Hong Kong바카라s leading and oldest pro-democracy political party is moving to disband as China바카라s clampdown in the region has made it difficult for any opposition faction to work, CNN reported.
The Democratic Party started its dissolution process after warnings from the Beijing administration, two veteran leaders stated.
바카라The message was that the party has to be disbanded or there will be consequences,바카라 said Yeung Sum, a former Democratic Party chairman.
The Democratic Party was formed three years before Hong Kong바카라s 1997 handover to China and it has managed to function since. The party - largely seen as moderate - campaigned for universal suffrage, labor rights and preserving a space to critique government policies, until 2019바카라s mass pro-democracy protests which shut all doors on dissent.
The party is told to disband by the end of the year when elections are scheduled in the city, Fred Li, a former lawmaker, told CNN.
Lo Kin-hei, the Democratic Party바카라s chairman said in a news conference that 90% of almost 110 party members had voted to delegate power to a committee to start the dissolution process.
바카라I hope Hong Kong바카라s political parties will continue to work for the people,바카라 Lo said. 바카라We have always hoped to serve the Hong Kong people, and to do things that are good for society.바카라
The Democratic Party바카라s Journey
The Democratic Party enjoyed electoral influence in Hong Kong, which remained largely semi-autonomous after its return to Chinese rule. It held more seats than the pro-Beijing legislature until 2004.
The party바카라s leaders remained at the forefront of the annual June 4 vigil to commemorate the Tiananmen Square massacre and the annual pro-democracy march scheduled in July, both of which are now banned by Chinese officials in Hong Kong.
However, its popularity declined after the party conducted direct negotiations in 2010 with officials from Beijing바카라s liaison office in Hong Kong over universal suffrage, a move seen as isolating by other pro-democracy groups.
Their influence further declined with the rise of student leaders and youth groups championing pro-democracy causes in the region during months-long protests for universal suffrage in 2014.
However, after the city-wide 2019 anti-government, the party regained traction. Later that year, the Democratic Party was the biggest winner in local district council elections.
바카라The party made mistakes when it failed to draw a clear line between itself and radical separatists calling for Hong Kong바카라s independence from 2014-2020,바카라 said John Burns, emeritus professor at the University of Hong Kong. 바카라Authorities have punished the party, jailing and chasing out Democratic Party leaders.바카라
What have the authorities said?
Eric Lai, a research fellow at the Georgetown Center for Asian Law, said the party바카라s decision to disband shows there are no more possible ways for opposition groups to exist.
바카라To disband or suspend operation are completely unrelated to the freedom or rights enshrined in Hong Kong law,바카라 a city government spokesperson said in a statement to CNN.
Criticism of the government remains permitted in Hong Kong, 바카라however strong, vigorous or critical바카라 it may be, so long as it is 바카라based on facts,바카라 they added.
