China has effectively brought Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement to a dead end under the national security law in just half a year. Almost all of the major groups advocating for meaningful elections and freedom of expression have disbanded, while this weekend’s vote for the Legislative Council — the first under China’s new rules — will feature only Beijing-vetted candidates.
The Dec. 19 election, however, features none of the pro-democracy figures that won seats in the last vote five years ago: Under Beijing’s new system, only “patriots” who “respect” Communist Party rule can run for office. While the Legislative Council was expanded to 90 members from 70, the number who are directly elected was reduced to 20 from 35. In the run-up to the vote, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam declared that low voter turnout was actually a sign the government was doing well.
Among the opposition parties that will not contest seats is the League of Social Democrats, once known for its confrontational style in the legislative chamber. Chan Po-ying took over as chairperson in July after several core party members were jailed or awaiting trial — including her husband, veteran activist Leung “Long Hair” Kwok-hung, who is serving a 23-month sentence after attending unauthorized protests in 2019 and 2020.
“People ahead of me are all locked up,” Chan said. “I was happy working behind the scenes.”
Her party still demonstrates, but on a dramatically reduced scale. A group of four members — the largest public gathering allowed by city authorities due to Covid — is frequently seen outside government offices and courts carrying banners with the slogan “release all political prisoners.” There are often fewer protesters, or onlookers, than there are police.
The party’s three main tactics — street protests, judicial review and participating in the Legislative Council — “only work in an active and liberal social environment,” Chan said.
Although she continues to campaign, the League of Social Democrats’s Chan is also pessimistic. “We are all walking on a tightrope,” she said. “If they want to get rid of you, they will, and they can.”
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