HONG KONG — Hong Kong Democrats said late Thursday it would begin preparing to dissolve the issue after a leadership meeting amid years of national security crackdowns in Chinese-controlled cities.
Founded in 1994 in the preparation for the city’s return from Britain to Chinese rule in 1994, the Democrats have grown into the largest and most successful opposition party in citywide elections. City freedom and multiple.
Democratic Party Chairman Lo Kin-Hei says that party members will need to vote for disbanding to ultimately end it at future meetings, and a 75% majority from the members present. He said.
“Developing democracy in Hong Kong has always been difficult, and has been particularly difficult over the past few years,” Lo told reporters at the party’s headquarters. “This is not something we wanted to see.”
When asked about political pressure, Lo said the decision was made after careful consideration of the “overall political environment.” However, he pointed out that the party’s finances are relatively healthy and that the party can continue for longer if necessary.
Under Hong Kong’s so-called one-country, two-system arrangement, the city has been promised a high degree of autonomy and freedom under Chinese control, but in recent years authorities have used security laws to use the Democratic Party and civil society groups to Scores have been arrested. And liberal media outlets.
An overhaul of the 2021 election system will allow only the parent “patriots” to govern Hong Kong, effectively shutting out and even alienate Democrats from the political arena.
The crackdown has attracted international criticism from countries such as the US, the UK, Australia and Canada. However, Hong Kong and Chinese authorities say the security law has restored the stability of the financial hub.
On July 1, 1997, Hong Kong was handed over to China, one of the founders of Democrat founder Martin Lee, standing on the balcony of the Legislative Council in a symbolic act of rebellion.
“We believe that people everywhere share a love for freedom and democracy, and that these values ​​will ultimately win,” he wrote a hopeful note in the midst of uncertainty at the time. He said.
However, Lee was convicted in 2021 on an unauthorized congressional charge, so he is rarely spoken publicly.
Several of the party’s members, former councillors Woo Chi-Wai, Lam Chae-Woke, Helena Wong and Andrew Wang, have been convicted in a groundbreaking overthrow involving 47 major city Democrats. After that, he was imprisoned. Another member, Ted Huy, was forced into exile with a million dollars ($130,000) in his head.
The Citizens Party, Hong Kong’s second largest democratic party, dissolved in 2023. Some of its members were jailed under national security laws, including Alvin Yong and Jeremy Tam.
