前民主党副主席：香港发展不能牺牲自由与开放

香港前民主党副主席狄志远撰文表示，香港的发展不能以牺牲自由与开放为代价1。他强调，维护国家安全与保持社会开放需要平衡，管治必须有效但不能无限扩张，维护安全必须坚定但不能令社会长期陷于过度戒备1。

狄志远指出，2019年反送中运动后，香港的治理手法出现明显转变，政府应当区分真正的安全风险与正常民意表达，避免矫枉过正1。他表示，现时香港的自由与开放程度确实较以往多了限制，并强调应当分辨"什么是真正的安全风险，什么是正常的民意表达，什么是恶意挑动，什么是善意批评"1。他认为，重建互信与信心对香港未来发展至关重要1。

香港民主党已于去年12月正式解散及清盘1。狄志远曾任民主党副主席，2015年退党后成立新思维，2021年参选立法会当选，2025年放弃竞逐连任1。

Edmond Tay, former vice-chair of the Democratic Party of Hong Kong, has written that the city's development must not come at the expense of freedom and openness, emphasizing the need to balance national security protection with social openness 1. He noted that following the 2019 anti-extradition protests, Hong Kong's governance approach has undergone a marked shift 1. According to Tay, the government should distinguish between genuine security threats and legitimate public opinion, between malicious incitement and good-faith criticism, to avoid overcorrection 1.

Tay stressed that governance must be effective but cannot expand without limits, and that security must be maintained firmly without leaving society in a prolonged state of excessive vigilance 1. He observed that "the current level of freedom and openness in Hong Kong is indeed more restricted than before" 1, and emphasized that rebuilding mutual trust and confidence is crucial for Hong Kong's future development 1. Tay previously served as deputy chairman of the Democratic Party before leaving in 2015 to found New Thinking; he was elected to the Legislative Council in 2021 but decided not to seek reelection in 2025 1. The Democratic Party officially dissolved and completed liquidation in December 2024 1.