Hong Kong’s Democratic Party holds a final vote on disbanding after years of pressure under China’s national security crackdown
HONG KONG: Hong Kong’s last major opposition party holds a final vote on Sunday on whether to disband.
The Democratic Party faces the vote amid years of pressure under China’s national security crackdown on the city’s remaining liberal voices.
Founded in 1994, the party was once the city’s flagship opposition and a strong advocate for democratic reforms.
A party statement said the Special General Meeting will confirm details of its “dissolution and liquidation” arrangements.
Senior party members say Chinese officials or middlemen warned them to disband or face severe consequences, including possible arrests.
A committee has spent around half a year preparing for the disbandment, including resolving legal matters.
The preparations include the planned sale of its headquarters property in the Kowloon district.
Disbandment requires a vote of 75% of members to pass.
The vote follows Hong Kong’s recent “patriots only” legislative council election.
It also comes a day before media mogul and China critic Jimmy Lai receives a verdict in a landmark national security trial.
Authorities have used security laws to arrest scores of democrats and shutter civil society groups in recent years.
Beijing’s 2021 overhaul of the city’s electoral system marginalised the party by allowing only vetted “patriots” to run for office.
In June, another pro-democracy group, the League of Social Democrats, said it would shut down amid “immense political pressure”.
Senior Democratic Party members Wu Chi-wai, Albert Ho, Helena Wong and Lam Cheuk-ting have been jailed or held in custody.
They were detained under a national security law China imposed in 2020 following mass pro-democracy protests.
Some governments, including the U.S. and Britain, criticise the security law for stifling dissent.
Beijing says the law has restored stability to Hong Kong and that no freedoms are absolute. – Reuters
