Hong Kong Democratic Party forced to dissolve. Threats of arrest were made

Members of the Democratic Party (PD), the last opposition group in Hong Kong, voted on Sunday, under pressure from China, to dissolve it. Beijing took control of the city in 1997, after the end of British administration.

The dissolution was announced by party chairman Lo Kin-hei. His statement was quoted by Reuters.

PD members admitted in an interview with Reuters that Chinese officials or their intermediaries asked them to disband the party, threatening them with serious consequences, including possible arrests, if they did not comply.

The party was dissolved a week after the elections to the Hong Kong Legislative Council, which were boycotted by most residents. The low turnout was related to the voting system that excluded candidates considered disloyal to the authorities in Beijing, and the voters' apathy was deepened by the recent massive fire that killed 160 people.

The Democratic Party was founded in 1994, three years before Hong Kong returned to Chinese administration after more than 150 years of British rule.

Following massive democracy protests in the city in 2019 against China's tighter control, Beijing passed a new national security law to quell public resistance. The act was criticized, among others, by: by the US and UK governments.

In June this year The Hong Kong League of Social Democrats (LSD), founded in 2006, was forced to dissolve. In the past, it was perceived as a radical faction in the democratic camp. (PAP)

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