'Liberate Hong Kong' slogan ban is govt's worst mistake: Co-author

The slogan co-author has  described the move as the worst mistakes in handling the political unrest.

The phrase was jointly penned down by ex-localist leader Edward Leung, ousted lawmaker Baggio Leung and a former member of the party Youngspiration who asked to be known as “J.”

J – who was granted anonymity owing to legal concerns – told Hong Kong Free Press the ban was one of the government’s worst mistakes in handling the political unrest, which began last June over an ill-fated extradition agreement with China. 

Despite protests, China passed a new law on Hong Kong recently.

The new law is expected to make security policies in Hong Kong adjusted to Beijing's perception of crime and punishment with regard to separatism, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign agents. Hong Kongers fear their basic freedoms and rights, enjoyed under the autonomous region's special status, might get painfully limited by Beijing. 

Hong Kong has been witnessing protests since 2019 with protesters claiming to oppose China's increasing influence on the special administrative region. 

Hong Kong, a former British colony, was handed over to China in 1997, and the Basic Law preserves its autonomy as a Special Administrative Region under the principle of “one country, two systems”. 
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