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The Civil Human Rights Front stated that its decision was made at a time when Hong Kong’s civil society was under repression and “unprecedented severe challenges.”
The Hong Kong Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF), a democratic organization that mobilized millions of people to participate in street protests in 2019, has now been disbanded.
In a statement on Sunday, CHRF stated that it can no longer function amidst the “unprecedented” challenges that China has brought about suppressing dissidents in this semi-autonomous territory.
The organization also organized an annual protest march, marking the return of Hong Kong to China in 1997, the largest disbanding march since Beijing implemented a comprehensive national security law.
Its decision marks the latest crackdown on the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement and coincides with police investigations into possible violations of security legislation.
CHRF is made up of many member groups. It stated that it held an annual meeting on Friday and the members decided to disband immediately.
It said in a statement: “In the past year, the government has continued to use the epidemic as an excuse to reject demonstrations by the China Human Rights Foundation and other groups.”
It added: “Member groups are suppressed, and civil society faces unprecedented challenges.”
CHRF stated that its assets of HK$1.6 million (US$205,577) will be donated to other suitable organizations.
After being criticized by the Chinese official media and the Hong Kong authorities, the Professional Teachers’ Union has also taken similar measures to deepen concerns about suppressing the Hong Kong opposition.
Since Beijing imposed a national security law on Hong Kong a year ago, the Hong Kong democracy movement has collapsed. The legislation prohibits secession, subversion, “terrorism” and foreign collusion. Since its first implementation, it has been used to arrest more than 100 democrats and the closure of the democratic newspaper Apple Daily.
The crackdown actually suppressed the voices of the Hong Kong opposition and led the United States to impose sanctions on Hong Kong and Chinese government officials.
Former CHRF leaders Figo Chan and Jimmy Sham are currently in jail on charges related to their activism.
“Although the Civil Human Rights Front no longer exists today, we believe that different groups will continue to stick to their ideals, stay true to their original aspirations, and continue to support civil society!” the group said in a statement.
Although the authorities have stated that the law will not apply retrospectively, a recent interview with a Hong Kong Police Commissioner revealed that the organization was under investigation for holding rallies in the past year.
Since the promulgation of the National Security Law, many trade unions, associations and political organizations have been disbanded for fear that the law might be used against them.
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