Hong Kong’s largest pro-democracy party took an initial step toward dissolving on Thursday. Hong Kong’s Democratic Party’s chairperson Lo Kin-hei said in a news conference that the party's central committee decided to set up a task force to look into the procedures involved.

Hong Kong's Democratic Party said late on Thursday it would start preparations to disband and wind up its affairs after a meeting of its leadership, amid a years-long national security crackdown in the China-ruled city.

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.