Hong Kong has a multi-party system, with numerous parties in which no one party was allowed to gain power by controlling the Legislative Council. The Chief Executive is appointed by the Premier of the People's Republic of China based on an indirectly elected Election Committee and is de facto pro-Beijing but de jure is said to be nonpartisan as specified in the Chief Executive Election Ordinance. Once selected, the Chief Executive forms an unelected government which superficially has to rely on political parties in the legislature for support, but the legislature has been deliberately designed and redesigned to be a pro-Beijing rubber stamp body.

Hong Kong has no legislation for political parties; thus, it has no legal definition for what a political party is. Most political parties and political groups registered either as limited companies or societies.

In Hong Kong, there were two main political ideological blocs, which presents to pro-democracy camp (include localists) and pro-Beijing camp. Under the newly introduced electoral system since 2021, only government-approved candidates may run, effectively disqualifying any candidates who are not from the pro-Beijing camp or approved by Beijing. Most of the pro-democracy camp Legislative Councillors from the previous LegCo have been jailed by the Hong Kong government and are therefore disqualified from participating in elections without the need for government vetting.

Present parties

There are 9 major political groups represented in the Legislative Council, including trade unions, professional associations and pressure groups. Two further political groups (New Territories Association of Societies and Civil Force) are represented by those members.

Major parties

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%;"

|-

! colspan="3" rowspan="2" | Party

! rowspan="2" | Founded

! rowspan="2" | Camp

! rowspan="2" | Ideology

! rowspan="2" | Leader

! colspan="2" | 8th Legislative Council

! colspan="2" | 7th District Councils

|-

! Seat

! Vote share

! Seat

! Vote share

|-

! style="background:; width:2px;" |

| style="text-align:center" | DAB

| Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong<br /><small></small>

|

|

|

|

|

| style="text-align:center" | 33.88%

|

| style="text-align:center" | 41.58%

|-

! style="background:; width:2px;" |

| style="text-align:center" | BPA

| Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong<br /><small></small>

|

|

| Conservatism (HK)<br />Economic liberalism<br />Chinese nationalism

|

|

| style="text-align:center" | 3.02%

|

| style="text-align:center" | 5.04%

|-

! style="background:; width:2px;" |

| style="text-align:center" | FTU

| Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions<br /><small></small>

|

|

|

|

|

| style="text-align:center" | 20.39%

|

| style="text-align:center" | 17.61%

|-

! style="background:; width:2px;" |

| style="text-align:center" | LP

| Liberal Party<br /><small></small>

|

|

|

|

|

| style="text-align:center" | 2.54%

|

| style="text-align:center" | 1.67%

|-

! style="background:; width:2px;" |

| style="text-align:center" | NPP

| New People's Party<br /><small></small>

|

|

|

|

|

| style="text-align:center" | 11.52%

|

| style="text-align:center" | 8.52%

|-

! style="background:; width:2px;" |

| style="text-align:center" | FLU

| Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions<br /><small></small>

|

|

|

|

|

| style="text-align:center" | Did not run in GCs

|

| style="text-align:center" | 1.06%

|-

! style="background:; width:2px;" |

| style="text-align:center" | FEW

| Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers<br /><small></small>

|

|

|

|

|

| style="text-align:center" | Did not run in GCs

| colspan="2" style="text-align:center" | DNP

|-

! style="background:; width:2px;" |

| style="text-align:center" | PP

| Professional Power<br /><small></small>

|

|

|

|

|

| style="text-align:center" | 4.61%

|

| style="text-align:center" | 2.01%

|-

! style="background:; width:2px;" |

| style="text-align:center" | NTAS

| New Territories Association of Societies<br /><small></small>

|

|

|

|

|

| style="text-align:center" | 3.26%

|

| style="text-align:center" | 0.48%

|-

! style="background:; width:2px;" |

| style="text-align:center" | RT

| Roundtable<br /><small></small>

|

|

|

|

|

| style="text-align:center" | 2.72%

|

| style="text-align:center" | 0.61%

|-

! style="background:; width:2px;" |

| style="text-align:center" | KWND

| Kowloon West New Dynamic<br /><small></small>

|

|

|

|

|

| style="text-align:center" | 2.01%

|

| style="text-align:center" | No elected

|-

! style="background:; width:2px;" |

| style="text-align:center" | CF

| Civil Force<br /><small></small>

|

|

|

|

|

| style="text-align:center" | NPP ticket

|

| style="text-align:center" | NPP ticket

|}

Other parties and groups

Other parties and groups without any representation that have participated in the elections include:

{| class="wikitable"

|+

! colspan="2" |Party

!Founded

!Leader

!Camp

!Ideology

!Note

|-

|style="background:; width:2px;" |

|Hong Kong and Kowloon Trades Union Council ()

|September 1948

|

|Pro-Taiwan

|

|

|-

|style="background:; width:2px;" |

|Hong Kong Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood ()

|26 October 1986

|Bruce Liu

|Pro-democracy

|Liberalism (HK)<br/>Social democracy<br/>Social liberalism

|

|-

|style="background:; width:2px;" |

|Hong Kong Chinese Reform Association ()

|8 May 1949

|

|

|Chinese nationalism

|

|-

|style="background:; width:2px;" |

|Hong Kong Civic Association ()

|26 October 1954

|

|

|Conservatism (HK)<br/>Liberal conservatism

|

|-

|style="background:; width:2px;" |

|Labour Party ()

|18 December 2011

|

|Pro-democracy

|Social democracy<br/>Environmentalism<br/>Liberalism (HK)

|

|-

|style="background:; width:2px;" |

|Neighbourhood and Worker's Service Centre ()

|1985

|

|Pro-democracy

|Social democracy<br/>Liberalism (Hong Kong)

|

|-

|style="background:; width:2px;" |

|New Century Forum ()

|

|

|

|Conservatism (HK)<br/>Chinese nationalism

|

|-

|style="background:; width:2px;" |

|New Prospect for Hong Kong ()

|

|

|

|

|

|-

|style="background:; width:2px;" |

|Path of Democracy ()

|8 June 2015

|Ronny Tong

|

|Centrism (HK)

|

|-

|style="background:; width:2px;" |

|Professional Commons ()

|25 March 2007

|

|Pro-democracy

|Liberalism (HK)

|

|-

|style="background:; width:2px;" |

|Third Side ()

|

|

|

|

|

|-

|style="background:; width:2px;" |

|Youngspiration ()

|21 January 2015

|

|Localist

|Hong Kong nationalism<br/>Liberalism (HK)<br/>

Nativism

|

|}

Pro-Democracy camp

  • 2047 Hong Kong Monitor ()
  • 7.1 People Pile ()
  • April Fifth Action ()
  • Chinese Labour Party ()
  • Chinese Liberal Democratic Party ()
  • China Youth Service & Recreation Centre ()
  • Citizens' Radio ()
  • Civic Act-Up () (part of Labour Party)
  • The Frontier ()
  • HK First ()
  • Hong Kong Awakening Association ()
  • Hong Kong Caritas Employees Union ()
  • Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Practitioners' Rights General Union ()
  • Hong Kong Democratic Development Network ()
  • Hong Kong Democratic Foundation ()
  • Hong Kong Independence Party ()
  • Hong Kong Social Workers' General Union ()
  • Land Justice League ()
  • Pioneer of Victoria Park ()
  • Power Voters () (part of People Power)
  • Revolutionary Communist Party of China (, October Review)
  • Socialist Action ()
  • Southern Democratic Alliance ()
  • Synergy Kowloon ()

Pro-Beijing camp

  • Bauhinia Party ()
  • Business and Professionals Federation of Hong Kong ()
  • Education Convergence ()
  • Government Disciplined Services General Union ()
  • Hong Kong Localism Power (), a pro-Beijing conservative political party, contrary to its name.
  • Hong Kong Medical Association ()
  • Hong Kong Public Doctors' Association ()
  • Hong Kong Women Teachers' Organization ()
  • Justice Alliance ()
  • New Youth Forum ()
  • HK Round Table On People’s Livelihood ()
  • Politihk Social Strategic ()
  • Third Force ()
  • Voice of Loving Hong Kong ()

Localist groups

  • Christians to the World ()
  • Conservative Party ()
  • Empowering Hong Kong ()
  • Hong Kong Indigenous ()
  • Hong Kong Resurgence Order ()
  • Kowloon East Community ()
  • Nationalist Hong Kong ()
  • Proletariat Political Institute ()

Umbrella organisations

  • Ching Fat Living Concern Group ()
  • North of the Rings ()
  • Tsuen Wan Dynamic for the People ()

Others

  • Alliance for Social and Economic Advancement ()
  • Green Party of Hong Kong ()
  • Hong Kong People's Livelihood Party ()
  • MESSAGE ()

Regional organisations, communal pressure groups and Kaifong associations

  • Action 18 ()
  • Ap Lei Chau Community Trade Union ()
  • Cheung Sha Wan West Front ()
  • Choi Hung Estate Social Service Association ()
  • Concern Group for Tseung Kwan O People's Livelihood ()
  • Community Alliance ()
  • Deliberation Tsuen Wan ()
  • Fu Sun Generation ()
  • Heung Yee Kuk ()
  • Hong Kong Island Federation ()
  • HTTH Environmental Concern Group ()
  • Kowloon East Community ()
  • Kowloon Federation of Associations ()
  • Fu Cheong Hung Estate Residents' Association ()
  • Kwun Tong Residents Association ()
  • Hong Kong People's Council on Housing Policy ()
  • Kowloon West New Dynamic ()
  • New Territories Association of Societies ()
  • New Territories West Residents Association ()
  • Hong Kong Tin Shui Wai Women Association ()
  • Luen Wo United ()
  • Lung Mun Concern Group ()
  • North District Blueprint ()
  • North of the Rings ()
  • Sai Kung Commons ()
  • Sha Tin Community Network ()
  • Sha Tin Community Vision ()
  • Shau Kei Wan East Future ()
  • Tai Po Sunwalker ()
  • Tsuen Wan Community Network ()
  • Tuen Mun Community ()
  • Tai Po Democratic Alliance ()
  • Tai Po Network of Democracy and Livelihood ()
  • Tin Shui Wai Connection ()
  • Tin Shui Wai Livelihood Progression Union ()
  • Tseung Kwan O Pioneers ()
  • Tseung Kwan O Shining ()
  • Tsing Yi Concern Group ()
  • Tsing Yi People ()
  • Tsuen Wan Dynamic for the People ()
  • Unity of San Hui ()

Electoral coalitions

  • 7.1 United Front ()
  • A16 Alliance ()
  • ABC.P.A
  • Academics In Support of Democracy ()
  • Action 9 ()
  • Alliance of Housing Department Staff Unions ()
  • ALLinHK
  • Central and Western Democratic Power ()
  • Civic Passion–Proletariat Political Institute–Hong Kong Resurgence Order ()
  • Coalition of Hong Kong Newspaper and Magazine Merchant ()
  • Democrat Professionals Hong Kong ()
  • Democratic Accountants ()
  • Democratic Coalition for DC Election ()
  • Demo-Social 12/Demo-Social 60/Demo-Social Front ()
  • Doctors for Democracy ()
  • Engineers for Universal Suffrage ()
  • Gov.ALPS ()
  • Health Professionals for Democracy 30 ()
  • Hearts of Accountants ()
  • ICT Energy ()
  • IT Voice/IT Voice 2012/IT Vision
  • O Superpower ()
  • People Power–League of Social Democrats ()
  • Progressive Social Work ()
  • Students United 2017 ()
  • Tertiary 2012 ()
  • Together for Social Welfare ()
  • User Voice ()
  • V18 Accountants ()
  • Vox Pop
  • Welfare Empower Hong Kong ()
  • Win Win Hong Kong Accountants ()
  • Y5 Give Me Five ()
  • Your Vote Counts ()

Defunct

Former major parties

The following are political parties or groups that have won at least a seat in legislative or municipal elections and have been dissolved.

{| class="wikitable"

|+

! colspan="2" |Party

!Founded

!Dissolved

!Camp

!Ideology

!Note

|-

| style="background:;"|

|123 Democratic Alliance ()

|20 March 1994

|3 December 2000

|Pro-Taiwan camp

|

|

|-

| style="background:;"|

|Basic Law Article 45 Concern Group ()

|2003

|

|Pro-democracy

|

|Transformed into Civic Party

|-

| style="background:;"|

|Co-operative Resources Centre ()

|12 December 1991

|31 March 1993

|Conservatives

|

|Transformed into Liberal Party

|-

| style="background:;"|

|Citizens Party ()

|4 May 1997

|9 May 2008

|Pro-democracy

|

|

|-

| style="background:;"|

|Civic Party (公民黨)

|19 March 2006

|27 May 2023

|Pro-democracy

|

|

|-

| style="background:;"|

|Civic Passion ()

|29 February 2012

|3 September 2021

|Localists

|

|

|-

| style="background:;"|

|Democratic Party ()

|2 October 1994

|14 December 2025

|Pro-democracy

|Liberalism (HK)

|

|-

| style="background:;"|

|Demosistō ()

|10 April 2016

|30 June 2020

|Pro-democracy

|

|Dissolved after national security law imposed

|-

| style="background:;"|

|Economic Synergy ()

|16 June 2009

|October 2012

|Pro-Beijing

|

|Transformed into Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong and effectively dissolved

|-

| style="background:;"|

|Federation for the Stability of Hong Kong ()

|16 May 1991

|4 June 2010

|Pro-Beijing

|Conservatism (HK)

|Merged into Hong Kong Progressive Alliance

|-

| style="background:;"|

|Hong Kong Affairs Society ()

|February 1984

|April 1990

|Liberals

|Liberalism (HK)

|Merged into United Democrats of Hong Kong

|-

| style="background:;"|

|Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions ()

|29 July 1990

|3 October 2021

|Pro-democracy

|

|

|-

| style="background:;"|

|Hong Kong People's Council on Housing Policy ()

|1978

|9 June 2019

|Pro-democracy

|Pressure group

|

|-

| style="background:;"|

|Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union ()

|1973

|11 September 2021

|Pro-democracy

|Teacher's union

|

|-

| style="background:;"|

|Hong Kong Progressive Alliance ()

|7 July 1994

|16 February 2005

|Pro-Beijing

|

|Merged into Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong

|-

| style="background:;"|

|League of Social Democrats ()

|1 October 2006

|29 June 2025

|Pro-democracy

|

|

|-

| style="background:;"|

|Liberal Democratic Federation of Hong Kong ()

|6 November 1990

|26 May 1997

|Conservatives

|

|Merged into Hong Kong Progressive Alliance

|-

| style="background:;"|

|Meeting Point ()

|9 January 1983

|2 October 1994

|Liberals

|

|Merged into Democratic Party

|-

| style="background:;"|

|Neo Democrats ()

|2 October 2010

|26 June 2021

|Pro-democracy

|

|

|-

| style="background:;"|

|New Hong Kong Alliance ()

|1 May 1989

|1999

|Conservatives

|

|

|-

|style="background:;"|

|People Power ()

|3 April 2011

|November 2025

|Pro-democracy

|Localism (HK)

Radical democracy

Populism

|

|-

|style="background:;"|

|Professional Forum ()

|1991

|7 October 2012

|Pro-Beijing

|Conservatism (HK)

Economic liberalism

|Transformed into Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong

|-

| style="background:;"|

|Progressive Hong Kong Society ()

|14 February 1985

|6 November 1990

|Conservatives

|Conservatism (HK)

|Merged into Liberal Democratic Federation of Hong Kong

|-

| style="background:;"|

|Reform Club of Hong Kong ()

|20 January 1949

|1995

|

|Liberalism (HK)

|Effectively dissolved

|-

| style="background:;"|

|The Frontier ()

|26 August 1996

|23 November 2008

|Pro-democracy

|

|Merged into Democratic Party

|-

| style="background:;"|

|United Ants ()

|1990s

|

|Liberals

|

|

|-

| style="background:;"|

|United Democrats of Hong Kong ()

|23 April 1990

|2 October 1994

|Liberals

|Liberalism (HK)

|Merged into Democratic Party

|}

Other dissolved parties

  • Alliance for Universal Suffrage ()
  • Association for Democracy and Justice ()
  • Cheung Sha Wan Community Establishment Power ()
  • Community March ()
  • Community Sha Tin ()
  • Constitutional Reform Association of Hong Kong
  • Democratic Alliance ()
  • Democratic Progressive Party of Hong Kong ()
  • Democratic Self-Government Party of Hong Kong ()
  • Frontline Doctors' Union ()
  • Hong Kong Alliance of Chinese and Expatriates ()
  • Hong Kong Citizen Forum ()
  • Hong Kong Forum ()
  • Hong Kong National Party ()
  • Hong Kong Observers ()
  • Hong Kong People's Association ()
  • Hong Kong Policy Viewers ()
  • Hong Kong Prospect Institute ()
  • Hong Kong Socialist Democratic Party ()
  • Kowloon City Observers ()
  • Kowloon Residents' Association ()
  • Liberal Democratic Party ()
  • New Hong Kong Society ()
  • New Territories West Residents Association ()
  • Power for Democracy ()
  • Public Affairs Society ()
  • Social Democratic Forum ()
  • Social Democratic Front ()
  • Team Chu Hoi Dick of New Territories West ()
  • Tin Shui Wai New Force ()
  • Tsz Wan Shan Constructive Power ()
  • Tuen Mun Community Network ()
  • United Front for the Service of the People ()
  • United Nations Association of Hong Kong ()
  • Victoria Social Association ()

See also

  • Lists of political parties
  • United front in Hong Kong
  • United Front Work Department
  • United front (China)
  • List of political parties in the People's Republic of China
  • List of political parties in the Republic of China
  • List of political parties in Macau
  • 2021 Hong Kong electoral changes

References