Don’t be naive and test the law with Hong Kong independence slogans, former Bar Association chairwoman says

Winnie Tam Wan-chi says all freedoms and rights come with boundaries, as dispute about posters on university campuses rumbles on

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Winnie Tam Wan-chi, former chairwoman of the Bar Association. Photo: Dickson Lee

Published: 2:52pm, 16 Sep 2017Updated: 11:15pm, 16 Sep 2017

Hongkongers would be naive to keep testing the bottom line of the law by displaying pro-independence slogans since all freedoms and rights came with boundaries, a former chairwoman of the Bar Association said on Saturday.

Winnie Tam Wan-chi, who stepped down from the role early this year, said freedoms of expression were not limitless, and she warned that action advocating Hong Kong breaking away from Chinese rule could violate the city’s Crimes Ordinance.

No one has yet been charged under the legislation for such activity.

Prosecute those who push for Hong Kong independence

Her comments came after a row over pro-independence banners and posters on university campuses took a turn for the worse on Friday when the head of the Chinese University of Hong Kong issued an ultimatum to the student union to take them down. That was met with defiance from students, who accused the institution of self-censorship.

The heads of 10 tertiary learning institutions in the city on Friday issued a joint statement condemning what they called “abuses” of free speech.

Tam said it was naive to keep testing the ability of the law to tolerate independence advocacy since it would only lead to Hong Kong becoming more polarised and unstable. Photo: Dickson Lee

Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung Kin-chung on Saturday described the joint statement as “explicit” and “correct” and expressed hope the controversy would end.

“Hong Kong independence is a complete violation of the Basic Law,” he said, referring to the city’s mini-constitution. “Advocacy of Hong Kong independence even challenges the bottom line of national sovereignty and territorial integrity, which cannot be tolerated.”