Hong Kong's oldest democrats have become an influential opposition voice before Beijing lowered its opposition, but will begin preparing to close it, its leader said.
Hong Kong's Democratic Party Chairman Lo Kin-Hei said Thursday:
Lo told reporters: “We have looked at all the overall political environment in Hong Kong and our predictable future plans.
Lo said the final decision to disband the parties must be left to the members' vote, but he did not say when that would happen.
The Democrats were founded near the end of British colonial rule in 1994, when Hong Kong's major liberal groups merged.
Early Democratic leaders played a key role in shaping “one country, two systems.” This is a constitutional arrangement that promises Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy and rights protection.
After the city was handed over to China in 1997, the party became the most influential opposition in Hong Kong's parliament, leading a peaceful street demonstration.
However, after the huge, violent democratic protests in 2019, the party's wealth declined after Beijing tightened grips and imposed national security laws on Hong Kong.
“The development of democracy in Hong Kong is always difficult,” Lo said Thursday. In recent years, “we've seen many civil society groups and political parties disband,” he added.
Asked whether Democrats were pressured by Beijing, Lo said he would not reveal any details of the internal debate.
The four-party former Lawmakers, including former party leader Wu Chi-Wai, are serving prison sentences last year after being convicted of overthrowing under national security laws.
The party no longer holds parliamentary seats after Hong Kong changed its election system in 2021, allowing only “patriots” to take office.
A team of three, including LO, will consider legal and accounting rules regarding the party's disbandment as the start of the multi-step process. According to the LO, the group currently has 400 members and has not experienced acute financial stress.
Voting to disband parties requires the support of 75% of conference participants.
Lo said he hopes Hong Kong will return to values such as “diversity, inclusion, democracy” that underpins past success.
Famous figures in the party include Martin Lee, who was praised as Hong Kong's “father of democracy,” and Albert Ho, who organized the annual vigil to commemorate the 1989 crackdown on Tiananmen Square. Masu.
Western countries, including the US, have criticized Hong Kong for cutting rights. City officials say security laws are needed to recover the order.
The Citizens Party, Hong Kong's second largest opposition group, dissolved in 2023.
