Hong Kong’s largest pro-democracy party took an initial step toward dissolving on Thursday. Hong Kong’s Democratic Party’s chairperson Lo Kin-hei said in a news conference that the party's central committee decided to set up a task force to look into the procedures involved.

The Civic Party, Hong Kong's second largest pro-democracy political party, was dissolved in 2023. A few of its members have also been jailed under the national security law including Alvin Yeung and Jeremy Tam. (Reporting by Anson Law and James Pomfret; additional reporting by Joyce Zhou and Jessie Pang; Editing by William Maclean)

Leaders of Hong Kong’s oldest pro-democracy party said they will seek a vote to shut it down after Beijing’s national security crackdown silenced dissent and barred opposition politicians from public office.

Hong Kong's largest pro-democracy party said Thursday it is considering dissolution after years of mounting pressure from Beijing

A 30-year-old Hong Kong political party that used to lead the city's pro-democracy camp before Beijing cracked down on dissent will start preparations to shut down, its leader said Feb. 20. "We are going to proceed and study on the process and procedure that is needed for the disbanding," said Lo Kin-hei, chairman of Hong Kong's Democratic Party.

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 has been set up to handle the legal and financial details of dissolution.

Hong Kong police have questioned at least 10 family members and associates of overseas democracy activists wanted for national security crimes in the span of a month, with the top brass defending the probes on Feb. 11 as normal police work.