Hong Kong’s main pro-democracy party takes first step toward disbandment.

HONG KONG (AP)— Hong Kong’s main pro-democracy party took a first step toward dissolution on Thursday, in the latest reminder of the Chinese territory’s shrinking space for civil society groups following Beijing’s crackdown on dissent.

The Democratic Party’s central committee voted to form a task group to investigate the procedures involved in dissolving the party. A final decision would require approval from the party’s members.

Party Chairperson Lo Kin-hei stated at a press conference late Thursday that party officials took the choice based on the present political circumstances and social context, and that the party did not have any immediate financial challenges.

“When we have to proceed in this path, we, of course, think it is unfortunate. “I believe every member values the existence of the Democratic Party in Hong Kong,” he stated.

The Democratic Party, founded in 1994, is one of the few pro-democracy groups in Hong Kong, where political activism has faced a harsh crackdown by China’s central government in Beijing following anti-government protests by Hong Kong residents in 2019.

Martin Lee, the city’s “Father of Democracy,” Albert Ho, the previous chairman of a now-defunct group that organized Tiananmen vigils, and Emily Lau, a journalist-turned-activist, are among its famous members.

The party has traditionally been seen as a moderate opposition group, having close contacts with Beijing leaders. Some of its former members had become high-ranking government officials, while radicals had chastised the party for being too moderate.
However, following the major demonstrations that erupted across Chinese territory in 2019, the city’s political situation shifted dramatically. Months of social upheaval prompted Beijing to enact a national security law, which officials say is crucial for the city’s stability.

Since the legislation went into force in 2020, hundreds of civil society organizations have closed, including the city’s former second-largest pro-democracy party and a decades-old organization that coordinated the yearly vigil to memorialize Beijing’s Tiananmen crackdown in 1989. Many prominent activists, including Democratic Party members, faced legal charges. Others were pushed into self-exile or silence.

Last year, five of the party’s former MPs were convicted and punished for their participation in an unauthorized primary election in the city’s most serious national security case. Foreign nations criticized the ruling, which Beijing backed.

In recent years, the party has had minimal influence over the city’s politics since the authorities altered the electoral laws, claiming that “patriots” would manage Hong Kong and essentially excluding pro-democracy candidates from vying for district council seats.

Despite the shifting circumstances, the party carried on with its efforts. It continued to hold news briefings on livelihood concerns and even provided feedback to the government on planned national security legislation before it was passed last March.

In a news conference on Thursday, Lo stated that disbandment would require the support of 75% of the general assembly’s attendees. The party presently has 400 members, however not all of them attend general meetings. He stated that the party had previously made both successful and unsuccessful attempts to collect enough votes to modify the constitution.

When the former British colony was transferred to Chinese sovereignty in 1997, the governing premise of “one country, two systems” was meant to ensure Western-style civil rights and autonomy that mainland Chinese areas do not have.

But Lo stated that his party’s view of this guiding concept may differ from that of the Hong Kong administration. He expressed his hope that these many points of view will continue to exist in society, claiming that societies can only grow with numerous voices.

“The path to democracy is always difficult,” she remarked. “I have confidence in Hong Kongers and Hong Kongers can always find ways to handle different matters.”