More than three decades after co-founding Hong Kong’s largest pro-democracy party, Yeung Sum reflects on the long journey of pursuing what he once called a “difficult dream”—building a democratic Hong Kong. While once challenging, the dream now faces what appears to be a definitive end.
The Democratic Party is now on the verge of dissolution, marking a profound shift in Hong Kong’s political landscape. This comes as Western-style civil liberties and the city’s promised autonomy under the “one country, two systems” framework continue to erode, despite Beijing’s pledge to preserve them for 50 years following the 1997 handover from British rule.
The crackdown that followed the 2019 pro-democracy protests—marked by restricted elections, tightened media control, and the sweeping China-imposed national security law—has silenced much of the political opposition. Dozens of civil society organizations have been forced to shut down, and several members of the Democratic Party have been imprisoned.
In an interview with The Associated Press, former chairperson Yeung revealed that Chinese officials directly told him the party should disband. He has since urged members to back a motion allowing party leaders to oversee the dissolution process. “I’m not very happy about it,” he said. “But I can see if we refuse the call to disband, we may pay a very huge price for it.”
Other party veterans shared similar warnings. Fred Li, a longtime member, said officials hinted that the party would not survive the upcoming legislative elections if it continued to operate. Another founding member, Sin Chung-kai, added that some members were personally warned earlier this year of possible consequences if the party remained active.
The possible disbanding of the Democratic Party marks a significant and symbolic moment in Hong Kong’s political history—a once-vibrant voice for democracy now silenced under intensifying pressure.
