• The Democratic Party votes to dissolve after 31 years of opposing China's policies in Hong Kong.
• 117 out of 121 members supported disbandment amid intensified political pressure.
• This marks the end of a prominent political opposition in Hong Kong, aligning with a broader crackdown on dissent.
• Beijing's national security law has led to the disbandment of multiple opposition parties.
• Former party leaders express dismay over the dissolution as a regression towards authoritarianism.

The Democratic Party, once Hong Kong's largest opposition force, has officially disbanded following a vote in which 97% of attending members endorsed the move. This decision, made on December 14, marks the culmination of increasing pressure from Beijing and a shifting political landscape, as the party concludes more than three decades in service as a key voice for democracy and reform. The disbandment meeting saw 117 of 121 members voting in favor of liquidation, suggesting broad consensus on the need to end operations amid a climate of fear and repression, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.

The Democratic Party, founded in 1994 during the twilight of British colonial rule, had been a central figure opposing pro-Beijing policies in Hong Kong. Following the enforcement of the national security law in 2020, which aimed to diminish political dissent, many party members faced imprisonment or exile. Former leaders have indicated that the pressure from mainland Chinese officials forced the party to consider disbandment, highlighting the challenges they faced in advocating for democratic freedoms. The disbandment reflects a broader trend wherein the city's political opposition has been systematically dismantled, with other notable parties also ceasing to exist under similar pressures, according to South China Morning Post and Le Monde.