Hong Kong, Jimmy Lai
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Hong Kong's last major opposition party disbanded on Sunday after a vote by its members, the culmination of Chinese pressure on the city's remaining liberal voices in a years-long security crackdown.
Hong Kong's last major opposition party, the Democratic Party, disbanded following a vote by its members amid pressure from Chinese authorities. The decision marks the end of a 30-year presence advocating for democracy in the city,
The party was founded in 1994, near the end of British colonial rule, when Hong Kong's leading liberal groups merged. At Sunday's meeting, 117 out of 121 members voted for the group's liquidation, with the remaining four votes being blank ballots.
Once the biggest opposition party, the Democrats are close to folding, with members reflecting on their struggles since political changes of 2020.
Hong Kong’s last major opposition party is set to hold a final vote on Sunday on whether to disband, highlighting the shrinking space for dissent under China’s national security crackdown in the city.
Hong Kong's largest pro-democracy party has dissolved after over 30 years, highlighting the dwindling political freedoms in the city. The decision was influenced by the repressive political environment and threats faced by members.