President of the Social Democrats League of Hong Kong, Chan Po-Ying. Credit: Zuma Press Wire / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia
The Social Democrats League (LSD), a pro-democracy political party in Hong Kong, announced on Sunday that it had been abolished. The news marks the latest defeat in a prolonged repression that has already silently reduced much of the city's once vocal opposition, AFP and France 24 reports.
The LSD leader, one of the last formations in the opposition on the Hong Kong political scene, announced the abolition of the party on Sunday, invoking a “huge political pressure”.
The legislators of the party founded in 2006 were known for the symbolic protests during the legislative sessions, which also assumed to throw bananas and fish with fish.
It is only the most recent opposition party that ceases its activity, in the context of the national security legislation that Beijing imposed in 2020 to put an end to the protests for democracy that had paralyzed the financial Hub.
“In the face of huge political pressure and after careful deliberation-especially in terms of consequences for our members and comrades-we made the difficult decision to abolish us,” LSD said in a statement.
LSD “had no other option”
The party president, Chan Po-Ying said that the decision was unanimous, because the group “had no other option”. Asked if the pressures came from the people of Beijing, Chan refused to detail.
In 2008, when its popularity was at its peak, LSD had only three places in the Legislative Council, but contributed to bring to the fore a more radical pro-democracy agenda.
After the law of national security was imposed, the political opposition in the city was reduced, given that most of the activists for democracy were imprisoned or left abroad. The Civic Party closed in 2023, and the decline of the Democratic Party began in February.
Queen IP, the coordinator of the Hong Kong government office, told AFP last week that it is a “good thing” that these opposition parties are abolished.
“All these parties have brought great Hong Kong damage and good functioning (of the Legislative Council),” she said.
The authorities have since revised the electoral system to ensure that only Beijing loyalists can hold public functions.
Chan said he has no “false hope” of liberalization.
“I don't think Hong Kong will move to the democratic system in the near future,” said LSD president.
According to the party, the bank accounts of the LSD were closed in 2023, which aggravated the operational difficulties.
In the last five years, six party members, including Chan's husband and one of the LSD founding members, Leung Kwok-Hung, have been sent behind the graces of the party.
