The Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom government expressed concern in a statement on Wednesday over the proposed banning of a separatist group by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in accordance with relevant Hong Kong laws. The statement reiterated the official stance of the UK government that it does not support "Hong Kong independence" but also called for "full respect" for the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong society.

Apparently the British government takes issue with the fact the HKSAR Government is fulfilling its constitutional obligation to safeguard national security with another blow at separatism in Hong Kong. Let's not pretend we were surprised by London's concern but we were just a little bit because the UK has banned far more organizations than Hong Kong can ever aspire to.

The opposition camp in Hong Kong insists the national Constitution does not apply in the HKSAR but it is not their decision to make. Nor does it depend on their interpretation of the Basic Law.

China always has zero tolerance of separatism in any shape or form and Hong Kong, as an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China, is required by the Basic Law to ensure it remains so forever. China as a sovereign state has every right and reason to treat separatism as a threat to national security. No foreign government has any business telling China how to manage its own domestic affairs, including Hong Kong's role in protecting the country's sovereignty, national security and development interest.

In this case Secretary for Security John Lee Ka-chiu acted on the recommendation of the Hong Kong Police Force, which cited Section 8 of the Societies Ordinance in stopping the operation of the Hong Kong National Party, a group of "Hong Kong independence" advocates who hate the fact Hong Kong is part of China. Indeed, they hate the nation so much they have urged their supporters to damage China's interests to avenge the HKNP's looming demise. Should we treat London's concern as willingness to vouch for HKNP's harmlessness?

Some Western governments and so-called watchdogs automatically fault China for being tough on separatism but have never found a better excuse than "basic rights" and "freedoms". That is why they simply ignore that in this world no society under rule of law allows these rights and freedoms without conditions. We may or may not be tired of calling those critics of China out for using double standards like a conditioned reflex, but are they hoping people will stop noticing eventually? As for the basic rights and freedoms, again, Hong Kong attaches certain limits to them in the form of local laws just like any other society under the rule of law does.

(HK Edition 07/19/2018 page9)