Power for Democracy disbands in ‘new political era’

The political group that coordinated the pan-democratic camp’s Legco primaries on Saturday announced its decision to disband with immediate effect.

Power for Democracy’s convenor, Andrew Chiu, issued a statement saying the decision was made in light of “the latest development in the situation of Hong Kong under the new political era”, adding the group has completed its historic mission.

The group was set up in 2002, and has coordinated the pan-democratic camp’s district council elections in 2019 – in which the camp won a sweeping victory.

Chiu said the group has now stopped running, but members will continue to serve the people.

“In future, we will continue to serve the Hong Kong community in different ways under the framework of the Basic Law, the Hong Kong national security law and One Country Two Systems, and will abide by the law and maintain Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability,” he said in a statement.

Chiu and the group’s deputy convenor, Ben Chung, are among 55 activists rounded up by national security police officers last month for allegedly subverting state power by trying to win more than 35 seats in the Legislative Council elections that was eventually postponed for a year due to the pandemic.

Some of those arrested were told to report to the police on Sunday, ahead of the original scheduled date in April.