NED and NDI are
funded by the US Government
The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) was established to
act as a conduit to disperse US Government funds for ‘promoting democracy’,
allocated by Congress to its four core grantees:
(1) The Free Trade Union Institute, representing the labor
sector,
(2) The Center for International Private Enterprise,
representing the business sector,
(3) The National Democratic Institute, representing the
Democratic Party,
(4) The National Republican Institute, representing the
Republican Party1.
1986 NED Overview Hearings report cover
NED and NDI status under Hong Kong Law
In Hong Kong, the NED is considered a "foreign political organization" (外國政治性組織) under Section 2,
Interpretation of the Societies Ordinance because by receiving funds from the
US Government and having to consult with the State Department on its
programmes, it is ‘an agent of a government of a foreign country or an agent of
a political subdivision of the government of a foreign country’.
The NDI is also considered
a "foreign political organization" (外國政治性組織) under Section 2, Interpretation of the
Societies Ordinance because by receiving funds from the US Government it is ‘an
agent of a government of a foreign country’ and because of its affiliations
with the Democratic Party of America, it is an agent of is ‘a political party
in a foreign country’.
Both the NED and the
NDI are operating illegally in Hong Kong under Section 8 of the Societies
Ordinance because they represent a threat to the national security of China, as
well as a threat to public safety, public order and the rights and freedoms of
others in Hong Kong2.
References
1Oversight of the National Endowment for
Democracy : hearings before the Subcommittee on International Operations of the
Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, Ninety-ninth Congress,
second session, May 14 and 20, June 11, 1986. NED 1986 Oversight Report
2Societies Ordinance, Cap 151, Laws of Hong Kong.
Section 2, Interpretation of a "foreign political organization" (外國政治性組織).
