Print from China
Last democratic party Hong Kong gives up
In Hong Kong, the Chinese government suppresses opposition groups with so -called “security laws”. Apparently with success, as is now evident.
In Hong Kong, the last active Pro-Democratic group is faced with dissolution. The League of the Social Democrats justified this on Sunday with “immense political pressure” of the Chinese government by the security law imposed in 2020. There is no other choice so as not to endanger the members, said chairwoman Chan Po Ying on Sunday in front of journalists.
With the end of the group, there is no longer any formal pro-democratic opposition in the Chinese special administration zone. The LSD is the third larger opposition party, which has declared its withdrawal in Hong Kong over the past two years.
The group was known for its radical street protests and campaigned for complete democracy and social issues such as universal pension insurance. However, the security law introduced in 2020 and intensified in 2024 places activities that are classified as a subversion, to high penalties to life imprisonment. Since then, organized protests in the former British colony have almost fallen silent.
China justifies oppression in Hong Kong
“We have endured the hardships of internal disputes and the almost complete detention of our leadership, while we have witnessed the civil society’s dismissal, the silence of the votes from the grassroots, the omnipresent red lines and the draconian oppression of different opinions,” said Chan to journalists. Party founder Leung Kwok Hung sits in prison for a subversion accusation. Several other leading members were also convicted or are under pressure.
Chinese leadership in Beijing justifies the laws as necessary to maintain stability. On the other hand, critics such as the United States and Great Britain accuse China of abusing the laws to suppress dissenters.
FD / Reuters
Source: Stern
