Group downsizes amid crackdown
HONG KONG — One of Hong Kong’s most established pro-democracy civic organisations said it is letting go its paid staff and halving the size of its steering committee after Beijing stepped up its crackdown on opposition activity in the semi-autonomous Chinese city.
The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China is best known for organising an annual rally and candlelight vigil remembering those killed in the bloody 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square.
The group said in a statement on Saturday that seven of its 14 remaining steering committee members had decided to step down in the face of “growing political and legal risks.”
Of the seven members remaining, three are currently in jail for protestrelated activities — chairman Lee Cheuk-yan as well as vice chairmen Albert Ho Chun-yan and Chow Hangtung.
Letting go of staff was to “ensure their safety” and would take effect at the end of the month, the statement read. While the 32-year-old group said the changes would affect its operations, it vowed that “regardless of whatever difficulties or challenges we face, the alliance will continue to grit our teeth and move onwards one step at a time.”
Following months of anti-government protests in 2019, Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law on Hong Kong last year.
The criteria for elected officials has been narrowed to those who meet a loosely defined standard of patriotism.