Hong Kong: In a historic and somber moment for the city’s political landscape, members of the Hong Kong Democratic Party once the most prominent pro-democracy political force in the territory convened on Sunday to cast a decisive vote on whether to formally dissolve the party, marking a possible end to an era of organized opposition under intensified pressure from Beijing.
The Special General Meeting, held at the party’s headquarters, focused on finalizing arrangements for the party’s “dissolution and liquidation”, including legal and financial matters connected to the closure. A vote of at least 75 per cent approval by members is required to finalize the decision, but party officials expressed confidence that the threshold is likely to be met.
Founded in 1994, three years before Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule in 1997, the Democratic Party was a central pillar of the territory’s pro-democracy movement for decades. It once commanded substantial representation in both the Legislative Council and local district councils, advocating for democratic reforms, civil liberties and greater autonomy under Hong Kong’s “one country, two systems” framework.
However, years of political tightening have dramatically transformed the city’s governance and public space. A national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020 has been used to suppress dissent and prosecute activists; many veteran democrats have been jailed or face legal action, and elections have been restructured to allow only “patriots” vetted by authorities to stand for office. Recent Legislative Council polls under these rules drew historically low engagement, reflecting deep public disillusionment with a diminished political choice.
The Democratic Party’s vote follows a sustained period of erosion in opposition politics. Several pro-democracy parties and civic groups quietly folded in recent years, citing safety concerns and an inhospitable political environment; the League of Social Democrats, another major opposition group, formally disbanded earlier in 2025 after facing similar pressure.
Party insiders, speaking to press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the situation, confirmed that Beijing officials or intermediaries had effectively urged the Democratic Party to consider winding down its operations or risk consequences including potential legal action against members.
If approved, the dissolution will mark the symbolic end of nearly three decades of organized pro-democracy party politics in Hong Kong a transformation that highlights the dramatic narrowing of political space in the city once regarded as a vibrant financial hub with robust civic freedoms. The vote’s outcome is expected to be announced shortly, underscoring a defining moment in Hong Kong’s post-handover political evolution.