On the eve of the fifth anniversary of the implementation of the National Security Law in Hong Kong by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), a 19-year-old political party in Hong Kong, the League of Social Democrats (the League), held a press conference on June 29, saying it was “facing tremendous political pressure” and announcing its dissolution.

The League was the only remaining pro-democratic party in Hong Kong that was still active.

When asked by a reporter about the nature of the pressure and when it started, Chan Po-ying, chairperson of the League, replied: “I have already said what I can say, and I can’t elaborate any further on the reasons.”

When the reporter probed if the reason for not elaborating was related to the subsidiary legislation of the Beijing-imposed National Security Law, the “Safeguarding National Security Ordinance” (commonly known as Article 23), Chan said: “I think everyone understands.”

The Hong Kong government passed the ordinance in May this year, which stipulates that when the National Security Office of the CCP in Hong Kong handles a case, no one is allowed to disclose any information related to the investigation.

Chan also said that when the Democratic Party was dissolved in February this year, the League was the only vocal democratic political group. She said of the situation at the time, “When the nest is overturned, how can the eggs remain intact?” She added that the Hong Kong government has turned the law into a weapon against dissidents.

Although the League’s current leadership was careful to avoid stepping on the CCP’s red lines, it was still frequently ticketed, and the League’s bank account was canceled.

She also said that the motion of dissolution was carried out in accordance with the formal procedures. It was a unanimous decision, she added, and there are no bank accounts or assets to deal with. The party has some cash remaining, but it still needs to use it to deal with taxes, she said.

CCP Pressures Democratic Parties to Dissolve

Hong Kong media Sing Tao Daily reported on June 25 that, since the beginning of this year, the League has received reminders from different “messengers” asking them to terminate operations before July 1, the 28th anniversary of the CCP’s rule of Hong Kong. Some people even told Sing Tao Daily that the party has financial problems and is suspected of violating the law; it also mentioned that individual members had touched the red line when expressing their demands in the past, and that there were legal risks.

Likely Not the Last Organization to Disband ‘Voluntarily’

A well-known incident was that Wong Yuk-man, its founding chairperson, threw a banana at then-Chief Executive Donald Tsang in 2008 when he read the “Policy Address” in the Legislature. After the implementation of the National Security Law in 2020, the League still held street stalls and small-scale protests.

At the press conference, Chan read out the dissolution statement, recalling that since its founding, the League of Social Democrats had positioned itself as a “distinctly oppositional force,” striving for political equality and universal suffrage through non-violent means such as petitions, demonstrations, and referendums.

The party said it hoped to return political power and the allocation of social resources to ordinary citizens. It also campaigned for various social security policies, such as universal retirement protection and a minimum wage.

“Over the past two decades, the League of Social Democrats has been actively involved and present in all of Hong Kong’s major social movements and policy advocacy efforts, never absent,” Chan said.

The League was the only active pro-democratic party remaining, but other kinds of organisations will also be impacted, she suggested. 

“Under the domino effect, the League of Social Democrats will not be the last one to announce the so-called ‘voluntary’ dissolution.”

She said she believes that the members of the League will continue to shine for their beliefs in various fields in Hong Kong.

Chan Po-ying, chairperson of the League of Social Democrats, spoke at a press conference on June 29, 2025. (Kiri Choi/The Epoch Times)

Former Chairperson Sentenced to Prison

Chan, Leung’s wife, said she had discussed with Leung in prison before the dissolution, and he hoped that the members of the League would be safe.

Jimmy Sham Tsz-kit, who was imprisoned for the primary election case and was released from prison at the end of last month, recalled at the press conference that he joined the League in 2008 when he was still a student and witnessed the founding members trying to connect with the disadvantaged groups. He said he was proud to join the League and hoped to tread the final mile with the party.

Raphael Wong Ho-ming, former chairperson, said at the press conference: “I hope that the League of Social Democrats will be the last civic organization to be disbanded. I hope that we no longer need to be scared of speaking and writing, no longer need to be afraid of someone knocking on the door at 6 o'clock in the morning, no more worries of anonymous letters and phone calls.”

“I hope that one day, we can gather freely, and the restaurant where we meet will not have ’temporary damage to utensils,' chefs will not suddenly fight, and shopping malls will not suddenly require renovation. I hope that one day we can pick up the ballot paper and walk into the polling station to cast a sacred vote for what we believe in.”