The party had a special general meeting this afternoon, which was initially set to discuss and reach a conclusion on the party’s involvement in the election, but members eventually decided to pass the issue to its central committee for further discussions.

Former lawmaker and one of the party’s founding members Fred Li Wah-ming said before the meeting that most of the members preferred not to join the election.

It was understood that “pro-election” party vice-chairwoman Edith Leiung Yik-ting and central committee member So Yat-hang were absent from the meeting today, while the party’s former chairwoman Emily Lau Wai-hing, community organizer Leung Kwok-wah and Li were among attendees.

Li last week also said the party should run in the election to create noise and actualize its ideals. If not, the party will become an invisible one, and he will leave the party then.

The party’s chairman Lo Kin-hei said he disagreed with Li’s opinions but respected his freedom of expression.

All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese vice chairman Lo Man-tuen last week also warned the party's leadership risks breaching the Basic Law if they decide to boycott the Legco election.

Speaking this morning ahead of the party’s meeting, Executive Council member Ronny Tong Ka-wah said it is understandable for a political party not to run in an election if it sees zero chances of winning, or due to an unfavorable political landscape.

However, if it is because of disagreement with the electoral system, the party should fold, he said.

“But I don’t believe the Democratic Party holds the latter reasonings,” he said.