EU ‘deeply concerned’ over Hong Kong Democratic Party’s plan to disband

The European Union has voiced concerns over what it sees as a diminishing space for civil society in Hong Kong after a once-powerful opposition party announced it might disband, with France also warning over the need for checks and balances.

The representatives weighed in on Saturday, two days after the leadership of the Democratic Party, once the city’s largest opposition political group, endorsed a motion to dissolve, without giving specific reasons. The party’s 400 members will vote on the motion, the leadership said, without giving a time frame.

“The EU is deeply concerned about the further narrowing of the space for civil society in Hong Kong,” said Anitta Hipper, the EU’s lead spokeswoman for foreign affairs and security policy.

She said the EU was “aware of pressure put on the Democratic Party to disband” and noted the decision by the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute, a leading polling body, to suspend self-funded research activities indefinitely.

“The European Union urges the Hong Kong authorities to protect the ability of the people of Hong Kong to exercise their rights,” she wrote on social media.

Hipper also said the media and rights-based civil society organisations, including the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA), faced increasing pressure.

The association, which is the city’s largest journalism group, was forced to “temporarily” cancel its annual fundraising dinner after two hotels in a week pulled out from hosting the event.