Hong Kong saw a flurry of disbandments of political organizations, most notably the well-known lobbying group Demosisto but also several pro-independence groups, after Beijing passed a new national security law on Tuesday.


Four main figures of Demosisto, which has built a track record in international lobbying efforts since its launch in April 2016, announced less than two hours after the passage of the law that they would withdraw from the group.


Secretary-General Joshua Wong, Hong Kong’s most high-profile activist who often appeared at events with global politicians, dropped the bombshell shortly before 11am. He thanked supporters and said the will of Hong Kong people would not be curtailed by any law.


“Our revolution of the times, which has lasted for a year, has awoken many people, from janitors to office workers, who are unnamed legends in our protests. As long as Hong Kong people survive, they will have to fear us,” Wong said.


Although the text of the new law had not been unveiled at the time of Wong’s announcement, it has been widely reported that those who “collude with foreign forces” will be targeted with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.


Wong said pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong might now face of more than 10 years in jail, interrogation and torture at detention sites or trials on mainland China. “I will continue to defend my home, until they silence or erase me from this piece of land,” he said.


Other members of Demosisto’s standing committee also withdrew, including Agnes Chow, who had focused her pro-democracy advocacy on Japan. Chow said she would be unable to carry on with international lobbying, but urged supporters to stay strong even in times of desperation.


Nathan Law, Demosisto’s founding chair, vowed to continue fighting in a personal capacity. Another member Jeffrey Ngo, known for liaising with United States politicians, also quit the group.

At 3pm, Demosisto announced that it would disband, after receiving notifications of the withdrawals. “Demosisto believes that we can hardly operate, and must use more flexible ways to protest.” The group ended by saying it would see Hong Kong people on the streets.


Pro-independence group Studentlocalism also announced on Tuesday its plans to suspend operations in Hong Kong and set up overseas branches.


Convenor Tony Chung said he would not leave Hong Kong and pledged to take to the streets on July 1. He said Hong Kong had not yet reached its darkest hour, citing the dire experiences of Taiwan and Catalonia that later evolved into significant independence movements. He urged Hongkongers to resist instead of thinking about migrating overseas.


Joey Siu, a student leader at the City University of Hong Kong who had also conducted international lobbying trips, said that she had withdrawn from the Hong Kong Higher Institutions International Affairs Delegation.


Siu explained that her role in the delegation would endanger other members under the new national security law, but added that she did not regret lobbying the international community to sanction those who harmed Hong Kong’s autonomy.


Pro-independence activist Ernie Chow, former head of the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s student union, said he would not surrender to the chilling effects of the law. He expressed respect for those who left the protest front line or even Hong Kong due to worries, but he would not stop speaking out. “We lose if we are afraid,” he said.

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