Hong Kong
AP
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The Social Democrats of Hong Kong’s Democratic Party’s League of Political Democrats announced on Sunday that they had dissolved due to immeasurable political pressure, the latest casualty of a longtime crackdown that has already quieted down many of the city’s former local opposition.
After the massive anti-government protests in 2019, many major activists were prosecuted or jailed under the 2020 National Security Act imposed by Beijing. Dozens of civil society groups have been dissolved. A media outlet where the government has been shut down.
The Social Democrats were the only democrats to staged small street protests and held street booth activities to continue defending despite the risks.
Chair Chan Poai-in said the decision to dissolve was made after careful deliberation, especially considering the results of its members and comrades. Chang refused to elaborate on the pressure, but said he was proud that the party had still contributed to the city’s democratic movement in the last few years.
“We remained true to our original desires and had not lost the trust that was placed on us by those who went to prison,” she said. “We are now forced to break up and feel pain in our conscience, but we have no other options,” she said.
Hong Kong, a former British colony, marks its 28th anniversary since it returned to Chinese rule on July 1st. The city was holding its annual democratic protests of the day and various other demonstrations calling for better policies.
However, they stopped after most organizing groups were disbanded and major activists were jailed. Critics say the dramatic political changes under the Security Act reflect the shrinking freedom that Beijing promised to remain in 1997.
The governments of Beijing and Hong Kong have argued that laws are necessary for the city to stabilize. A Chinese official overseeing Hong Kong’s issue in 2023 said the protests were not the only way people could express their views, but informed Beijing’s stance on demonstrations in the city.
In April, Hong Kong’s largest democrat, Democrats, also voted to give leadership an obligation to move towards a potential dissolution. A party’s veteran told The Associated Press that some members were warned of the outcome if the party was not closed. The final vote will be expected at a later date.
Chang said the principle of “one country, two systems” that Beijing uses to govern Hong Kong has already ended, pointing to the imposition of the Chinese government’s security law and introducing the idea of ”soft resistance.”
“One country, two systems already have one country, one system,” she said.
Founded in 2006, the Social Democrats Federation was a leftist party opposed to what is called a conspiracy between government and business, and supported the principle that people have a voice and are firmly committed to the interests of underprivileged residents.
It was widely known for its more aggressive tactics when fighting for change. The members threw bananas, eggs and lunch meat to officials or engaged lawmakers as gestures of protest. The party’s platform said the group advocated non-violent resistance but would not avoid physical conflict.
There used to be three lawmakers. The longest serving lawmaker, Leung Kwok-Hung – Chan’s husband – was disqualified from Congress in 2017 for his way of taking his oath.
Members were arrested and imprisoned for activism.
On the streets, the group’s activities sometimes led to the arrest and imprisonment of members.
Last year, former party leader Leung and well-known LGBTQ+ activist Jimmy Sham were sentenced to nearly seven years and more than four years in prison for their role in an informal primary under the Cleaning Security Act. Siam was released from prison last month.
In recent years, the party has limited political influence and no longer holds seats in parliament or local district councils. Even banks no longer offer bank account services to groups.
However, despite the activities that sometimes led to arrest, they continued to stage small protests from time to time. On June 12, Chang and the other members were fined after being convicted of street booth activities.
Attached to their beliefs, they continued to loom and protest against the decision outside the court.
Chang wiped out tears at a press conference on Sunday, and finally chanted the slogan with the other members.
She said she doesn’t believe democracy will come in the near future.
“It’s not easy to move forward,” she said. “I hope everyone will be like an Ember, a flying spark. No matter how small it is, it will live on that light and keep it.”
