Remove a file that has hard links to it the same way as you would remove any other file:
rm filename(s)
Any files that were created by making hard links to the filename will continue to exist in their own right.
Removing a file to which symbolic links have been made has a different effect. Although the linkname remains the actual file that this name points to does not.
Trying to use a command on the linkname will give you the message:
command: filename: No such file or directory