Questioning Hong Kong’s lack of a banned book list is ‘soft resistance’ – outgoing nat. security police chief
Questioning why the government will not release a list of books banned in Hong Kong or specify where the red lines lie for seditious content is a form of “soft resistance,” the outgoing head of the police’s national security department has said. In an interview with select media outlets just before stepping down as Deputy […]
Former Hong Kong Deputy Commissioner of Police (National Security) Andrew Kan has claimed that questioning why the government hasn't released a list of banned books or clarified the boundaries of sedition is a form of "soft resistance." Kan made these remarks in an interview before stepping down from his post. In July, HK's national security police raided two independent bookstores and arrested five individuals on charges of sedition, seizing books with a "seditious intention."
Kan defended the raids, stating that they were not an abuse of power, and emphasized that national security legislation is clear on what constitutes illegal acts. He added that before bookstores consider selling a book, they should read it or seek legal advice. Kan stated that if authorities release a list of banned books, people may question the justification for past arrests if the list doesn't include recent publications.
The Society for Truth and Light, a conservative Christian NGO, criticized the government's refusal to disclose a list of banned books, calling it an "abuse of power" that undermines the rule of law.
Written by urgent.news from Hong Kong Free Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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