Hong Kong’s Last Major Opposition ‘League of Social Democrats’ Disbands

On 29 June 2025, the League of Social Democrats (LSD), one of Hong Kong’s last active pro-democracy political parties, announced it would disband. The decision marks another retreat of the city’s once-vibrant opposition, following five years of sweeping repression under Beijing’s national security agenda.

The LSD, founded in 2006, became known for its vocal criticism of government-business collusion, its confrontational protest style, and its focus on grassroots issues. The party had maintained street-level activism even after the 2020 national security law criminalised much of Hong Kong’s dissent.

But growing political pressure, surveillance, arrests, and legal threats made continued operations untenable, according to party leaders.

The disbandment came just ahead of the 28th anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover to China on 1 July, a date historically marked by large-scale pro-democracy demonstrations.

A Final Act of Defiance

At its height, the LSD held three seats in the city’s legislature and gained notoriety through street protests, often led by activist Leung Kwok-hung. Protest acts included throwing bananas and luncheon meat at officials to symbolise outrage over social injustice and austerity policies. Leung is currently serving a prison sentence for subversion linked to an unofficial primary in 2020.

The party’s chairperson, Chan Po-ying, said the leadership made the difficult choice after assessing risks to members. Though she did not elaborate on the nature of the pressure, she expressed sorrow that the group could no longer safely continue its mission.

In its final public message, titled “Rather Be Ashes Than Dust,” the LSD reaffirmed its commitment to non-violent resistance and grassroots advocacy. Despite operating under constant surveillance and receiving fines for unpermitted fundraising activities, the group continued to set up street booths and mark politically sensitive anniversaries.

A Shrinking Opposition Landscape

The Civic Party’s dissolution in 2023 and the Democratic Party’s recent shutdown are the reasons behind the LSD’s departure. Since the introduction of the national security law in June 2020, authorities have jailed or prosecuted dozens of activists, shut down media outlets, and outlawed civil society organisations.

In June, Xia Baolong, China’s senior official on Hong Kong affairs, referred to criticism as “soft resistance” and reaffirmed that national security measures will continue. Enforcement combined with this attitude has deterred the remaining activists from taking part in public activities.

Legacy and Impact

Throughout its 19-year history, the League of Social Democrats represented steadfast opposition. Despite losing political representation in 2017 and facing escalating restrictions, it remained one of the few visible opposition voices on Hong Kong’s streets.

With the LSD gone, only the Association for Democracy and People’s Livelihood remains, though it has been mostly inactive. The closure of yet another pro-democracy group underscores the accelerating erosion of the “one country, two systems” framework.

As the party dissolved, it urged Hongkongers to persevere, calling on them to carry forward the spirit of resistance, however small the spark.

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