Hong Kong’s oldest pro-democracy party is shutting down
Trending News
1 month ago

Hong Kong’s oldest pro-democracy party is shutting down

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Hong Kong’s largest pro-democracy party took an initial step toward dissolving Thursday, in the latest sign of the Chinese territory's narrowing space for civil society groups following Beijing's crackdown on dissent. Its prominent party members include Martin Lee, nicknamed the city’s “Father of Democracy,” Albert Ho, former leader of a now-defunct group that organised Tiananmen vigils, and journalist-turned-activist Emily Lau. Hong Kong Democratic Party chair Lo Kin Hei, seated second from right, at a press conference on 20 February 2025 But following the massive protests that rocked the Chinese territory in 2019, the city's political environment changed drastically. In recent years, the party has had limited influence over the city’s politics after the authorities overhauled the electoral rules in changes they said ensured that “patriots” administered Hong Kong, and that effectively barred pro-democracy candidates from running for seats in district councils.

Hong Kong Party Chinese Beijing Hong Members Hong Kongers Mr Lo  citys  oldest  members  beijing  party  prodemocracy  sign  kongs  democratic  partys  hong  shutting  lo

History of this topic

Hong Kong's main opposition party prepares to shut down
1 month ago

Hong Kong's main opposition party prepares to shut down

NPR  

Hong Kong's main opposition party prepares to shut down The leaders of the Hong Kong Democratic Party announced their plans to dissolve the party. FENG: Well, they've just been squeezed by a slew of actions from both the Beijing and Hong Kong governments in recent years as part of this broader crackdown on the city's democracy movement. And this effectively …

Hong Kong’s largest pro-democracy party takes initial step toward disbanding
1 month ago

Hong Kong’s largest pro-democracy party takes initial step toward disbanding

Associated Press  

HONG KONG — Hong Kong’s largest pro-democracy party took an initial step toward dissolving Thursday, in the latest sign of the Chinese territory’s narrowing space for civil society groups following Beijng’s crackdown on dissent. Founded in 1994, the Democratic Party is one of the few pro-democracy parties in Hong Kong, where political activism has faced a stern crackdown from China’s …

Hong Kong leader defends new election rules even though biggest pro-democracy party can't join race
1 year, 4 months ago

Hong Kong leader defends new election rules even though biggest pro-democracy party can't join race

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Hong Kong’s leader defended the …

Hong Kong leader defends new election rules even though biggest pro-democracy party can’t join race
1 year, 4 months ago

Hong Kong leader defends new election rules even though biggest pro-democracy party can’t join race

Associated Press  

HONG KONG — Hong Kong’s leader defended the rules for upcoming local elections as open and fair Tuesday after an electoral overhaul effectively barred the city’s remaining pro-democracy activists from joining the race. The city’s largest pro-democracy party, the Democratic Party, will be absent in December’s district council election for the first time since its establishment in 1994. Party chair …

Hong Kong to cut elected council seats in blow to democracy
1 year, 10 months ago

Hong Kong to cut elected council seats in blow to democracy

Associated Press  

HONG KONG — Hong Kong’s leader on Tuesday stepped up a campaign to shut down further democratic challenges by unveiling plans to eliminate most directly elected seats on local district councils, the last major political representative bodies chosen by the public. Two years ago, Hong Kong already amended its electoral laws for its legislature, drastically reducing the public’s ability to …

Subversion trial for Hong Kong political activists opens
2 years, 1 month ago

Subversion trial for Hong Kong political activists opens

Associated Press  

HONG KONG — Some of Hong Kong’s best-known pro-democracy activists went on trial Monday in the biggest prosecution yet under a law imposed by China’s ruling Communist Party to crush dissent. The prosecution involves many of the city’s most prominent activists, including legal scholar Benny Tai, former student leader Joshua Wong and opposition party leaders Wu Chi-wai and Alvin Yeung. …

Subversion trial of pro-democracy activists opens in Hong Kong
2 years, 1 month ago

Subversion trial of pro-democracy activists opens in Hong Kong

LA Times  

Some of Hong Kong’s best-known pro-democracy activists went on trial Monday in the biggest prosecution yet under a law imposed by China’s ruling Communist Party to crush dissent. The prosecution involves many of the city’s most prominent activists, including legal scholar Benny Tai, former student leader Joshua Wong and opposition party leaders Wu Chi-wai and Alvin Yeung. Ahead of the …

A landmark subversion trial opens against high-profile Hong Kong democracy activists
2 years, 1 month ago

A landmark subversion trial opens against high-profile Hong Kong democracy activists

NPR  

A landmark subversion trial opens against high-profile Hong Kong democracy activists Enlarge this image toggle caption Anthony Kwan/AP Anthony Kwan/AP HONG KONG — Some of Hong Kong's best-known pro-democracy activists went on trial Monday in the biggest prosecution yet under a law imposed by China's ruling Communist Party to crush dissent. The prosecution involves many of the city's most prominent …

Hong Kong political activists plead guilty amid crackdown
2 years, 7 months ago

Hong Kong political activists plead guilty amid crackdown

Associated Press  

HONG KONG — Authorities in Hong Kong say 29 out of 47 pro-democracy activists charged with “conspiracy to commit subversion” under a tough National Security Law have entered guilty pleas in court, as the Beijing government seeks to further silence opposition voices in the regional financial hub. The 47 democracy activists, aged 23 to 64, were charged with conspiracy to …

How democracy was dismantled in Hong Kong in 2021
3 years, 2 months ago

How democracy was dismantled in Hong Kong in 2021

Associated Press  

HONG KONG — As the days of 2021 dwindled, so did any remaining traces of democracy in Hong Kong. any meaningful policy debates will now take place among a small circle of government loyalists,” said Kurt Tong, partner at The Asia Group and former U.S. consul general in Hong Kong and Macao. The most recent example was Wednesday’s raid by …

How democracy was dismantled in Hong Kong in 2021
3 years, 2 months ago

How democracy was dismantled in Hong Kong in 2021

LA Times  

Students clean the “Pillar of Shame” statue, a memorial for those killed in the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, at the University of Hong Kong in 2019. any meaningful policy debates will now take place among a small circle of government loyalists,” said Kurt Tong, partner at the Asia Group and former U.S. consul general in Hong Kong and Macao. The …

Activists move to preserve historical records of Tiananmen amid China’s pro-democracy crackdown in HK
3 years, 6 months ago

Activists move to preserve historical records of Tiananmen amid China’s pro-democracy crackdown in HK

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. On Wednesday, a court in Hong Kong handed nine …

Hong Kong pro-democracy group behind massive anti-government protests disbands
3 years, 7 months ago

Hong Kong pro-democracy group behind massive anti-government protests disbands

LA Times  

A pro-democracy group that organized some of the biggest anti-government protests during months of political upheaval in Hong Kong in 2019 is dissolving. The Hong Kong Civil Human Rights Front, made up of a number of member organizations, said Sunday that it could no longer operate. Amnesty International expressed its concern over “the pattern of self-censorship seen this week.” The …

Hong Kong democracy group behind massive protests disbands
3 years, 7 months ago

Hong Kong democracy group behind massive protests disbands

Associated Press  

HONG KONG — A pro-democracy group that organized some of the biggest protests during months of political upheaval in Hong Kong in 2019 is dissolving, the group said Sunday. The Hong Kong Civil Human Rights Front, made up of a slew of member organizations, said it could no longer operate. Rights group Amnesty International expressed its concern over “the pattern …

Hong Kong pro-democracy group downsizes amid crackdown
3 years, 8 months ago

Hong Kong pro-democracy group downsizes amid crackdown

The Hindu  

One of Hong Kong’s most established pro-democracy civic organisations said on Saturday it is letting go its paid staff and halving the size of its steering committee amid Beijing’s crackdown on opposition activity in the semi-autonomous Chinese city. The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China is best known for organising an annual rally and candlelight …

Hong Kong legislators to resign, US threatens more sanctions
4 years, 4 months ago

Hong Kong legislators to resign, US threatens more sanctions

Al Jazeera  

US, UK and Europe condemn removal of legislators on national security grounds as pro-democracy camp abandons Legislative Council. Hong Kong’s opposition legislators, seen as representatives of the moderate pro-democracy voices in the Chinese-ruled territory, are expected to formally tender their resignations on Thursday in protest against the dismissal of four of their colleagues on grounds of “national security” as the …

Hong Kong pro-democracy opposition MPs resign en masse in protest at China ‘patriotism’ law
4 years, 4 months ago

Hong Kong pro-democracy opposition MPs resign en masse in protest at China ‘patriotism’ law

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Hong Kong’s pro-democracy opposition legislators …

Mass resignations as Hong Kong ousts four pro-democracy lawmakers
4 years, 4 months ago

Mass resignations as Hong Kong ousts four pro-democracy lawmakers

The Telegraph  

Hong Kong’s parliament has been plunged into turmoil as 15 pro-democracy lawmakers announced they would resign in protest against a decision by Beijing to unseat four of their colleagues. The news comes just hours after China’s ruling Communist Party granted Hong Kong officials sweeping powers to remove lawmakers deemed a threat to national security. Authorities in Hong Kong moved swiftly, …

Hong Kong’s pro-democracy lawmakers resign en masse as Beijing’s grip tightens
4 years, 4 months ago

Hong Kong’s pro-democracy lawmakers resign en masse as Beijing’s grip tightens

LA Times  

Hong Kong’s autonomy from Beijing suffered another major blow Wednesday after pro-democracy lawmakers said they would resign en masse to protest the disqualification of four fellow pro-democracy legislators by the territory’s government. The lawmakers’ resignations, which they expect to submit Thursday, are in response to the ouster of four colleagues — Alvin Yeung, Dennis Kwok, Kwok Ka-ki and Kenneth Leung …

Discover Related