The League of Social Democrats (LSD), one of Hong Kong’s last active pro-democracy political parties, announced on 29 June 2025 that it would disband, citing immense political pressure and threats to the safety of its members.
This decision, which comes just days before the city marks the 28th anniversary of its return to Chinese sovereignty on 1 July, represents another significant retreat of Hong Kong’s democratic opposition under Beijing’s tightening control.
Founded in 2006, the LSD was known for its left-wing, confrontational approach to politics. It became widely recognised for aggressive protest tactics and its vocal stance against collusion between business interests and the government.
Despite the risks under the national security law, the party continued to stage small street protests and set up street booths to advocate for democratic reforms and social justice.
Chan Po-ying, the party’s chairperson, explained during a press conference that the disbandment was decided after careful consideration, prioritising the well-being of members and associates.
While she did not detail the exact nature of the political pressure faced, she emphasised that the decision was unavoidable. “We have no other choice,” Chan said, expressing both pride and sorrow for the party’s contributions and its forced dissolution.
According to Reuters, the LSD is the third major opposition party to shut down in the past two years, following a widespread crackdown that has reshaped Hong Kong’s civil society since the 2019 anti-government protests.
Under the national security law imposed in 2020, many activists have been arrested or jailed, and dozens of civil groups and independent media outlets have been forced to close.
The LSD’s final statement, titled “Rather Be Ashes Than Dust,” reflected the party’s defiant spirit.
In the statement, the party reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to representing the underprivileged and fighting for universal suffrage through non-violent resistance. “No struggle, no change,” it declared, reiterating its belief that confrontation was necessary to challenge injustice.
Over its 19 years, the LSD was a fixture in major social movements, opposing what it described as unfair policies and excessive government spending on large-scale projects. Its members, including Chan’s husband Leung Kwok-hung (also known as “Long Hair”), frequently faced arrest and imprisonment. Leung is currently serving a sentence related to his role in an unofficial primary election.
The party once held three seats in Hong Kong’s legislature, but it lost all formal political representation after 2017. Financial pressures further mounted when a local bank cut off its account services. Despite these setbacks, the LSD maintained limited activities, including street booths and small demonstrations, often resulting in fines or arrests.
Chan noted that the decision to announce the disbandment just before the anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to China was not symbolic but rather an inevitable result of relentless pressure. She acknowledged that LSD would not be the last pro-democracy group forced to dissolve.
Earlier this year, the Democratic Party, Hong Kong’s largest pro-democracy party, voted to give its leadership the mandate to consider disbandment, amid warnings to members about possible consequences.
Meanwhile, China’s top official on Hong Kong affairs, Xia Baolong, stressed in June that national security efforts must persist, describing pro-democracy activists as “hostile forces” engaging in “soft resistance.”
The LSD’s departure leaves the Association for Democracy and People’s Livelihood as the only remaining pro-democracy party in Hong Kong, though it has been largely inactive in recent years.
In closing, the LSD urged Hongkongers to continue the struggle for freedom, quoting Jack London: “I would rather be ashes than dust.”
The disbandment underscores the dramatic transformation of Hong Kong’s political landscape, once a beacon of free expression in Asia, now increasingly dominated by Beijing’s strict security framework.
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