Hong Kong’s Democratic Party to discuss potential disbandment – reports
Hong Kong Free Press
Hong Kong’s Democratic Party is set to discuss its potential disbandment as early as this week, according to multiple local news reports published late Tuesday night.
The reports – all citing anonymous sources – said the executive committee of the Democratic Party, founded in 1994, could convene this week to discuss future plans for the party, including potential disbandment.
HKFP has reached out to party chair Lo Kin-hei and vice-chair Mok Kin-shing for comment.
The 30-year-old pro-democracy party has carried out rounds of internal discussion about disbandment before, but several former leaders and even the founder of the party were not aware of the proposal this time, according to Ming Pao.
Martin Lee, a veteran democrat who was the founding chairperson of the Democratic Party in 1994, told the paper that he had no communication with the current executive committee, but he was “not surprised” about the talk of disbandment.
Lo, who was re-elected chair in December following a change of term for the party’s executive committee, said at that time that the party still represents “a slice of residents” but acknowledged that the party carries less influence than before.
“We try our best to speak up for what we see as the best interest of Hong Kong,” Lo said in Cantonese during a press conference in December.
The Democratic Party – once the city’s largest opposition party at the legislature – does not have a lawmaker or a district councillor currently.
In March, 2021, Beijing passed legislation to ensure “patriots” govern Hong Kong. The move reduced democratic representation in the legislature, tightened control of elections and introduced a pro-Beijing vetting panel to select candidates. The Hong Kong government said the overhaul would ensure the city’s stability and prosperity. But the changes also prompted international condemnation, as it makes it near-impossible for pro-democracy candidates to stand.
Multiple members of the party have been jailed or detained, including Helena Wong and Lam Cheuk-ting, as well as former chairs Wu Chi-wai and Albert Ho.
Members of Hong Kong’s Democratic Party, as well as their families and employers, have received harassing messages and letters in the run-up to an internal election, party chair Lo Kin-hei has said.
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