"To have journeyed through these three decades, shoulder to shoulder with the people of Hong Kong, has been our greatest honour. Throughout these years, we have always treated the wellbeing of Hong Kong and its people as our guiding purpose, Lo said. Of 121 votes cast, 117 were in favour of disbanding while four were abstentions. Senior party members previously told Reuters they had been approached by Chinese officials or middlemen and told to disband or face severe consequences, including possible arrest."
"Why does an organisation that has done so much for Hong Kong need to end like this? I find it very problematic, she said. China's one country, two systems arrangement, promises Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy. However, in recent years, authorities have used new security laws to arrest scores of opponents, disband civil society groups and close media outlets."
The Democratic Party served as Hong Kong's main opposition since its founding three years before the 1997 handover. The party previously won city-wide legislative elections and campaigned for democratic reforms and civil freedoms. Mass 2019 pro-democracy protests prompted Beijing to enact a sweeping national security law aimed at stifling dissent. Party members voted to disband and enter liquidation, with 117 of 121 votes in favour and four abstentions. Leaders reported that senior members had been approached by Chinese officials or intermediaries and told to disband or face severe consequences, including possible arrest. Former chair Emily Lau expressed regret about the party's dissolution.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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