One of Hong Kong’s last major pro-democracy political parties has shut down, in a significant blow to the movement fighting for greater autonomy in the face of Beijing’s unprecedented crackdown on dissent.
The League of Social Democrats (LSD), which has been one of the most vocal critics of Beijing’s tightening grip over Hong Kong’s political system, announced its decision to disband due to “immense political pressure”.
In an emotional Facebook post on Sunday, a statement from the party read: “We leave with heavy hearts, and with an ache in our conscience, knowing we will not be the last to fall.
“Even as we step aside, we stand with those still struggling in the shadows,” it added.
The LSD was the only remaining political party that still held small pro-democracy protests and carried out street booth activities to continue its advocacy work despite the risk of police action.
The statement came a day before the 28th anniversary of the former British colony’s return to Chinese rule, on 1 July, a day that has long been marked with annual pro-democracy protests against China’s tightening control over the city, and demonstrations demanding better policies.
Following the massive and months-long anti-government protests in 2019 that erupted in response to a proposed law allowing extraditions to mainland China, Beijing imposed a national security law in June 2020, effectively silencing dissent.
Many prominent activists have since been prosecuted or jailed, pro-democracy media outlets have been shut down, and civil society groups have disbanded or gone underground.
The shutdown of the LSD follows the closure of the biggest pro-democracy party, the Democratic Party, whose members once served as representatives of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy voters in the Legislative Council before the national security law was imposed.
Another major party, the Civic Party, disbanded in 2023. It was once the second-largest opposition party in the city’s Legislative Council.
The chair of the LSD, Chan Po Ying, said the party had reached the decision after careful deliberations, especially taking into account the consequences for its members and comrades.
She was unable to hold back tears during a final press conference announcing the decision, which was attended by members chanting party slogans.
“We have stayed true to our original aspirations and haven’t [betrayed] the trust placed in us by those who went to prison,” she said.
“While we are now forced to disband and feel an ache in our conscience, we have no other choice,” she added.
Ms Chan refused to elaborate on the pressure the party had faced, but said she was proud to say that it had still contributed to the city’s pro-democracy movement in recent years.
She said she believed the “one country, two systems” principle, which Beijing uses to govern Hong Kong, had already ended, pointing to the Chinese government’s imposition of the security law.
“One country, two systems has already [become] one country, one system,” she said.
The party was founded in 2006 and stood as a left-wing political party that opposed what it called collusion between government and business, upheld the principle that people should have a say, and was firmly committed to the interests of underprivileged residents.
It became widely known for the more aggressive tactics it employed to fight for change. Its members have been known to throw bananas, eggs and luncheon meat at officials or pro-Beijing lawmakers as a protest gesture.
Its party platform said the group advocated non-violent resistance but would not avoid physical confrontations – a stance that set it apart from older, more traditional pro-democracy groups.
The party once had three lawmakers in office. Its longest-serving lawmaker, Leung Kwok Hung – Ms Chan’s husband – was disqualified from the legislature after modifying the oath of allegiance to China when he was sworn into office in 2016.
“Moving forward is not at all easy,” said Ms Chan. “I hope everyone can become like an ember, a flying spark – still carrying light, keeping that light alive, no matter how small it may be.”
