The European Union has expressed concern over the “further narrowing” of space for civil society in Hong Kong, citing the city’s Democratic Party’s plan to disband and the suspension of research by an independent pollster.

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.

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.

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 on Thursday that it would begin steps to disband, citing the political situation. The city’s largest opposition group, the Democratic Party marked its 30th anniversary last year.