Hong Kong's Last Pro-Democracy Voices Amid Repression**

Following harsh sentencing against multiple activists, Chan Po-ying remains a steadfast advocate for democracy in Hong Kong despite ongoing police surveillance and intensified repression.**

In a city where dissent has been brutally quashed, Chan Po-ying stands as one of the few remaining figures in Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement. The recent sentencing of 45 politicians and activists to prison terms of up to ten years has sent shockwaves through the community, indicating a stark clampdown on opposition. Chan, aged 68 and the chairwoman of the League of Social Democrats, has faced the fallout firsthand—her husband, Leung Kwok-hung, popularly known as Long Hair, was among those sentenced.

Once vibrant, Hong Kong's opposition landscape has seen filibusters and mass protests evolve into a memory as authorities ramp up their crackdown following the turbulence of 2019. Chan took the reins of her party in 2021, stepping up after many members were arrested or driven underground. Amidst constant police surveillance, she finds strength in small acts of solidarity from the public, which fuels her resolve.

In an exclusive interview, Chan reflected on her journey into activism, sparked by youth movements during the Vietnam War and civil rights struggles, shaping her commitment to labor rights and democratic ideals. As she navigates the perilous landscape of Hong Kong's political scene, the question remains: how much longer can voices like hers persist against a backdrop of repression and fear?