Lo denies end looms for Democratic Party

The Democratic Party is not planning to disband, but will continue its district work and look for ways to advocate policies despite a lack of resources, chairman Lo Kin-hei said.

Speaking after the party's annual general meeting in its Tsim Sha Tsui office yesterday, Lo said although members did not discuss the future of the party, including whether the party should be wound up, he felt that members generally supported the idea of the party continuing.

"We did not discuss the party's way forward [during the meeting], we only reported the party's work to our members, including our failure to hold a fund-raising dinner and Lunar New Year fair stall," Lo said.

"But during the conversation with members, they all showed that they supported the idea of continuing with the party and hoped that the party could look for space to carry out policy advocacy. Although we will have no resources, we will find ways to soldier on," he added.

Lo also said members had never broached the possibility of halting party operations while members had never stopped considering what the party could do in the future.

"The Democratic Party will continue commenting on government policies, doing live broadcasts online, taking part in district work, and policy advocacy for the policy address," Lo said.

"We will continue working in Hong Kong and serve the people," he added.

Lo also said the party would start rationalizing resources and cutting expenses in order to develop in a "financially sustainable" way.

The party will also look for ways to generate income, but Lo stopped short of divulging details out of worries that making the plans public would limit his options.

With voter turnout hitting an all-time low at 27 percent in the district council election on December 10, Lo said: "The people's participation and motivation [to cast ballots] are well within everyone's expectations."

"We can also predict who the government is going to appoint as district councilors before the official announcement. I would like to once again remind the government that opposition voices are paramount to the success of the one country, two systems principle," he added.

Former party chairman Yeung Sum said, ahead of the meeting, that the Democrats were "very willing" to stand in elections and "would not give up."

He added that the party might be meeting people in small businesses within districts, organizing travel tours and group purchasing, as well as providing assistance to the elderly to apply for senior benefits.

"We will also continue calling press conferences and posting videos online to comment on social issues," Yeung said.