One of Hong Kong’s most established pro-democracy civic organisations has said it is letting go its paid staff and halving the size of its steering committee after Beijing stepped up its crackdown on opposition activity.

The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China is best known for its annual rally and candlelight vigil remembering those killed in the bloody 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square.

The group said seven of its 14 remaining steering committee members had decided to step down in the face of “growing political and legal risks”. Of the seven members remaining, three are in jail for protest-related activities: the chair, Lee Cheuk-yan, and vice-chairs Albert Ho Chun-yan and Chow Hang-tung.

Letting go of staff was to “ensure their safety” and would take effect at the end of the month. While the 32-year-old group said the changes would affect its operations, it vowed that “regardless of whatever difficulties or challenges we face, the alliance will continue to grit our teeth and move onwards one step at a time”.