HONG KONG — Hong Kong’s last major opposition group, the Democratic Party, took a significant step toward disbanding on Sunday (April 13), following a special meeting where members approved the process amid growing pressure from Beijing and an ongoing national security crackdown. According to five senior party members who spoke to Reuters, Chinese authorities or their intermediaries had recently urged the party to shut down or face severe repercussions, including potential arrests.

Established in 1994, three years before Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule, the Democratic Party has long represented the city’s leading opposition voice, advocating for democratic reforms and civil liberties. Party leader Lo Kin-hei announced that 90 percent of the 110 members attending Sunday’s meeting voted to form a three-member committee tasked with handling the legal and financial steps toward disbandment.

Lo expressed hope that political groups in Hong Kong would continue to serve the public interest, stating, "We have always aimed to serve Hongkongers and do good for society." He added that a final vote on dissolving the party would occur in the coming months, requiring 75 percent approval. The complete process may not be finalized until next year, and until then, the party will operate as usual.

If the party dissolves, it would mark the conclusion of nearly three decades of formal opposition politics in Hong Kong. Currently, at least five Democratic Party members are either imprisoned or in custody under China’s national security law, enacted in 2020 following the large-scale pro-democracy protests in 2019.

Party co-founder and former chairman Yeung Sum called the disbandment decision “a pity,” but remained hopeful, saying that Hongkongers who have experienced democracy and the rule of law will not forget them. He added that the spirit of peaceful political engagement and the pursuit of democracy would continue in the city. China, meanwhile, maintains that the national security law has restored order in Hong Kong and dismisses international criticism—particularly from countries like the U.S.—that the law is being used to suppress dissent.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.