Following the enactment of the repressive Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (NSL) in 2020 by China’s National People’s Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC), there has been a notable increase in the closure of critical pro-democracy groups in Hong Kong. These closures are closely associated with the weaponization of the NSL, leading to deterrence and intimidation of critical civil society. On February 13, 2025, the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (HKPORI) announced the indefinite suspension of all self-funded research activities, including long-standing tracking surveys and recent topical studies including a likely halting of all operations. The institute regularly conducted surveys on various topics including government officials’ popularity, Hong Kong identity, and public attitudes towards significant events.
This decision follows multiple investigations by the National Security Department, including office searches on January 13 and subsequent questioning of the institute’s president and CEO, Robert Chung, and two staff members. HKPORI’s former deputy CEO Chung Kim-wah, currently in the UK, was added to a wanted list last December over alleged violations of NSL. Additionally, family members of exiled pro-democracy activists on the wanted list under the NSL have faced increased victimisation and harassment by national security police. On February 17, the younger aunt of former district councillor Lau Ka-man was taken in for questioning, following the detention of her other aunt and uncle on February 10. Additionally, former legislator Ted Hui disclosed that a Hong Kong court had issued a confiscation order for his family’s assets, including properties and funds held by law firms. These actions are part of a broader pattern of targeting family members of wanted individuals, which began after new bounties were announced on December 24, 2024. The Democratic Party, a cornerstone of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement since its founding in 1994, has also been severely impacted by increased crackdown following the implementation of the NSL, 2020. On February 20, 2025, it announced that it has started the process of disbanding. This decision came in the context of reforms in electoral system have introduced the regulation that only “patriots” can occupy positions of political power. This becomes an addition to over 90 pro-democracy organizations have also disbanded in the past year alone.
These incidents collectively illustrate the increased weaponization of the NSL in Hong Kong, leading to the silencing of pro-democracy groups. This trend severely impacts the civic space and the work of civil society, as organizations face mounting pressure and legal challenges, undermining their ability to operate freely and advocate for democratic principles.