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https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/14/hong-kong-opposition-democratic-party-disbands-chinese-pressure>
"Hong Kong’s last major opposition party has disbanded after a vote by its
members, the culmination of Chinese pressure on the city’s remaining liberal
voices in a years-long security crackdown.
The Democratic party (DP) has been Hong Kong’s main opposition since its
founding three years before the financial hub’s return to Chinese rule in 1997.
The party used to sweep city-wide legislative elections and push China on
democratic reforms and upholding freedoms.
However, mass pro-democracy protests in 2019 against a perceived tightening of
China’s grip on the city prompted Beijing to enact a sweeping national security
law to stifle dissent.
On Sunday, DP members voted to disband the party and to enter liquidation, its
chair, Lo Kin-hei, told reporters after an extraordinary general meeting.
“To have journeyed through these three decades, shoulder to shoulder with the
people of Hong Kong, has been our greatest honour. Throughout these years, we
have always treated the wellbeing of Hong Kong and its people as our guiding
purpose,” Lo said.
Of 121 votes cast, 117 were in favour of disbanding while four were
abstentions.
Senior party members previously told
Reuters they had been approached by
Chinese officials or “middlemen” and told to disband or face severe
consequences, including possible arrest.
There was no immediate response to a request for comment from the Hong Kong
Liaison Office, China’s main representative body in the special administrative
region.
Emily Lau, a former DP chair, expressed regret at the vote’s outcome.
“Why does an organisation that has done so much for Hong Kong need to end like
this? I find it very problematic,” she said.
China’s “one country, two systems” arrangement, promises Hong Kong a high
degree of autonomy. However, in recent years, authorities have used new
security laws to arrest scores of opponents, disband civil society groups and
close media outlets.
“We were never able to have democracy. We never had the chance to elect our
government … We hope it [the principle of one country, two systems] won’t keep
shrinking more and more. We hope there won’t be more and more people being
arrested,” Lau said."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
