A Hong Kong language group shuts down after police allege one of its essays breached security laws

By KANIS LEUNG
Associated Press

HONG KONG (AP) — A group that promotes the Cantonese language has shut down after Hong Kong authorities said a fictional essay depicting a decline in liberties in the city on the group’s website violated the national security law. It’s the latest example of the city’s erosion of freedom of expression. Andrew Chan, chairperson of the Societas Linguistica Hongkongensis, said in a Facebook post that national security officers visited a home where some of his family members live without a search warrant last week when he was out of town. He said the officers asked him to remove the fictional essay in question from his group’s website. Chan said he decided to halt the operation of his association due to the legal risks and a lack of resources.