Hong Kong’s oldest pro-democracy occasion says it’ll start means of disbanding | Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s oldest pro-democracy occasion, which grew to become an influential voice of opposition earlier than Beijing cracked down on dissent, will begin preparations to close down, its chief has mentioned.

Lo Kin-hei, chair of Hong Kong’s Democratic occasion, mentioned on Thursday: “We’re going to proceed and examine on the method and process that’s wanted for the disbanding.”

Lo instructed reporters: “We thought of the general political atmosphere in Hong Kong and all these future plans that we are able to foresee, and that’s the resolution that we make.”

Lo mentioned the ultimate resolution to dissolve the occasion should be left to a members’ vote, however didn’t say when that might happen.

The Democratic occasion was based in 1994, close to the top of British colonial rule, when Hong Kong’s main liberal teams merged.

Early leaders of the Democratic occasion performed a key function in shaping “one nation, two methods”, a constitutional association that promised Hong Kong a excessive diploma of autonomy and rights protections.

After the town was handed over to China in 1997, the occasion grew to become probably the most influential voice of opposition in Hong Kong’s legislature and led peaceable road demonstrations.

However the occasion’s fortunes declined after Beijing tightened its grip and imposed a nationwide safety regulation in Hong Kong, after enormous and generally violent pro-democracy protests in 2019.

“Growing democracy in Hong Kong is at all times tough,” Lo mentioned on Thursday. Lately “we see a whole lot of civil society teams or political events disbanding”, he added.

Requested whether or not the democrats had been pressured by Beijing to fold, Lo mentioned he wouldn’t disclose particulars of inner discussions.

4 of the occasion’s ex-lawmakers – together with former occasion chief Wu Chi-wai – are serving jail sentences after being discovered responsible of subversion beneath the nationwide safety regulation final yr.

The occasion now not holds any legislature seats after Hong Kong modified its electoral system in 2021 to make sure solely “patriots” can take workplace.

A 3-person group that features Lo will look into the authorized and accounting guidelines on occasion dissolution, as the beginning of a multi-step course of. The group presently has 400 members and isn’t experiencing acute monetary stress, in keeping with Lo.

A vote to dissolve the occasion would require the assist of 75% of assembly contributors.

Lo mentioned he hoped Hong Kong may return to values resembling “range, inclusion and democracy” that underpin its previous success.

Effectively-known figures from the occasion embrace Martin Lee – hailed by some as Hong Kong’s “father of democracy” – in addition to Albert Ho, who organised annual vigils to mark the 1989 Tiananmen Sq. crackdown.

Western nations together with the US have criticised Hong Kong for curbing rights. Metropolis officers say the safety legal guidelines are wanted to revive order.

Hong Kong’s second-largest opposition group, the Civic occasion, dissolved in 2023.