Five years on, Hong Kong’s national security law extinguishes last standing pro-democracy party

Hong Kong’s League of Social Democrats party announces its dissolution amid China’s national security law, in Hong Kong on Tuesday. Photograph: Tyrone Siu/Reuters

In a cramped, dark office, in front of a wall adorned by some misshapen shelves, faded photographs, and a single fan battling against the summer heat, Hong Kong’s last active pro-democracy party admitted defeat.

Behind them, a sticky-taped banner declared: “We’d rather be ashes than dust.”