A German think tank announced on Wednesday that it would close its Hong Kong office after Beijing’s imposition of the national security law in the territory.

The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom said in a statement that the sudden closure was because it could no longer guarantee the personal safety of its employees in the territory after the sweeping law came into effect on June 30.

It said that the think tank would freeze its operation in Hong Kong and dismiss the remaining four staffers it had hired, due to safety reasons. One employee had already left because of concerns for his personal safety, it added.

“In Hong Kong today there is a climate of fear and permanent threat,” said the foundation’s chairman, Karl-Heinz Paque. “Those who work for democracy and freedom in Hong Kong today are putting themselves in danger. We cannot and will not expose our employees and partners to this risk.”

“This is the only step we can take, which we greatly regret,” he added.

Established in 1958, the non-governmental organization is linked to Germany’s opposition Free Democratic Party, and its objective is to promote individual freedom and liberalism. The organization has expressed concerns over human rights issues in Tibet and openly supported the Dalai Lama, whom Beijing regards as a Chinese secessionist.

Political scientist Benson Wong said the withdrawal was an indication that the international community believed Hong Kong was no longer politically different from mainland China, and that the law caused “substantial trepidation” to international NGOs.

In the wake of the national security legislation, several local activist groups ceased their operation in Hong Kong, including Demosisto, which was fronted by activists Joshua Wong and Nathan Law, and Studentlocalism, whose convener Tony Chung was arrested in late July under the national security law.

Foreign media have also relocated, with the New York Times announcing in July that it would dismiss 30% of its Hong Kong-based staff and move its digital news operation to Seoul, South Korea.

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