Democratic Party (Hong Kong)

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民主黨
Democratic Party
Democratic Party
Wu Chi-wai
Party leader Wu Chi-wai
( 胡志偉 )
Deputy Chairman Lo Kin-hei
( 羅健熙 )
Andrew Wan
( 尹兆堅 )
founding October 2, 1994
Headquarters 4 / F, Hanley House,
776-778 Nathan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong , China
Hong KongHong Kong 
Youth organization Young Democrats
Alignment Liberalism
Social liberalism
Pragmatism
Chinese patriotism
Pro-democracy camp
Colours) green
Legislative Council
7/70
District Councils
91/458
Number of members 733 (2017)
International connections Liberal International
Website www.dphk.org

The Democratic Party (short DP , Chinese  民主黨  /  民主党 , Pinyin mínzhǔ dǎng , Jyutping man 4 zyu 2 dong 2  - "Democratic Party") is a pro-democratic political party in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region with a liberal orientation. With 7 seats in the Legislative Council and 91 seats in the District Councils, the Democratic Party is the leading party or flagship party in the pro-democracy camp in Hong Kong.

history

The party was founded in October 1994 as a merger of the parties United Democrats and Meeting Point . On November 23, 2008, The Frontier was also absorbed into the Democratic Party. In the first three elections to the Hong Kong Legislative Council under the then party leader Martin Lee , the party immediately became the strongest force among the individual parties. In the 2004 election to the Hong Kong Legislative Council , however, the party fell to third place and has since been the second strongest party behind the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong .

In the 2019 local elections in Hong Kong , the party won 91 seats in the district councils, which equates to an increase of 54 seats. This was the party's best result since the 2003 Hong Kong local elections , when the Democratic Party won 95 seats.

Positions

Relationship with the People's Republic of China

Hong Kong is viewed by the Democratic Party as an indivisible part of China. The party supports the return of Hong Kong's sovereignty to China.

The maxim of the principle “ one country, two systems ” and thus a high degree of autonomy and the formation of a democratic government in Hong Kong are seen as the wishes of the people in Hong Kong. This will help promote stability and prosperity in Hong Kong and the development of China as a whole, according to the party.

The Democratic Party sees it as important to take care of China and sees it as part of Chinese citizenship and as rights and obligations to participate in and comment on China's affairs. The party is committed to representing and articulating the views of the people of Hong Kong on the Chinese government's policies regarding or affecting Hong Kong.

More radical forces within the pro-democracy camp criticize the Democratic Party's strict rejection of Hong Kong's independence. Democratic Party leaders, including Szeto Wah , Martin Lee and Albert Ho , described themselves as Chinese patriots, which explains the Democratic Party's clear commitment to China and Hong Kong's rejection of independence. However, this does not mean that it tolerates the one-party rule of the Chinese Communist Party . Instead, the Democratic Party supports democratic movements in the People's Republic of China .

Domestic politics

The establishment of a democratic system is seen as a prerequisite for a high degree of autonomy in Hong Kong and as a natural consequence of the end of British colonial rule. The party also sees democracy, freedom, human rights and the rule of law as the foundations for progress and prosperity in a modern society. In Hong Kong it is necessary to press ahead with the development of a democratic system of government in order to strengthen the protection of freedom, human rights and the rule of law.

In order to maintain free and fair competition in the Hong Kong market economy , the party aims to achieve that Hong Kong has and maintains appropriate surveillance systems, an adequate and stable tax system , a sound legal system and a corruption-free and accountable government. Economic prosperity, according to the Democratic Party, depends on the collective efforts of investors, workers, professionals, governments and all members of society. Wealth creation is a prerequisite for social development, and the ultimate goal of wealth creation, according to the party, is that all members of society can share the fruits of their economic success.

In order to promote the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong, as well as social justice and to eliminate all forms of discrimination, Hong Kong must ensure a strong and healthy education, medical, housing, labor, social and social security system, according to the Democratic Party . The party believes that ensuring social security develops equality of opportunity in participation and development of personal talents. In order to ensure a continuous supply of natural resources, long-term social development and the livelihood of future generations, the Democratic Party wants to ensure that the living environment is protected and further developed.

In addition, the Democratic Party sees itself as a local political party dedicated to Hong Kong affairs and equally concerned with China.

In Hong Kong, most of the pro-democracy parties - including the Democratic Party - are described as liberal. Nevertheless, the model of the radical free market practiced by the ruling conservative pro-Beijing camp is criticized, in particular because of inadequate social security systems, which is why the Democratic Party would be more likely to be described in the Western context as social liberal or center-left . The term liberalism refers in particular to demands for democratization and liberal positions in socio-political issues.

Diversity of internal party positions

The Democratic Party is one of the least radical parties in the pro-democracy camp and is considered to be quite conformist. This is shown, among other things, by the clear commitment to the principle of “ one country, two systems ”. A small-step reform process towards democratization under membership of the People's Republic of China should rather be followed than a radical path to independence. In some cases, there were even former Democratic Party politicians who later supported the pro-Beijing camp - mostly former members of the previous Meeting Point party. For example, Anthony Cheung , who was a member of the Democratic Party until 2004, became a member of the government in 2012 under the pro-Beijing chief executive Leung Chun-ying . In addition, there is also an establishment within the Democratic Party, which consists of long-term members who, while clearly positioning themselves towards the pro-democracy camp, are still regarded as predominantly moderate.

Nevertheless, there have always been members of the Democratic Party who have positioned themselves against the moderate course. In the years after its founding up to 2006, for example, the so-called Young Turks were active, who called for a more radical path to the democratization of Hong Kong and a more left-oriented social policy. In doing so, they opposed the overwhelming opinion of the party's conformist and middle-class establishment. Some of the Young Turks founded the League of Social Democrats in 2006 . Later, too, less conformist politicians split off from the Democratic Party, for example with the founding of the Neo Democrats in 2010. To this day, there are also predominantly young, less conformist members within the Democratic Party, which is why they are also called Catch with this diversity -all party within the pro-democracy camp can be described.

There are also often different opinions in the Democratic Party on socio-political issues such as laws against discrimination against homosexuals, since the party covers a wide range of different constituencies, from social liberal to conservative voters. The Democratic Party is a rather less progressive party in the pro-democracy camp .

Party leader

  • Martin Lee

  • Yeung Sum

  • Lee Wing-tat

  • Albert Ho

  • Emily Lau

  • Wu Chi-wai

Web links

Commons : Democratic Party (Hong Kong)  - Collection of images

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Kit Poon: The Political Future of Hong Kong: Democracy Within Communist China . Routledge, 2007, pp. 72 .
  2. ↑ Hong Kong's pro-democracy camp wins 85% of district council seats: media . In: Mainichi Daily News . November 25, 2019 ( mainichi.jp [accessed November 25, 2019]).
  3. ↑ ENG - 民主黨. Retrieved November 26, 2019 .
  4. ^ A b Eliza Wing-Yee Lee: Gender and Change in Hong Kong: Globalization, Postcolonialism, and Chinese Patriarchy . UBC Press, 2011, pp. 71 .
  5. ^ Ng Benny: The Radical Democracy of Hong Kong @ Ciudades Democráticas. December 1, 2017, accessed May 9, 2020 .
  6. ^ Kuan: Out of the Shadow of 1997 ?: The 2000 Legislative Council Election in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region . Chinese University Press, 2002, pp. 156 .
  7. ↑ Hong Kong LGBT activist joins Democratic Party in bid to influence its stance on gender issues. December 7, 2015, accessed May 9, 2020 .