Hong Kong's Democratic Party said Thursday it is formally dissolving what once was the main political opposition group in the city. A task force has been set up to handle the legal and financial details of dissolution.

The party has been struggling to survive following moves by China to crack down on dissent in the city in the wake of the 2019 protests. Beijing and Hong Kong's government have argued that such moves were necessary for national security.

The leaders of the Hong Kong Democratic Party announced their plans to dissolve the party. This move comes after years of political pressure from Beijing that includes a national security law.