Letting go of staff was to âensure their safetyâ and would take effect at the end of the month. While the 32-year-old group said the changes would affect its operations, it vowed that âregardless of whatever difficulties or challenges we face, the alliance will continue to grit our teeth and move onwards one step at a timeâ.
Following months of anti-government protests in 2019, Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law on Hong Kong in 2020. Criteria for elected officials have been narrowed to only those who meet a loosely defined standard of patriotism. The legislative council has been reorganised to ensure an overwhelming majority for pro-Beijing delegates, while most of the cityâs leading opposition voices have been jailed, intimidated into silence or have fled abroad.