Hong Kong’s oldest pro-democracy political party, the Democratic Party, has officially announced its dissolution, bringing to an end three decades of opposition politics in the city. The decision was confirmed on Sunday following the party’s annual and special committee meetings.
Party leader Lo Kin-hei told a news conference that the process to disband the party had been formally completed. He said the Democratic Party would cease all operations with immediate effect, marking the end of a political organisation that once stood at the centre of Hong Kong’s democratic movement.
Founded in 1994, just a few years before the end of British colonial rule, the Democratic Party emerged from the merger of leading liberal groups. For many years, it served as the strongest opposition force in Hong Kong’s legislature and was a key advocate for democratic reforms, particularly the introduction of universal suffrage in the election of the city’s leader and lawmakers.
“We are deeply grateful to all the citizens who have walked with the Democratic Party for the past 30 years,” Lo said, acknowledging supporters who stood by the party throughout its history.
Former party chairperson and legislator Emily Lau expressed sadness over the decision, saying she did not understand how the party had reached this point. Her remarks reflected the sense of loss felt by many long-time members and supporters of the pro-democracy movement.
The dissolution comes against the backdrop of major political changes in Hong Kong following the mass pro-democracy protests of 2019. In response to those demonstrations, Beijing tightened its control over the territory, introducing a sweeping national security law. Since then, much of the political opposition has been weakened, with many democracy activists jailed, silenced, or forced into exile.
As political space narrowed, opposition parties struggled to operate, and the Democratic Party’s influence steadily declined. Its closure highlights the profound transformation of Hong Kong’s political landscape and signals the near-complete disappearance of organised pro-democracy opposition in the city.
