The only remaining democratic party in Hong Kong, the League of Social Democrats (LSD), announced its dissolution on the 29th (local time).
According to Reuters and the Singapore Straits Times that day, Chin Young, chairperson of the League of Social Democrats, held a press conference and noted, "Faced with strong political pressure, we regrettably had no choice but to decide to dissolve, considering the impact on our members."
Local media in Hong Kong reported that Chairperson Chin received three warnings from authorities stating that if the party was not dissolved by July 1, it would lead to "serious consequences." July 1 marks the 28th anniversary of Hong Kong's return from Britain to China.
When asked about the reason for the dissolution, Chairperson Chin added, "I cannot provide further details."
The Straits Times reported, "With the disappearance of the LSD, the last party of the democratic camp, organized political forces staging street protests in Hong Kong have effectively vanished."
The League of Social Democrats was considered a radical faction within Hong Kong's democratic camp.
Leung Kwok-hung, 68, who founded the party in 2006, gained popularity by leading street protests while wearing a Che Guevara T-shirt and sporting long hair.
In 2008, during its third year, LSD protesters captured public attention by throwing bananas at the Chief Executive of Hong Kong while he was giving a speech to protest welfare cuts.
Afterward, the LSD attracted attention for its radical and unique forms of resistance, including throwing eggs and luncheon meat at pro-China lawmakers. At one point, it held three seats in the Legislative Council.
Despite regulations from the Chinese government, the League of Social Democrats was one of the few political groups in Hong Kong that publicly commemorated the Tiananmen Square incident in 1989. Over the past five years, it has staged small street protests and distributed leaflets under the rule of the Chinese Communist Party.
They claimed that this was an action to show the LSD's determination to defend democracy and freedom in Hong Kong. Founder Leung is currently incarcerated in connection with the national subversion case involving 47 opposition figures.
Political experts noted that the dissolution of the LSD signifies the effective end of the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement, which has sharply shrunk since the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law in 2020.
The Hong Kong National Security Law, enacted after the large-scale anti-government protests in 2019, effectively criminalized all anti-government activities.
Political parties in the Hong Kong democratic camp, which are prone to anti-government rhetoric, subsequently collapsed one after another.
The Civic Party, which led the Umbrella Movement in 2014, disbanded in May 2023. The Democratic Party, which was the largest opposition party in the democratic camp, also entered the dissolution process in February. Dozens of related civic organizations have shut down as well. Major activists have been indicted, and many are already incarcerated.
The international human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) criticized, "The dissolution of the LSD shows how quickly and fiercely the Chinese government has suppressed Hong Kong."
Chinese authorities emphasize that a thorough application of the National Security Law is necessary to maintain stability and prosperity in Hong Kong. They foresee that this will help maintain Hong Kong's status as an international financial hub.
Shabao Long, head of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, stated, "National security is a safety device for Hong Kong's development."
The international community holds a different view. They believe that strengthening the National Security Law undermines Hong Kong's autonomy, rule of law, and civil liberties, thus diminishing its appeal as an international financial center.
According to the Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI), Hong Kong, which was the unparalleled number one in Asia until 2018, has seen its position shake since the passage of the National Security Law in 2020.
In particular, the business environment, human resources, and infrastructure sectors, which were ranked third in 2018, have all dropped to sixth place. Concerns over vague legal applications and the infringement of judicial independence have increased uncertainty for foreign corporations that value rationality.
Chairperson Chin Young stated, "The one country, two systems promised by China at the time of the 1997 handover has changed to 'one country, one system' in less than 28 years."