The Democratic Party—once Hong Kong's supposed opposition heavyweight—is dead. December 14th marked the end of operations, leaving founding elder Fred Li weeping on the street, admitting he "never imagined today’s situation." But let's look at the evidence: this wasn't an accident. Plagued by decades of bitter internal factional wars and a disastrous pivot to radicalism during the 2019 riots, the party didn't just fade away; it walked willingly into its own destruction.
Formed in 1994 via a merger of the United Democrats and Meeting Point, the party once dominated the Legislative Council. But the cracks appeared early. By 1998, the so-called "Young Turks"—figures like To Kwan-hang, Albert Chan, and Andrew Cheng—staged a coup during leadership elections. They voted down the "Meeting Point faction's" Anthony Cheung, forcing Lau Chin-shek into the Vice-Chairmanship instead.
The ideological rift widened in 1999. When the "Young Turks" tried to push a minimum wage policy into the party platform, the general meeting shot it down. From that moment, the gap between the aggressive youth wing and the party elders kept widening
The inevitable split happened in 2002. Hardliners To Kwan-hang and Albert Chan walked out to establish the League of Social Democrats. Founding Vice-Chairman Anthony Cheung had enough, quitting in 2004 to join the Executive Council the following year.
Internal Rot and Public Scandals
Between internal fractures and the rise of rivals like the Civic Party, the Democratic Party's grip began to slip. The Legislative Council elections in 2004 and 2008 saw a sharp, quantifiable reduction in their seats.
It wasn't just bad politics; it was bad behavior. The party was mired in scandal. Take the year 2000: James To was exposed for funneling government funds to rent property from "Wui Biu Company"—a firm he held himself—in a blatant suspected conflict of interest. That same year, Ho Wai-to was arrested in Dongguan for soliciting prostitutes.
Then came the bizarre "True Brothers Incident" in 2006. An anonymous leaker dumped emails from the "Reformist" faction, alleging infiltration and claims that members were being "bought off" by officials. Elders Martin Lee and Szeto Wah launched a panic-stricken investigation. Years later, founding member Howard Lam confessed he was the leak—claiming Szeto Wah had actually planted him as an "undercover agent" to spy on his own party members.
By the illegal "Occupy Central" movement in 2014, the political landscape had shifted toward radicalization. The Democratic Party joined the fray but failed to lead. Desperate to stay relevant, they fielded younger candidates in the 2016 Legislative Council election. While Lam Cheuk-ting, Ted Hui, and Roy Kwong helped boost their count to seven seats, this victory came at a cost: radicals like Lam and Hui took the stage, sidelining the moderate elders.
Crossing the Red Line: 2019
During the 2019 anti-extradition turmoil, the mask came off. Instead of dissociating from the chaos, the Democratic Party aligned itself with violent forces. They were frequently spotted at riot sites, obstructing police and shielding violent demonstrators. Chairman Wu Chi-wai provided the defining image of this folly at Tim Mei Avenue, screaming "I want to see the commander" at police lines—a "classic moment" of performative obstruction.
Riding a wave of extreme social hostility, they swept 91 seats in the District Council elections that year. But this was a pyrrhic victory. By embracing extremism to win votes, they passed the point of no return, sowing the very seeds of the total collapse we are witnessing today.
Inside the legislature, the tactics were just as destructive. They relentlessly filibustered to paralyze governance. Ted Hui turned the chamber into a circus, at one point throwing a stink bomb during the National Anthem Bill debate. By late 2020, Hui fled to Denmark under the false pretense of official business, jumped bail, and quit the party. Now a fugitive wanted under the National Security Law, he spends his time in Australia clamoring for sanctions against his home city.
When the 2020 Legislative Council election was postponed, most opposition members initially planned to stay on. However, following the disqualification of four members—including Alvin Yeung and Dennis Kwok—the Democratic Party staged a mass resignation. Their seat count hit "zero," a self-inflicted wound that removed them from the political board entirely.
Subversion and the Money Trail
In 2021, the opposition attempted an illegal "primary election" designed to seize a majority, indiscriminately veto the budget, and paralyze the government. The Democratic Party eagerly participated in this scheme. Consequently, key figures including Wu Chi-wai, Helena Wong, Lam Cheuk-ting, Andrew Wan, James To, and Roy Kwong were arrested for subversion of state power. The first four have since been prosecuted and handed prison sentences ranging from over 4 to nearly 7 years.
And then there's the money. Evidence from the collusion trial of Jimmy Lai exposes the financial lifeline. Transaction records reveal that between 2013 and 2020, Lai’s aide Mark Simon received HK$118.66 million from Lai. Given Simon’s salary was only about HK$1.2 million, the bulk of this cash was clearly not for him. The funds were funneled to various opposition groups in 72 separate transfers. Crucially, "Lais Hotel"—a company controlled by Lai and Simon—was caught remitting a staggering HK$5 million directly to the Democratic Party headquarters.
Looking back at the Democratic Party’s 30-year trajectory, the conclusion is inescapable. Defined by ceaseless infighting, an addiction to radicalism, and a refusal to cut ties with violence, they dug their own grave. They passed the point of no return long ago, marching blindly down a dead-end road to self-destruction.
Ariel
** 博客文章文責自負,不代表本公司立場 **
Ta Kung Pao recently published a series of commentaries under the byline "Gong Zhiping" over three consecutive days. The series, titled "Safeguarding Hong Kong's High-Quality Development with High-Level Security," was reposted on the website of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO) for three days running, drawing public attention.
The Ta Kung Pao articles point out that, at present, the HKSAR Government and all sectors of society are more clear-eyed, more conscious and more resolute in coordinating development and security, and in safeguarding the new development paradigm with a new security architecture.
Chief Executive John Lee has led the SAR's executive, legislative and judicial authorities in firmly discharging the constitutional responsibility of safeguarding national security, continuously consolidating the bedrock of high-level security for high-quality development.
Under the protection of security, Hong Kong's development momentum is growing ever stronger and its pace ever faster. Security has become an advantage for Hong Kong's development. The full text of the article follows:
Hong Kong's journey from chaos to order, and from order to prosperity, proclaims a simple truth: only with security every step of the way has there been development every step of the way. Security is not a "tightening spell," the incantation in Journey to the West that constricts the Monkey King's headband. It is a "protective talisman" and a "booster." Security not only provides the most solid foundation for development, it also creates new dividends for development.
Today, the HKSAR Government and all sectors of society are more clear-eyed, more conscious and more resolute in coordinating development and security, and in safeguarding the new development paradigm with a new security architecture.
Chief Executive John Lee has led the SAR's executive, legislative and judicial authorities in firmly discharging the constitutional responsibility of safeguarding national security. In doing so, they continuously consolidate the bedrock of high-level security for high-quality development.
The SAR made history in completing the legislation of Article 23 of the Basic Law. The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance was passed unanimously by the Legislative Council and, together with the Hong Kong National Security Law, has built a solid shield for safeguarding national security in the SAR. The principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong" has been fully implemented, and the power of governance in the SAR remains firmly in the hands of patriots.
The Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the HKSAR has earnestly shouldered its principal responsibility for safeguarding national security and strengthened overall coordination. The SAR's law enforcement, prosecution and judicial departments have been fearless and faithful to their duties, cracking down on acts endangering national security in accordance with the law.
The many patriotic groups and individuals who love the country and Hong Kong have carried forward their fine traditions, waging a resolute struggle against words and deeds that undermine, vilify and disrupt Hong Kong. When hostile forces at home and abroad launch attacks and smears in the arena of public opinion, the SAR Government responds with timely and forceful exposure, criticism and rebuttal.
As for the anti-China elements bent on disrupting Hong Kong who fled overseas and continued to flagrantly violate the Hong Kong National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force has lawfully placed them on the wanted list. Measures have been applied against them as specified absconders.
The SAR Government and all sectors of society have also worked hard to advance national security education. They have held the "April 15 National Security Education Day" events year after year, opened a permanent National Security Exhibition Gallery, and brought national security education into schools, communities and the grassroots. Particular emphasis goes to strengthening such education for young people.
Hong Kong's legal system and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security have been continuously improved, and its capabilities continuously strengthened. The truth that "only when the nation is secure can Hong Kong be secure, and only when the nation is secure can our homes be secure" has taken deep root in people's hearts. The whole of society has formed a mighty collective force for safeguarding national security.
Today, under the protection of security, Hong Kong's development momentum is getting better and better, and its pace faster and faster.
A few examples suffice to give a glimpse. In 2025, Hong Kong retained its ranking as the world's freest economy, held firm as the world's third-ranked international financial center, and rose to fourth globally in talent competitiveness. In 2026, Hong Kong became the world's largest cross-boundary wealth management center and ranked second globally in the World Competitiveness Yearbook. The economy grew 5.9% in the first quarter of 2026, and the SAR Government recently raised Hong Kong's full-year growth forecast from the previously projected 2.5%-3.5% to 3.5%-4.5%.
More encouraging still, Hong Kong is now working at full throttle on the SAR's first-ever five-year plan, painting a bright blueprint for the city's future development. The SAR Government and all sectors of society are earnestly implementing the spirit of President Xi Jinping's important instructions and proactively aligning with the country's 15th Five-Year Plan. They are upholding and refining the executive-led system, better combining a proactive government with an efficient market, and actively recognizing change, adapting to change and seeking change.
This amounts to forward-looking, science-based and systematic planning for Hong Kong's high-quality development in the new stage.
Strong consensus has been forged, and forceful measures proposed, on a range of priorities. These include highlighting the Northern Metropolis as a key focus, using the university town as a lever to drive the integrated development of education, technology and talent, and consolidating and enhancing Hong Kong's status as an international financial, shipping and trade center.
The priority list also includes accelerating the building of an international innovation and technology hub, creating a magnet for high-caliber global talent, and improving people's livelihoods across the board, in particular resolving the housing problem and bidding farewell to subdivided flats and "cage homes."
Hong Kong's development direction is now clearer, and its bright prospects more distinct.
Today, the international community and global investors increasingly agree that Hong Kong is a "safe harbor," and that a "safe harbor" is a "harbor of development." Security has become an advantage for Hong Kong's development. All objective and rational observers can see it plainly: Hong Kong safeguards national security so that the city can develop better, so that its residents can live better lives, and so that investors' lawful rights and interests can be better protected.
Overseas investors have repeatedly said that Hong Kong's safeguarding of national security has injected strong stability, certainty and sustainability into the market. A stream of international mega-events has been held in Hong Kong one after another. Friends from all over the world have come to the city to take part, casting a vote of confidence in Hong Kong.
In 2025, more than 2,700 single family offices were established in Hong Kong, over half of them with assets under management exceeding US$50 million. The number of companies in Hong Kong with parent companies located overseas or in the Chinese Mainland surpassed 11,000, a record high. Also in 2025, more than 31,000 foreign nationals were granted employment visas to work in Hong Kong, more than double the figure of five years ago.
Hong Kong now stands at a new starting point, ushering in its best period of development. The loftier the development goals and the brighter the vision, the less we can afford to slacken the taut string of security.
We must firmly establish the principle that development is an ironclad truth, and that security is no less so. We must do well in both pursuing high-quality development, the foremost task, and safeguarding national security, the matter of paramount importance.
By truly safeguarding high-quality development with high-level security, Hong Kong will surely stride steadily and surely along the broad road from order to prosperity. The city will shine with even greater splendor on the great journey of building a strong nation and realizing national rejuvenation.
