HONG KONG, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- Chris Tang Ping-keung, secretary for security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, on Tuesday exercised the power conferred by section 60(1) of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO) (Ordinance No. 6 of 2024), by order published in the gazette, to prohibit the operation or continued operation of the "Hong Kong Parliament" and the "Hong Kong Democratic Independence Union" in the HKSAR with immediate effect.

"The Secretary for Security has ordered the prohibition of the operation or continued operation of the 'Hong Kong Parliament' and the 'Hong Kong Democratic Independence Union' in the HKSAR. The two organizations have become 'prohibited organizations' immediately," said a spokesperson.

"Any person who engages in the acts specified in sections 62 to 65 of the SNSO commits an offence, including acting as an officer-bearer or a member of a prohibited organization, or professing or claiming to be an office-bearer of the prohibited organization; conducting any activity on behalf of a prohibited organization, participating in any meeting of a prohibited organization; inciting any other person to become a member of a prohibited organization; and giving aid of any kind to or procuring any subscription or aid for a prohibited organization, and is liable on conviction to a maximum fine of 1,000,000 Hong Kong dollars and imprisonment for 14 years," the spokesperson said.

"Endangering national security is a very serious offence. Such acts or activities may lead to extremely grave consequences. The Police will strictly enforce the law against relevant criminal acts and appeals to members of the public not to defy the law, participate in any activities of prohibited organizations, or have any connection with them by dissociating themselves from prohibited organizations," the spokesperson said.