Hong Kong’s last major pro-democracy party moves to disband

Hong Kong’s Democratic Party said late on Thursday it would start preparations to disband and wind up its affairs after a meeting of its leadership, amid a years-long national security crackdown in the China-ruled city.

HONG KONG — Hong Kong’s Democratic Party said late on Thursday that it would start preparations to disband and wind up its affairs after a meeting of its leadership, amid a years-long national security crackdown in the China-ruled city.

Founded in 1994 in the run-up to the city’s return from British to Chinese rule in 1997, the Democratic Party grew into the largest and most successful opposition party — garnering strong public support in city-wide elections — and has long been a key symbol of the city’s freedoms and plurality.

Democratic Party chairman Lo Kin-hei said the party’s members still needed to vote on the dissolution to make it final at a future meeting, with a 75% majority required from the members in attendance.

“Developing democracy in Hong Kong is always difficult, and it’s especially difficult in the past few years,” Lo told reporters in the party’s headquarters. “This is not what we wanted to see.”

When asked about political pressure, Lo said the decision was made after careful consideration of the “overall political environment.” He noted, however, that the party’s finances remained relatively sound and the party could keep going for longer if need be.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/hong-kongs-last-major-democracy-party-moves-disband-rcna193110

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