this is andy chan.t might have gone under the radar but has in fact drawn global attention, because of attempts by both beijing and authorities within hong kong to stop it. the city's former leader cy leung — here on the left — wrote a letter urging the club to revoke its invitation to andy chan and, in what seems a veiled threat, he reminded the club that it pays just a "token rent" for its building. he also likened the invitation to giving "criminals and terrorists" a platform. the current chief executive of hong kong carrie lam also urged the club to reconsider calling the decision " regrettable and inappropriate". still, despite this, the club the fcc says it values free speech and the talk went ahead. so this is some of what mr chan had to say: the hong kong national party, it all started in 2016 when my friends and i founded what was truly the first political party that had hong kong independence clearly stated as one of its central goals. due to the nature of how the chinese public machine works,

andy chan leads a small political party advocating independence from china leading to accusations that he's threatening national security due to the nature of how the chinese propaganda machine works the national party was instantly demonized as some sort of

andy chan leads a small political party advocating independence from china leading to accusations that he's threatening national security due to the nature of how the chinese propaganda machine works the national party was instantly demonized as some sort of extremist group due to the single word independence in reality what the national party is chasing now there is no difference from what many homeowners wish for the dream of democracy although he says he's not guilty of any crime the police have recommended his party be banned if that happens he says it sets a precedent for stifling all debate about independence but there is a very dangerous idea because they can accuse of you people in a restaurant to discuss about independence they say you have the potential to form a party and you have the potential to threaten their national security so we are going to arrest you right now to take preventive measures. chan is from a new generation of activists which is grown out of the so-called umbrella movement four years ago that occupied the streets of hong kong demanding greater autonomy ho

independence for hong kong has accused china of suppressing freedom of speech rival protests greeted andy chan as he arrived at the foreign correspondents club to give a speech both the chinese and the hong kong government want to be event canceled last month the police put forward an unprecedented proposal to ban chan's party for national security reasons. due to the nature of how the chinese public machine works the national party was instantly demonized as some sort of extremist group due to these single word independence in reality what the national party is chasing now there is no difference from what many homeowners wish for the dream of democracy and now as you all know the government is trying to. complete the calling us an illegal society. joins us pardon me we spoke to a little earlier here's what he had to say. this is been a fairly regular scheduled event and suddenly and the chant found himself being the man of the moment with his organization it seems being earmarked to be potentially banned here in hong kong for having this position of advocating for independence now as you hear

foreign correspondents club and this has been the venue for a controversial lunchtime speech by andy chan now he is a little known political figure here but he heads up a party of maybe only a couple of dozen members but they have advocated for independence now this for many of the protesters who've been gathered outside determined to have their voices heard this crosses a red line this is a betrayal of the system of one country two systems that hong kong should always be a part of mainland china and it does seem as though they are thirties here will in the next couple of weeks than this party from operating what is concern many journalists here though is the way that this issue seems to have been used by a number of political figures in particular by a former leader c.-y. long as a way of trying to stifle the workings of a free press here using it as a battering ram against the workings of a free media and a few moments we will have the weather with richard still ahead right now on al-jazeera consulting the people he wins have their say on the biggest change to the island and decades. an

foreign correspondents club and this has been the venue for a controversial lunchtime speech by andy chan now he is a little known political figure here but he heads up a party of maybe only a couple of dozen members but they have advocated for independence now this for many of the protesters who've been gathered outside determined to have their voices heard this crosses a red line this is a betrayal of the system of one country two systems that hong kong should always be a part of mainland china and it does seem as though they are thirties here will in the next couple of weeks than this party from operating what is concern many journalists here though is the way that this issue seems to have been used by a number of political figures in particular by a former leader c.-y. long as a way of trying to stifle the workings of a free press or using it as a battering ram against the workings of a free media cuba is to have its most significant political change in more than forty years and the government wants citizens involved thousands of community meetings are being held people to share their

that's right andy chan the independent advocate has indeed now left the building peter his speech wrapped up a short time ago it's lunchtime here early afternoon in hong kong these lunchtime news events happen quite often here this it's been a fairly regular scheduled event and suddenly and the chant found himself being the man of the moment with his organization the teams being earmarked to be potentially banned here in hong kong for having this position of advocating for independence now as you heard there and the chant says that this is not talking for any kind of violent overthrow of chinese rule here he said talking about this autonomy or independence through peaceful means and that's what he's been talking about at this event but that for many people for the protesters who've been angrily making their voices heard all around this building here that really goes across a red line any talk of independence as far as pro beijing protesters are concerned is really treasonous kind of talk treasonous behavior and a lot of their anger i think peter has that been directed not only at andy cha

that's right this is a controversial speech by andy chan is due to begin just about now it is lunchtime here in hong kong it is the billed as a lunchtime event they have regular speaker bands he is now we understand taken to his feet and will be addressing the people who congregated here meanwhile outside as you've made to there certainly there's a good hundred or so very angry protesters determined to have their voices heard these are people who have been protesting all morning here as head of this the speech they are pro beijing groups they've been no waving the national flag of the people's republic of china with various banners condemning this as being an act of treason if you like for them the mention of the word independence is really crossing a red line that it is a very controversial subject here this small party it's only has around about two dozen members which has suddenly sprung to prominence because the old thirty's here seem to be about to abandon it from operation in the assertion of a very controversial laws which stipulated you know of allowed to talk about independence

andy chan leads a small political party advocating independence from china leading to accusations that he's threatening national security due to the nature of how the chinese propaganda machine works the national party was instantly demonized as some sort of extremist group due to the single word independence in reality what the national party is choosing now is no different from what many homeowners which will the dream of democracy although he says he's not guilty of any crime the police have recommended his party be banned if that happens he says it sets a precedent for stifling all debate about independence but there is a very dangerous idea because they can accuse of you people in a restaurant to discuss about independence they say you have the potential to form a party and you have the potential to threaten their national security so we are going to arrest you right now to take preventive measures. chan is from a new generation of activists which has grown out of the so-called umbrella movement four years ago that occupied the streets of hong kong demanding greater autonomy hong