The Hong Kong independence group's registered office in London (White Building)

According to a recent report by Hong Kong’s *Bauhinia* monthly magazine, several disciples of Chen Yun, an assistant professor at Lingnan University who advocates the “city-state theory,” officially registered and established the “Hong Kong Independence Party” in the United Kingdom in late February. The report indicates that the establishment of the “Hong Kong Independence Party” is intended to formally accept foreign donations overseas and remit them back to Hong Kong, serving as preliminary preparation for the future formal establishment of a “Hong Kong independence party” in Hong Kong. The organization also plans to register in the United States by mid-year.

According to reports, on February 27, the UK Electoral Commission accepted the “Hong Kong Independence Party’s” application to become a legally recognized political party in the UK. By registering a political party abroad, “Hong Kong independence” activists can legally receive political donations, establish companies locally in the party’s name, and transfer the funds they receive to corresponding organizations or companies in Hong Kong.
According to registration records from the UK Electoral Commission, the “Hong Kong Independence Party” was officially approved for registration in late February of this year. Its party leader is “Kin Chung Wong”; its secretary is “Daniel Ma”; and its trustee is “Tat Hang Lau.” All three are “disciples” of Chen Yun. A media investigation revealed that among the three key figures of the “Hong Kong Independence Party,” Wong Kin Chung and Lau Tat Hang are both Hong Kong residents who studied and worked in the UK. However, they are not the primary driving forces behind the party; the core figure is Secretary Daniel Ma.

Key Figures Linked to the Radical Group “Hot-Blooded Citizens”
Reports indicate that the “Hong Kong Independence Party” began planning as early as the “Occupy Central” movement, with Chen Yun serving as a key coordinator; Daniel Ma, a key figure in the “Hong Kong Independence Party” registered in the United Kingdom, whose Chinese name is Ma Junlang, was born in 1993. He has a father-son-like relationship with Chen Yun. After last year’s “Occupy Central” movement, he dropped out of school to devote himself fully to politics and is also a member of “Hot Blooded Citizens,” a radical organization that vigorously promotes “Hong Kong independence.”
According to reports, during the “Occupy Central” movement, Ma Junlang—acting on instructions from Chen Yun—initiated and led the demonstration in late November of last year to “occupy the British Consulate in Hong Kong,” demanding that “Britain reclaim Hong Kong” and that “Britain impose sanctions on China.” This move also drew the attention of British authorities. In late December of last year, immediately after the “Occupy Central” movement ended, Ma Junlang secretly traveled to the United Kingdom, where he applied to the UK Electoral Commission to register the “Hong Kong Independence Party” and launched a fundraising campaign. During his visit, he met with Sir Richard Ottaway, Chair of the UK Foreign Affairs Committee.
In response, more than 30 members of Hong Kong’s legal community recently visited Beijing and met with Li Fei, Deputy Secretary-General of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and Director of the Basic Law Committee, to propose the enactment of an “Anti-Hong Kong Independence Law” in Hong Kong. After the meeting, barrister Ma En-guo, who is also a member of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), stated that Li Fei spoke highly of the proposal, and are therefore considering reaching out to NPC deputies to gather signatures for a legislative proposal.
Before Ma Eng-kwok proposed enacting the “Anti-Hong Kong Independence Law,” Wu Qiubei, a member of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions who also serves as a National People’s Congress deputy, had already stated on the eve of the Two Sessions that he would strive to incorporate the “National Security Law”—a national law—into the “Basic Law.” However, whether it is the “Anti-Hong Kong Independence Law” or the “National Security Law,” both are in fact paving the way for legislation under Article 23 of the “Basic Law.”

The “Anti-Hong Kong Independence Law” = a "piecemeal" version of Article 23”
Article 23 of the Basic Law already covers treason, secession, incitement to rebellion, subversion of the central government, theft of state secrets, political activities in Hong Kong by foreign political organizations, and the establishment of ties between Hong Kong political organizations and foreign political organizations, and is therefore more practical than enacting the “Anti-Hong Kong Independence Law.” However, given the broad scope of Article 23, if legislation is introduced in “piecemeal” fashion—such as first targeting secession, incitement to rebellion, and prohibiting foreign political organizations or groups from engaging in political activities in Hong Kong or establishing ties with local political organizations or groups—it will be easier to revive Article 23 in the future.
Meanwhile, Rao GePing, a member of the Basic Law Committee and a scholar at Peking University, suggested last April that, given the prolonged delay in enacting legislation under Article 23 in Hong Kong, other approaches could be considered. For example, the SAR government could compile existing laws related to national security and add new provisions to them, thereby creating a law similar to Article 23.

Regardless of whether the “Anti-Hong Kong Independence Law” is enacted, central government officials and senior officials of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government have repeatedly and publicly called on all sectors of society to remain vigilant against the “Hong Kong independence” movement; however, “Hong Kong independence” rhetoric and actions do not appear to have subsided, which has clearly once again raised concerns among the central government and the Hong Kong government regarding the protection of national security and sovereignty.