Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Hong Kong's Democratic Party said Thursday it is formally dissolving what once was the main political opposition group in the city.
A task force of three people, including Party Chair Lo Kin-hei, has been set up to handle the legal and financial details of dissolution.
"Developing democracy in Hong Kong is always difficult, especially in the past few years. We see a lot of civil society groups or political parties disbanding or dissolving," Lo Ktold reporters Thursday,
He cited the "overall political environment" as he announced the decision, but did not comment on whether the party is dissolving "under pressure."
Members of the party will vote on the final decision to dissolve at an upcoming general meeting. To dissolve, at least 75% of members attending the meeting would have to vote for it.
China has cracked down on democracy activists and organizations since it took over Hong Kong from British control.
That crackdown has included the jailing and/or detaining of several members of Hong Kong's Democratic Party including Helena Wong, Lam Cheuk-ting, Wu Chi-wai and Albert Ho.
A 2021 law allowed only those considered loyal to the Communist Party to serve as lawmakers or local councillors in the Hong Kong territory.
In 2019, Hong Kong saw massive pro-democracy protests that led to a draconian 2020 national security law designed to stifle dissent.
That law criminalizes vaguely defined acts of secession, sedition, subversion, terrorism that Hong Kong authorities use against pro-democracy groups and activists.
