of China. Authorities cracked down in August of this year after Chan delivered a pro-democracy speech at Hong Kong’s Foreign Correspondents Club after China tried to scrap the event.