EPA
The president of the party, Lo Kin-Hei, addressed journalists during a press conference at the end of the evening on Tuesday
The leaders of the Hong Kong Democratic Party have announced their intention to dissolve what was once the largest opposition group in the city.
The members will soon vote on the final decision on the opportunity to close the 31-year party, said President Lo Kin-Hei.
The party had a hard time surviving following China measures to suppress dissent in the city following the 2019 demonstrations.
The government of Beijing and Hong Kong argued that such measures were necessary for national security.
As part of the repression, Beijing revised the survey systems of the former British colony.
The so-called “Patriots Act” was adopted in Hong Kong in 2021 who assured that only people considered to be faithful to the Communist regime of Beijing could serve as local legislators or advisers on the semi-autonomous territory.
This law has indeed prohibited the Democratic Party to participate in the elections.
During a press conference at the end of the evening on Tuesday after a party meeting, Mr. LO said that party leaders had appealed to end according to the “current political situation”.
“The development of democracy in Hong Kong is still difficult, and it is particularly difficult in recent years,” LO told journalists.
He did not comment when he was asked if the decision of the party leaders had been taken under political pressure.
The game has set up a working group for the stop process. At least 75% of its members who attend a next general meeting must approve the move before it is final. A date for this meeting has not yet been set.
On Wednesday, Hong Kong government councilor Regina IP accused the Democratic Party of continuing a program that opposed China and “constantly chatting inside and outside the Parliament”.
“Consequently, I am not surprised at all that they have lost supporters in recent years … The Democratic Party has already reached a dead end,” said Ms. IP, co-conventor of the Hong Kong Executive Council .
The Democratic Party was remarkable to have rare direct negotiations with the Liaison Office – the representation of the Chinese Communist Government in Hong Kong – in 2010, to discuss plans for more liberal elections.
His young members, however, considered these negotiations as betrayal. This decision sparked a split while the party has lost its support.
He then resumed force and became the most successful political force of opposition in the city after acquiring the most seats during the elections of the 2019 local council, which took place during the violent antigan demonstrations.
A certain number of members of the Democratic Party-including prominent pro-democracy personalities Helena Wong, Lam Cheuk-Ting, Wu Chi-Wai and Albert Ho-are part of the group of Hong Kong 47 activists imprisoned under the controversial law on national security.
Another member, the former Ted Hui legislator, now lives in Australia in exile and is sought by the Hong Kong government for alleged national security offenses. Earlier this week, a court made an order to confiscate its assets and money in Hong Kong, who are detained by his family and a law firm.
In December, Hong Kong stripped Martin Lee KC’s honorary peace judge, a key founder of the Democratic Party, after the veteran lawyer lost his appeal against an unauthorized condemnation in the Assembly.
