The end of the Hong Kong Democratic Party

Translated by Irene Cecchi

In 1985, the agreement signed between the United Kingdom and China for the return of Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China came into effect, with the official handover scheduled for 1997. Upon its return, Hong Kong is designated as a "Special Administrative Region," a status that granted it a certain degree of political autonomy and the ability to maintain a market-based economic system. However, the agreement also stipulated that in 2047, Hong Kong would come under the full control of the Chinese government.

Over time, however, Hong Kong’s political landscape saw the rise of pro-independence forces, in open opposition to the policies of Xi Jinping. Among them, one of the main players was the Democratic Party, founded in 1994, which has always been at the forefront of defending democracy in the region.

In recent years, the People's Republic has tightened its control over Hong Kong. In 2019, a national security law was introduced, leading to the arrest of numerous members of the Democratic Party. Later, in 2021, Beijing imposed a new electoral law that allows only candidates loyal to the Chinese Communist Party to run for office, effectively excluding opposition parties and rendering the Democratic Party inoperative.

Despite this, there have also been significant reasons for conflict: the 2014 protest movement, known as the Umbrella Movement, is just one of them. In response to Beijing's decision to allow direct elections but only with “approved” candidates, thousands of citizens took to the streets demanding truly democratic elections. The name of the movement comes from the umbrellas used by protesters to shield themselves from police tear gas, which became a symbol of peaceful resistance.

In light of these mounting pressures, this past February, the party’s president, Lo Kin-hei, announced plans to gradually dismantle the political organization. The decision required approval from at least 75% of party members.

The internal vote took place in recent days: 90% of the 110 members present voted in favor of dissolution. From now on, an internal committee will handle legal and organizational matters in preparation for the final vote scheduled for next year, which will formally confirm the party’s closure.

The end of the Democratic Party marks a pivotal moment in the history of Hong Kong and its relationship with China. Xi Jinping's goal of bringing the region fully under central control seems increasingly within reach, with the political foundations now firmly in place.

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