The Hong Kong government will step up screening of restaurants, cafés, and other catering businesses for possible national security violations, with civil servants instructed to prioritize political loyalty when handling license approvals, Chief Executive John Lee announced Tuesday.
The move, framed as a way to ensure that public venues do not become platforms for subversion, has drawn sharp criticism from pro-democracy advocates and business groups, who fear the policy will extend surveillance into everyday commerce and chill political expression in the private sector.
Critics argue the new scrutiny is aimed at silencing dissent in the wake of the 2019 anti-government protests, during which thousands of businesses expressed solidarity with the movement. Many cafés and small shops famously displayed protest art, offered discounts to demonstrators, or used slogans like “Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Times” actions now potentially punishable under the 2020 National Security Law imposed by Beijing.
“Public officers must handle applications with national security in mind,” Lee said. “This includes assessing whether a business promotes ideas contrary to the stability of the state.”
Though the government claims the move is about safeguarding order, human rights advocates warn it could have sweeping consequences for freedom of speech and economic fairness. “This creates a climate of fear,” said Grace Leung, a political analyst at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. “Business owners now risk penalties not just for illegal acts, but for ideological associations.”
In recent months, several shops have reportedly had licenses denied or revoked based on their past public affiliations with the pro-democracy movement, though authorities deny targeting specific political views.
The new licensing policy also comes amid broader efforts by the Hong Kong government to align more closely with mainland Chinese governance norms, including expanded police powers, revised school curriculums, and tightened rules for civil society organizations.
As Hong Kong approaches the fifth anniversary of the 2019 unrest, observers say the shift from protest-tolerant pluralism to ideological conformity continues to reshape the city’s identity.
