At the end of the year, after operating in Hong Kong for over thirty years and once being the largest party in the Legislative Council, the Hong Kong Democratic Party announced its dissolution, indicating a further deterioration of the situation for the people of Hong Kong. To restore Hong Kong’s former glory, exiled Hong Kongers in the United States have formed the “Hong Kong Free Democratic Party” in Los Angeles before the year’s end, vowing to regain the prosperity and freedom that Hong Kong once enjoyed.
On December 27th (Saturday), former members of the Hong Kong Civic Party and “Power of the People” party, including Liao Wenhao, initiated the establishment of the “Hong Kong Free Democratic Party” in Los Angeles. On that day, dozens of Hong Kongers in Los Angeles, as well as dozens of members from the Chinese Democratic Party Headquarters and the Freedom Bell Democracy Foundation, showed their support.
Liao Wenhao began participating in political activities in Hong Kong in 2004. In his speech, he recalled that since 1997, the situation for Hong Kong citizens has continuously worsened, especially after the enactment of the National Security Law in 2020, which led to many friends being imprisoned; former Civic Party member Benny Tai was sentenced to ten years, and the Civic Party officially dissolved last year.
Liao Wenhao has repeatedly condemned the CCP as “rogues.” He stated that the CCP promised to implement universal suffrage in 2008, as stipulated in the Basic Law of Hong Kong, but this “rogue government” continuously changed its promises in 2012, 2013, 2017, 2018, leading up to 2019… By 2019, out of the 19 Hong Kong districts, aside from a few controlled by pro-establishment forces, the vast majority were under the control of pro-democracy forces.
Liao Wenhao criticized the CCP for seeing the voting intentions of the people of Hong Kong, only to disqualify all pro-democracy legislators, stating, “What kind of government is this? It’s a rogue government!”
“Communist Party’s words cannot be trusted,” he lamented, “Many democratic legislators, including Jimmy Lai, are suffering in prison. They were merely acting in accordance with the provisions of the Basic Law, not violating any laws.”
Regarding the founding purpose of the party, Liao Wenhao stated that under the CCP’s oppression, various pro-democracy parties in Hong Kong have disbanded, leaving no room for survival. There are three core goals:
First, to create the strongest platform. The Hong Kong Free Democratic Party is not an underground organization, but an advocate for sovereignty. Exiled Hong Kongers will use this platform to engage with the U.S. Congress, European Parliament, and the United Nations, exerting pressure on the CCP to elevate the Hong Kong issue to the legal level of international conventions, demanding the return of Hong Kong from the CCP.
Second, to initiate extreme pressure and sanctions to make every official who tramples on human rights, every official who tears up agreements, pay the price. Pushing for lobbying in various countries, turning the sanctions list into tangible restraints.
Third, to unconditionally rescue political prisoners, with the ultimate vision of returning to the rule of law and then implementing universal suffrage. Liao Wenhao said: “We aim to pave a way to freedom for this dying city of Hong Kong.”
He stated that at this critical juncture in history, “Some choose to remain silent, while we choose to fight; some choose reform, while we choose to reshape, which is to recapture Hong Kong Island south of Boundary Street before seeking independence”; and the party will strive to “regain the dignity of the people of Hong Kong, restore justice, and determine our own future.”
Overseas Chinese who understand the plight of the people of Hong Kong mostly sympathize and support their actions for freedom and rights. Zheng Cunzhu, chairman of the Chinese Democratic Party Headquarters, reviewed several waves of emigration of Hong Kongers.
The first wave occurred around the time of the handover of Hong Kong in 1997, as Hong Kongers immigrated to the UK, Canada, and other places. Back then, most people believed that Hong Kong still had the Basic Law and the Sino-British Joint Declaration providing protection, and that the CCP had made promises for universal suffrage, thus choosing to stay. Following the Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement, the National Security Law’s implementation in 2020 led to a significant exodus of Hong Kongers.
Zheng Cunzhu believes that although Liao Wenhao’s ideas may sound radical, in a democratic and legal society, any advocacy is protected by the constitution; advocating for independence is just a political proposition, in essence, it is freedom of speech, also protected by the constitution; Hong Kongers have the right to express such political propositions.
Mr. Zhu, a Hong Konger in Los Angeles, who was a member of the Democratic Party in Hong Kong, mentioned that during his time in Hong Kong, he could freely speak at political forums, write letters to newspapers and magazines. However, nowadays many people in Hong Kong are afraid to even like a post on Facebook, let alone share information on social media. Before fleeing to the U.S., he also deleted the content he had posted, calling it “terrifying.”
A Hong Kong female immigrant expressed that upon coming to the U.S., Hong Kongers must first thank the U.S. for sheltering them, and while in the U.S., Hong Kongers should help each other, preserve Hong Kong’s language, culture, and traditions; also supporting each other to keep the hearts of Hong Kongers connected.
Member of the Chinese Democratic Party, Yao Xiaobin, stated that under the CCP’s infiltration and control, the political landscape of Hong Kong has rapidly become mainlandized since the enactment of the National Security Law, with democracy and freedom systematically stripped away: faith is suppressed, text is censored, the space for news and speech continues to shrink, man-made disasters frequently occur under natural calamities; totalitarianism conceals corruption and irresponsibility, public oversight mechanisms are in name only.
He also called on enlightened individuals both at home and abroad and political forces upholding universal values to cooperate, collectively working towards achieving a new China that truly respects human rights, the rule of law, and freedom. ◇