HONG KONG (AP) - Hong Kong's largest pro-democracy party, the Democratic Party, has received overwhelming support from its members to begin the process of potential disbandment, marking another significant shift in the political freedoms of the city as China intensifies its crackdown on dissent. The vote, conducted on a Sunday, revealed that over 90% of participating members backed the motion proposed by Chairman Lo Kin-hei, who expressed hopes for a final decision in the upcoming months.
The Democratic Party's decision to proceed with disbandment reflects the diminishing semi-autonomy and rights that were promised to Hong Kong when it was handed back to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. Historically regarded as a moderate force in the pro-democracy landscape, the party has increasingly transformed into a pressure group over time, facing mounting pressure amid the current political climate. Lo pointed out that the choice to disband was influenced by the prevailing political situation. Party veterans indicated that certain members were cautioned about potential repercussions should the party continue its operations.
The transformation of the Democratic Party is a clear manifestation of the erosion of political expression in Hong Kong, particularly following the massive anti-government protests of 2019. In response to these protests, China enacted a sweeping national security law that has been utilized to prosecute numerous prominent activists. Several former lawmakers of the Democratic Party are currently imprisoned, and the party has been notably absent from recent elections, especially after the authorities revamped the electoral system to only allow "patriots" to run for office.
Founded in 1994, the Democratic Party was one of the few remaining pro-democracy organizations that still intermittently voiced opposition after dozens of civil society groups were dissolved under the shadow of the security law. Included among those disbanded were the city’s second-largest pro-democracy party and an established group that organized the annual vigil commemorating the Tiananmen Square crackdown of 1989.
Positioning itself historically as a moderate pro-democracy entity, the Democratic Party has seen some of its members ascend to high-ranking positions within the government. However, their approach to engaging with Beijing, particularly during negotiations, led to internal disputes among members and broader criticism from other democracy advocates who sought more radical reforms. Some members believed that the party's inclusion of proposals in the 2010 political reform package was too lenient.
Prominent figures associated with the Democratic Party include Martin Lee, often referred to as Hong Kong's "Father of Democracy," Albert Ho, who played a pivotal role in organizing Tiananmen vigils, and journalist-turned-activist Emily Lau. Both Lau and former lawmaker Fred Li were in attendance during the recent meeting where the disbandment vote was taken, highlighting the ongoing commitment and involvement of veteran members in shaping the party's future.
