View source for Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong

{{short description|Political party in Hong Kong}}
{{use Hong Kong English|date=December 2018}}
{{use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox political party
| country          = Hong Kong
| name             = Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress<br>of Hong Kong
| native_name      = {{noitalics|{{nobold|民主建港協進聯盟}}}}
| native_name_lang = zh-hk
| logo             = Logo of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong.svg
| logo_size        = 200
| abbreviation     = DAB
| leader1_title    = Chairperson
| leader1_name     = [[Gary Chan]]
| leader2_title    = Vice-Chairpersons
| leader2_name     = [[Chan Yung]]<br />[[Ben Chan]]<br />[[Holden Chow]]<br />[[Chan Hok-Fung]]<br />[[Elizabeth Quat]]
| merger           = Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong and [[Hong Kong Progressive Alliance]]
| colorcode        = {{party color|Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong}}
| foundation       = {{start date and age|1992|07|10|df=yes}}
| headquarters     = 15/F, SUP Tower,<br /> 83 [[King's Road, Hong Kong|King's Road]],<br /> [[North Point]], Hong Kong
| membership_year  = 2020
| membership       = {{increase}} 44,663<ref>{{cite web|title=Basic Info|url=https://www.dab.org.hk/aboutus|work=The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong|access-date=6 August 2020|archive-date=6 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806073246/https://www.dab.org.hk/aboutus|url-status=live}}</ref>
| youth_wing       = Young DAB
| affiliation1_title = Local affiliation
| affiliation1     = [[Pro-Beijing camp]]<ref name="Sing2009">{{cite journal|last=Sing|first=Ming|date=January 2009|title=Hong Kong's Democrats Hold Their Own|journal=Journal of Democracy|publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press|volume=20|pages=98–112|number=1|doi=10.1353/jod.0.0046|s2cid=153747828}}</ref><ref name="Lo1996">{{cite journal |last1=Lo |first1=Shiu-hing |title=Political Parties in a Democratizing Polity: The Role of the "Pro-China" Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong |journal=Asian Journal of Political Science |date=June 1996 |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=98–129 |doi=10.1080/02185379608434074 }}</ref>
| ideology         = {{ubl|
 |[[Chinese nationalism]]
 |[[Conservatism]]  ([[Conservatism in Hong Kong|HK]])<ref name="Ma2012">{{cite book |editor1-last=Lam|editor1-first=Wai-man|editor2-last=Lui|editor2-first=Percy Luen-tim|editor3-last=Wong|editor3-first=Wilson|last= Ma |first= Ngok |year= 2012 |chapter=Political Parties and Elections|title=Contemporary Hong Kong Government and Politics |location= [[Hong Kong]]|publisher= [[Hong Kong University Press]]|isbn=978-9-88-813947-7|author-link=Ma Ngok }}</ref>
 |{{nowrap|[[Social conservatism]]<ref name="samesexmarriage">{{cite news |url = https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/07/11/hong-kong-anti-gay-advocates-claim-sex-marriage-will-lead-human-trafficking-abortions-incest/ |title = Hong Kong anti-gay advocates claim same-sex marriage will lead to human trafficking, abortions, incest |date = 11 July 2017 |website = Hong Kong Free Press |access-date = 11 July 2017 |archive-date = 11 July 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170711151157/https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/07/11/hong-kong-anti-gay-advocates-claim-sex-marriage-will-lead-human-trafficking-abortions-incest/ |url-status = live }}</ref>}}}}
| position         = [[Centre-right]] to {{nowrap|[[right-wing]]}}
| seats1_title     = [[Executive Council of Hong Kong|Executive Council]]
| seats1           = {{Composition bar|4|33|hex={{party color|Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong}}}}
| seats2_title     = {{nowrap|[[Legislative Council of Hong Kong|Legislative Council]]}}
| seats2           = {{Composition bar|19|90|hex={{party color|Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong}}}}
| seats3_title     = [[District councils of Hong Kong|District Councils]]
| seats3           = {{Composition bar|147|470|hex={{party color|Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong}}}}
| seats4_title     = [[National People's Congress|NPC]] (HK deputies)
| seats4           = {{Composition bar|7|36|hex={{party color|Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong}}}}
| seats5_title     = {{nowrap|[[Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference|CPPCC]] (HK members)}}
| seats5           = {{Composition bar|16|124|hex={{party color|Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong}}}}
| colours          = {{colour box|{{party color|Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong}}}}{{colour box|#EB0323}}  [[Blue]] and [[red]]
| slogan           = ''Faithful to Hong Kong''
| website          = {{Official URL}}
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
| t = 民主建港協進聯盟
| s = 民主建港协进联盟
| p = Mínzhǔ Jiàngǎng Xiéjìn Liánméng
| w = Min<sup>2</sup>-chu<sup>3</sup> Chien<sup>4</sup>-kang<sup>3</sup> Hsieh<sup>2</sup>-chin<sup>4</sup> Lien<sup>2</sup>-mêng<sup>2</sup>
| y = Màhnjyú Gin-góng Hihpjeun Lyùhnmàhng
| altname = Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong
| t2 = 民主建港聯盟
| s2 = 民主建港联盟
| p2 = Mínzhǔ Jiàngǎng Liánméng
| w2 = Min<sup>2</sup>-chu<sup>3</sup> Chien<sup>4</sup>-kang<sup>3</sup> Lien<sup>2</sup>-mêng<sup>2</sup>
| y2 = Màhnjyú Gin-góng Lyùhnmàhng
| altname3 = Abbreviation
| t3 = 民建聯
| s3 = 民建联
| p3 = Mínjiànlián
| w3 = Min<sup>2</sup>-chien<sup>4</sup>-lien<sup>2</sup>
| y3 = Màhn-ginlyùhn
}}
{{Politics of Hong Kong}}

The '''Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong''' ('''DAB''') is a [[Pro-Beijing camp (Hong Kong)|pro-Beijing]] political party registered since 1992 in [[Hong Kong]]. Chaired by [[Gary Chan]] and holding 19 [[Legislative Council of Hong Kong|Legislative Council]] seats, it is currently the largest party in the legislature and in terms of membership, far ahead of other parties. It has been a key supporting force to the SAR administration and the [[Central People's Government|central government]]'s policies on Hong Kong.

The party was established in 1992 as the "Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong" by a group of traditional Beijing loyalists who pledged allegiance to the [[Chinese Communist Party]]. As the [[transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong]] was approaching, the party actively participated in elections in the last years of the [[British Hong Kong|colonial rule]] and became a major party and the ally to the government in the early post-handover era.

The DAB took a major blow in the [[2003 Hong Kong local elections|2003 District Council election]] due to the unpopular [[second term of Tung Chee-hwa as Chief Executive of Hong Kong|Tung Chee-hwa administration]] and the proposed legislation of the [[Hong Kong Basic Law Article 23|Article 23]] of the [[Hong Kong Basic Law|Basic Law]]. However, the party still managed to recover its loss in the following decades, further expanded its electoral base and membership and absorbed the pro-business [[Hong Kong Progressive Alliance]] in 2005, becoming the a dominant force in Hong Kong politics.

The party received electoral successes in the [[2007 Hong Kong local elections|2007]] and [[2011 Hong Kong local elections|2011 District Council elections]], winning 136 local elected offices at its peak, and won 13 seats in the [[2012 Hong Kong legislative election|2012 Legislative Council election]] thanks to its effective electoral strategy. In the [[2019 Hong Kong local elections|2019 District Council elections]], however, the party received a significant loss of four-fifth of its seats the midst of the [[2019–2020 Hong Kong protests|widespread anti-government protests]].

==History==
===Founding and the reunification (1992–1998)===
The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong was founded as part of a wave of political party formations as Hong Kong approached its [[transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong|handover]] to China and amid electoral reform initiated by Governor [[Chris Patten]]. The [[1991 Hong Kong legislative election|1991 Legislative Council election]], which saw the defeat of all pro-Beijing candidates, was a catalyst to the forming of the DAB.<ref name="Lo1996" />{{rp|100}} In January 1992, director of the [[Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office]] [[Lu Ping]] publicly encouraged the organisation of pro-Beijing political parties for the 1995 elections.<ref name="ChinaReview1993">{{cite book|title=China Review 1993|chapter=China's Relations with Hong Kong|last=Lee|first=Jane C. Y.|editor1-first=Joseph Yu-shek|editor1-last=Cheng|editor2-first=Maurice|editor2-last=Brosseau|publisher=The Chinese University Press|year=1993}}</ref>{{rp|10.8}} Politicians from the [[Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions]] (FTU) and other pro-Beijing organisations including the [[Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers]] (FEW) formed the DAB on 10 July 1992, with [[Jasper Tsang|Tsang Yok-sing]] as the party's first chairperson.<ref name="Ma2012"/>{{rp|161}} The DAB was the first major pro-Beijing party as a part of the "[[United front in Hong Kong|United Front]]" on the eve of the [[handover of Hong Kong]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2018}}

Compared with other pro-Beijing parties in Hong Kong, the DAB was more grassroots-oriented.<ref name="Lo1996" />{{rp|100}} The 56 founding members of the DAB held political views that were sympathetic towards China and emphasised friendly Sino-Hong Kong relations.<ref name="Lo1996"/>{{rp|100}} At the time of founding, many of them held political positions associated with the Chinese government or pro-Beijing groups in Hong Kong. Chairman Tsang Yok-sing was a delegate to Guangdong Province People's Political Consultative Conference, vice-chairman [[Tam Yiu-chung]] and [[Chan Yuen-han]] were executive members of the pro-Beijing trade union FTU, and secretary [[Cheng Kai-nam]] was appointed by the Chinese government as the [[Hong Kong Affairs Advisor]].<ref name="Lo1996" />{{rp|101}} Political scientist Sonny Lo Shiu-hing notes that early DAB members are also "pro-Hong Kong" in the sense that they advocate for the interests of Hong Kong and lobby Chinese officials.<ref name="Lo1996" />{{rp|100}}

The DAB became the direct rival to the major [[Pro-democracy camp in Hong Kong|pro-democracy]] party [[United Democrats of Hong Kong]] and its successor [[Democratic Party (Hong Kong)|Democratic Party]], which was formed in 1994. The DAB first fielded a candidate in the 1993 [[Regional Council (Hong Kong)|Regional Council]] by-election and lost.<ref name="Lo1996"/>{{rp|98}} In the following year, the DAB participated in the [[1994 Hong Kong local elections|1994 District Board elections]], where 37 of its 83 candidates were elected.<ref name="Lo1996"/>{{rp|98}} In 1995, it participated in the [[1995 Hong Kong municipal elections|municipal elections]], winning eight directly elected and two indirectly elected seats.<ref>{{cite web|title=認識我們>歷史>1995 |url=http://www.dab.org.hk/tr/main.jsp?content=category-content.jsp&categoryId=1247 |work=The Democratic Alliance of the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630091159/http://www.dab.org.hk/tr/main.jsp?content=category-content.jsp&categoryId=1247 |archive-date=30 June 2007 }}</ref> Major leaders of the DAB participated in the [[1995 Hong Kong legislative election|1995 Legislative Council election]]. It was regarded{{By whom|date=November 2018}} as test cases of the popularity of the new party.<ref>{{cite book|page=55|title=The Other Hong Kong Report 1996|editor1-last=Mee|editor1-first=Kau Nyaw|editor2-last=Li|editor2-first=Si-ming|publisher=Chinese University Press|year=1996}}</ref> Three of the four party leaders were defeated by pro-democracy candidates in the election,{{sfn|Mee|Li|1996|p=38}} including party chairman Tsang Yok-sing who lost to [[Liu Sing-lee]] of the [[Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood]] (ADPL) in the [[Kowloon Central (1995 constituency)|Kowloon Central constituency]].

The DAB took part in the preparation for establishing the Special Administrative Region on the eve of the [[handover of Hong Kong]]. In January 1996, Tsang Yok-sing, Tam Yiu-chung, Ng Hong-mun and Lee Cho-jat were appointed to the [[Preparatory Committee for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region|Preparatory Committee]]. It had 46 members elected to the Beijing-controlled [[Selection Committee (Hong Kong)|Selection Committee]] in November 1996. In the following month, the Selection Committee elected 10 DAB members to the [[Provisional Legislative Council]] (PLC).<ref>{{cite web|title=認識我們>歷史>1996 |url=http://www.dab.org.hk/tr/main.jsp?content=category-content.jsp&categoryId=1248 |work=The Democratic Alliance of the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205042944/http://www.dab.org.hk/tr/main.jsp?content=category-content.jsp&categoryId=1248 |archive-date=5 February 2007 }}</ref> The DAB and the [[Hong Kong Progressive Alliance]] (HKPA), another pro-Beijing party, allied with each other in the crucial Provisional Legislative Council debate on the substantial arrangements for the [[1998 Hong Kong legislative election|1998 LegCo elections]]. This move was tacitly endorsed by the [[Heung Yee Kuk]], and heralded as the unofficial merger of the parties.<ref>{{cite news|title=The old pack reshuffled |url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=&art_id=38876&sid=&con_type=1&d_str=19970930&sear_year=1997 |first=Andy |last=Ho |newspaper=[[The Standard (Hong Kong)|The Standard]] |date=30 September 1997 |access-date=23 July 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522073748/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=&art_id=38876&sid=&con_type=1&d_str=19970930&sear_year=1997 |archive-date=22 May 2011 |df=dmy }}</ref> The Provisional Legislative Council, which was controlled by the pro-Beijing camp, vetoed the [[1994 Hong Kong electoral reform|democratic reform]] introduced by the last British governor [[Chris Patten]] and replaced the [[first-past-the-post]] with the [[proportional representation]] method in the Legislative Council elections, so that the weaker DAB would be able to exploit the benefit of the proportional representation by taking a seat in every [[geographical constituency]] without having a majority of the votes. After the SAR was established, Tam Yiu-chung and was also appointed to the [[Executive Council of Hong Kong|Executive Council]] by [[Chief Executive of Hong Kong|Chief Executive]] [[Tung Chee-hwa]] as the representative of the party.

===Early Tung Chee-hwa administration and Article 23 setback (1998–2003)===
[[File:DAB old logo.jpg|thumb|right|Previous version of the DAB logo from 1992 to 2005.]]
The DAB's electoral campaigns have been largely assisted by Beijing and its united front organs. The [[Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region|Liaison Office]] would mobilise various social groups and organisations to campaign for and to vote for the party, including employees of PRC state-owned companies and grassroots organisations such as the [[New Territories Association of Societies]] (NTAS) and the Kowloon Federation of Associations (KFA). The DAB's sister organisation FTU also mobilised its workers to campaign for the DAB members. The FTU also sent a recommendation letter to its four hundred thousand members to seek support for DAB candidates.<ref>{{cite book|page=106|title=Understanding Modern East Asian Politics|first=Christian|last=Schafferer|publisher=Nova Publishers|year=2005}}</ref>

In the 1998 LegCo election, the DAB took five directly elected seats with a quarter of the popular vote, compared to only two seats with 15% of the votes in the 1995 elections.<ref>{{cite book|page=131|title=Power Transfer and Electoral Politics: The First Legislative Election in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region|editor1-first=Hsin-chi|editor1-last=Kuan|publisher=Chinese University Press|year=1999}}</ref> According to Karl Ho, the change from a candidate-based system to an electoral list proportional representation system benefitted the DAB.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Ho|first=Karl|date=September 1999|title=The Hong Kong Legislative Election of 1998|journal=Electoral Studies|volume=18|issue=3|pages=438–445|doi=10.1016/s0261-3794(99)00012-8|issn=0261-3794}}</ref>

In December 1998, the party's 5th Central Committee decided to increase a Vice-Chairmanship, [[Ip Kwok-him]] and Cheng Kai-nam were subsequently elected as vice-chairmen.<ref>{{cite web|title=認識我們>歷史>1998 |url=http://www.dab.org.hk/tr/main.jsp?content=category-content.jsp&categoryId=1250 |work=The Democratic Alliance of the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205043008/http://www.dab.org.hk/tr/main.jsp?content=category-content.jsp&categoryId=1250 |archive-date=5 February 2007 }}</ref> In the [[1999 Hong Kong local elections|first District Council elections]] in November 1999, the party filled in 176 candidates, 83 of which were elected, more than double compared to the 1994 elections.<ref>{{cite web|title=認識我們>歷史>1999 |url=http://www.dab.org.hk/tr/main.jsp?content=category-content.jsp&categoryId=1251 |work=The Democratic Alliance of the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205043018/http://www.dab.org.hk/tr/main.jsp?content=category-content.jsp&categoryId=1251 |archive-date=5 February 2007 }}</ref>

In the [[2000 Hong Kong legislative election|second SAR LegCo elections]] in September 2000, despite the conflict of interests scandal of Cheng Kai-nam, the DAB became a clear winner, capturing 11 seats in total, 7 in geographical constituency direct elections, 3 in [[functional constituency (Hong Kong)|functional constituencies]] and 1 [[Election Committee (constituency)|Election Committee constituency]]. Although Cheng Kai-nam was elected, he soon resigned his party posts and LegCo seat under public pressure. After DAB candidate [[Christopher Chung Shu-kun]] losing to pro-democracy Independent [[Audrey Eu]] in the [[2000 Hong Kong Island by-election|10 December Hong Kong Island by-election]], the DAB commanded 10 LegCo seats by the end of 2000.

In July 2002 the beginning of the [[second term of Tung Chee-hwa as Chief Executive of Hong Kong|second term of Tung Chee-hwa's administration]], Chairman Tsang Yok-sing was appointed to the Executive Council under the [[Principal Officials Accountability System]] (POAS), succeeding Tam Yiu-chung. However the governing coalition between Tung Chee-hwa the DAB and the pro-business [[Liberal Party (Hong Kong)|Liberal Party]] suffered from growing disunity as the popularity of Tung administration dropped. Although it continued provide stable support to the government as Beijing's demand, it paid a hefty political price in the sense of increasing middle-class disaffection with the party and growing rank-and file complaint. The DAB was increasingly frustrated by unequal political exchange with the government and the skimpy political rewards meted out by Tung. Tsang Yok-sing even openly aired his displeasure and advocated power sharing with the government.<ref>{{cite book|page=29|title=The First Tung Chee-hwa Administration: The First Five Years of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region|first1=Zhaojia|last1=Liu|first2=Siu-kai|last2=Lau|publisher=Chinese University Press|year=2002}}</ref>

In the wake of the controversies over the [[National Security (Legislative Provisions) Bill 2003|legislation]] of [[Hong Kong Basic Law Article 23|Article 23]] of the [[Hong Kong Basic Law|Basic Law]], which outlaws treason, sedition, subversion and secession against the central government, the image of DAB was severely undermined by its unconditional support and defence of the legislation. The [[2003 Hong Kong local elections|November 2003 District Councils elections]] saw the worst electoral performance in party's history, only 62 of the 206 candidates were elected. The party vice-chairman and LegCo member Ip Kwok-him was defeated in his own power base and long-time headquarter [[Kwun Lung (constituency)|Kwun Lung]] by the pro-democracy [[the Frontier (Hong Kong)|The Frontier]] member and LegCo member [[Cyd Ho Sau-lan]] by a narrow margin of 64 votes.<ref>{{cite book|page=101|title=Patron-Client Politics and Elections in Hong Kong|first=Bruce Kam|last=Kwong|publisher=Routledge|year=2009}}</ref> The election results led to the resignation of chairman Tsang Yok-sing.<ref>Cannix Yau, [http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=&art_id=32506&sid=&con_type=1&d_str=20031127&sear_year=2003 "DAB chief resigns over 'worst setback'"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522062129/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=&art_id=32506&sid=&con_type=1&d_str=20031127&sear_year=2003 |date=22 May 2011 }}, [[The Standard (Hong Kong)|The Standard]], 25 November 2003</ref> Tsang claimed that the electoral setback was due to the DAB's "Tung loyalist" public image. In December the party's Standing Committee elected [[Ma Lik]] as Tsang's successor.<ref>{{cite web |title=認識我們>歷史>2003 |url= http://www.dab.org.hk/tr/main.jsp?content=category-content.jsp&categoryId=1255 |work=The Democratic Alliance of the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070205043105/http://www.dab.org.hk/tr/main.jsp?content=category-content.jsp&categoryId=1255 |archive-date=5 February 2007 }}</ref>

===Late 2000s expansion and electoral victories (2004–2012)===
The [[2004 Hong Kong legislative election|2004 LegCo electoral campaign]] unfolded amid an economic rebound partly engineered by Beijing's up-lifting measures. The PRC athletes' impressive gains in the [[2004 Summer Olympics|August 2004 Athens Olympics]] and the 50 Chinese Gold Medalists' visit to Hong Kong right before the polling induced among the voters a strong nationalistic pride that was beneficial to DAB candidates.<ref>{{cite book|page=191|title=Social Movements in China and Hong Kong: The Expansion of Protest Space|editor1-first=Khun Eng|editor1-last=Kuah|editor2-first=Gilles|editor2-last=Guiheux|publisher=Amsterdam University Press|year=2009}}</ref> The DAB also managed to exploit the proportional representation to equalise votes for two of the candidates the party endorsed standing in the same constituency. Although support of [[Chan Yuen-han]] (FTU) was far higher than [[Chan Kam-lam]] (DAB) in [[Kowloon East (1998 constituency)|Kowloon East]], according to earlier polls, the two organisations managed to have both elected. At [[Hong Kong Island (1998 constituency)|Hong Kong Island]] constituency, the ticket of Ma Lik and [[Choy So-yuk]] ultimately benefitted from a democratic camp mix-up that led to the resignation of the [[Democratic Party (Hong Kong)|Democratic Party]] Chairman, [[Yeung Sum]]. The DAB become the largest political party in the Legislative Council to be represented with 12 seats (if including the two members ran under the FTU banner), with the pro-business Liberal Party coming second with 10 seats and the Democratic Party coming third with 9 seats.

On 16 February 2005, the DAB merged with the Hong Kong Progressive Alliance, and was renamed as the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong.<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Lam|editor1-first=Wai-man|editor2-last=Lui|editor2-first=Percy Luen-tim|editor3-last=Wong|editor3-first=Wilson|last= Lui|first= Percy Luen-tim|date= 2012|chapter=The Legislature|title=Contemporary Hong Kong Government and Politics |location= [[Hong Kong]]|publisher= [[Hong Kong University Press]]|page=48 |isbn=978-9-88-813947-7|author-link=Ma Ngok}}</ref> The two parties were merged with new committees and leadership in May, Ma Lik was re-elected as chairman and Ip Kwok-him, Tam Yiu-chung, [[Maria Tam]] and [[Lau Kong-wah]] as vice-chairmen. Since the merge with the Progressive Alliance, the DAB has gradually leaned to a more pro-middle-class position. In April 2007 leadership election, solicitor [[Gregory So]] succeeded Maria Tam as the vice-chairman of the party. The four new Standing Committee members were all professionals; besides Gregory So, [[Cheung Kwok-kwan]], the Chairman of the Young DAB was a solicitor, [[Starry Lee Wai-king]] was an accountant, [[Ben Chan Han-pan]] was an engineer.{{cn|date=March 2025}}  Meanwhile, the pro-labour and pro-grassroots FTU faction began to run in elections in their own banner. On 8 August 2007, Chairman Ma Lik died of cancer in [[Guangzhou]]. Tam Yiu-chung was elected as the new chairman by the Standing Committee on 28 August.<ref>{{cite web|title=關於我們 > 歷史 > 大事年表 > 2007|url=http://www.dab.org.hk/?t=841&mmode=adcp|work=The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong|access-date=24 January 2014|archive-date=2 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202122634/http://www.dab.org.hk/?t=841&mmode=adcp|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[2007 Hong Kong local elections|District Council Elections in 2007]] saw the great bounce back of the DAB by winning 115 seats, more than a quarter of the seats in the district level, far ahead of other political parties. Gregory So resigned as the vice-chairman and was succeeded by [[Ann Chiang]] when he was appointed as the [[Commerce and Economic Development Bureau|Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development]] by Chief Executive [[Donald Tsang]] in May 2008,<ref>{{cite news|title=CE appoints Under Secretaries (with photos)|url=http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200805/20/P200805200121.htm|date=20 May 2008|work=Hong Kong Information Services Department|access-date=27 January 2014|archive-date=1 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181101135958/https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200805/20/P200805200121.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> among other DAB members appointed to the government. Gregory So was later revealed by the media as having [[Canadian citizenship]], which he had to renounce as a result.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/JF03Ad02.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090828151915/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/JF03Ad02.html|url-status=unfit|archive-date=28 August 2009|title=Hong Kong deputies disappoint|first=Kent|last=Ewing|date=3 June 2008|work=Asia Times}}</ref> The scandal became an electoral issue in the following [[2008 Hong Kong legislative election|2008 LegCo Election]] that the pan-democracy camp used to attack the DAB candidates. Nevertheless, the DAB remained as the largest party in the Legislative Council in the election, winning 13 seats in total (if including the FTU candidates who had DAB membership). Chan Yuen-han and [[Wong Kwok-hing]] were founding members of the DAB and used to run for the DAB, they began to run under the FTU banner with more pro-labour position. In October, Tsang Yok-sing, the founding Chairman of the DAB, was elected as the [[President of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong|President of the Legislative Council]], becoming the first LegCo President with party membership. His seat at the Executive Council was succeeded by vice-chairman Lau Kong-wah.

In the [[2011 Hong Kong local elections|2011 District Council Elections]], the DAB recorded a greatest victory in party's history, accumulating 136 seats, about one-third of the total, more than all pro-democratic parties combined.

===Leung Chun-ying era (2012–2017)===
The DAB supported [[Leung Chun-ying]] in the [[2012 Hong Kong Chief Executive election|2012 Chief Executive election]]. In the [[2012 Hong Kong legislative election|Legislative Council elections]] in September, with the party's first use of the electoral tactics of splitting candidate lists, the DAB won three seats in the [[New Territories West (constituency)|New Territories West]] for the first time and two seats [[Hong Kong Island (constituency)|Hong Kong Island]] since 2004. It continued as the largest political force supporting the SAR administration today.

The DAB stood firmly with the government in the [[2014 Hong Kong electoral reform|constitutional reform debate]] in 2014–15, and subsequently the [[2014 Hong Kong protests|massive Occupy protests]] against the [[2014 NPCSC decision]]. On 17 April 2015, [[Starry Lee Wai-king]] became the first woman to chair the party, succeeding the outgoing Tam Yiu-chung.<ref>{{cite news|title=民 建 聯 領 導 層 改 選 李 慧 琼 當 選 主 席|work=RTHK|date=17 April 2015|url=http://rthk.hk/rthk/news/expressnews/20150417/news_20150417_55_1092919.htm|access-date=17 April 2015|archive-date=17 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417162000/http://rthk.hk/rthk/news/expressnews/20150417/news_20150417_55_1092919.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[2015 Hong Kong local elections|2015 District Council election]], the first election under Starry Lee's chairmanship, the DAB retained its largest party status by winning 119 seats (including two who also ran under FTU banner), although incumbent legislators [[Christopher Chung (politician)|Christopher Chung]] and [[Elizabeth Quat]] were ousted by newcomers.

After the 2014 Occupy protests, there was an emerging [[Hong Kong independence|pro-independence movement]] in which the DAB strongly opposed. In the [[2016 New Territories East by-election]], DAB member [[Holden Chow]] ran against the [[Civic Party]]'s [[Alvin Yeung]] and pro-independence [[Hong Kong Indigenous]]' [[Edward Leung]]. Chow received about 35 per cent and about 10,000 votes short of the Civic Party candidate.

With four veteran incumbents, [[President of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong|LegCo president]] [[Tsang Yok-sing]], [[Tam Yiu-chung]], [[Chan Kam-lam]] and  [[Ip Kwok-him]], retiring, the DAB set a more conservative electoral strategy in the [[2016 Hong Kong legislative election|2016 Legislative Council election]], fielding only nine candidate lists in the geographical constituencies and District Council (Second) functional constituency, two fewer than the last election. The DAB got all their nine candidate lists elected as a result with three traditional functional constituencies with a drop of their vote share from 20.22 to 16.68 per cent vote share. Chan Hak-kan succeeded Ip as the new caucus convenor.

In the [[2017 Hong Kong Chief Executive election|2017 Chief Executive election]], the DAB which commanded over 100 seats in the [[Election Committee]], endorsed and nominated former [[Chief Secretary for Administration]] [[Carrie Lam]], which help her to defeat former [[Financial Secretary (Hong Kong)|Financial Secretary]] [[John Tsang]] with 777 votes.<ref name="CGCC">{{cite news|title=中總已將18提名表格交林鄭|url=http://www2.hkej.com/instantnews/current/article/1487937/%E4%B8%AD%E7%B8%BD%E5%B7%B2%E5%B0%8718%E6%8F%90%E5%90%8D%E8%A1%A8%E6%A0%BC%E4%BA%A4%E6%9E%97%E9%84%AD|newspaper=Hong Kong Economic Journal|date=8 January 2017|access-date=20 March 2018|archive-date=26 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426190256/http://www2.hkej.com/instantnews/current/article/1487937/%E4%B8%AD%E7%B8%BD%E5%B7%B2%E5%B0%8718%E6%8F%90%E5%90%8D%E8%A1%A8%E6%A0%BC%E4%BA%A4%E6%9E%97%E9%84%AD|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="BPAnominate">{{cite news|title=CE contender Carrie Lam secures first political party endorsement for Hong Kong's leadership|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2070381/ce-contender-carrie-lam-secures-first-political-party|date=13 February 2017|newspaper=South China Morning Post|access-date=20 March 2018|archive-date=1 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201200314/http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2070381/ce-contender-carrie-lam-secures-first-political-party|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=【特首選舉】工聯會呼籲63名選委全投林鄭 黃國健承認有施壓策略|url=https://www.hk01.com/%E7%89%B9%E9%A6%96%E9%81%B8%E8%88%892017/80127/-%E7%89%B9%E9%A6%96%E9%81%B8%E8%88%89-%E5%B7%A5%E8%81%AF%E6%9C%83%E5%91%BC%E7%B1%B263%E5%90%8D%E9%81%B8%E5%A7%94%E5%85%A8%E6%8A%95%E6%9E%97%E9%84%AD-%E9%BB%83%E5%9C%8B%E5%81%A5%E6%89%BF%E8%AA%8D%E6%9C%89%E6%96%BD%E5%A3%93%E7%AD%96%E7%95%A5|date=24 March 2017|work=HK01|access-date=20 March 2018|archive-date=23 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623132931/https://www.hk01.com/%E7%89%B9%E9%A6%96%E9%81%B8%E8%88%892017/80127/%E7%89%B9%E9%A6%96%E9%81%B8%E8%88%89-%E5%B7%A5%E8%81%AF%E6%9C%83%E5%91%BC%E7%B1%B263%E5%90%8D%E9%81%B8%E5%A7%94%E5%85%A8%E6%8A%95%E6%9E%97%E9%84%AD-%E9%BB%83%E5%9C%8B%E5%81%A5%E6%89%BF%E8%AA%8D%E6%9C%89%E6%96%BD%E5%A3%93%E7%AD%96%E7%95%A5|url-status=live}}</ref> In return, the Carrie Lam administration appointed Cheung Kwok-kwan to be a new member in the Executive Council.

=== Carrie Lam era (2017–2022) ===
In the [[2018 Hong Kong by-election|March 2018 Legislative Council by-election]] triggered by the disqualification of [[Youngspiration]]'s [[Yau Wai-ching]] over the [[Hong Kong Legislative Council oath-taking controversy|oath-taking controversy]], the DAB supported its member [[Vincent Cheng Wing-shun|Vincent Cheng]] and the former FTU legislator [[Tang Ka-piu]] who joined the DAB before the election to run in [[Kowloon West (1998 constituency)|Kowloon West]] and New Territories East respectively. Despite Tang's loss, Cheng made a surprising upset by narrowly defeating independent democrat [[Yiu Chung-yim]], making it the first time the pro-Beijing camp received greater vote share than the pro-democrats in a geographical constituency since 2000 and the first time a pro-Beijing candidate won in a geographical constituency by-election since 1992.

In October 2020, Apple Daily reported that Carrie Lam had blamed the DAB for failing to raise political support for her administration, saying the DAB had failed for years in providing the government with "talent."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Carrie Lam says lack of government talent is DAB's fault: Jasper Tsang|url=https://hk.appledaily.com/news/20201009/QYX3BN3SHFDVXHFH2AGQ6GBQXE/|access-date=2020-10-10|website=Apple Daily 蘋果日報|language=zh-hk|archive-date=13 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201013074540/https://hk.appledaily.com/news/20201009/QYX3BN3SHFDVXHFH2AGQ6GBQXE/|url-status=live}}</ref> Lam was also reported to be unhappy with two government ministers from the DAB, and fired one but kept the other to avoid embarrassing the DAB.<ref name=":0" />

In November 2020, following the expulsion of 4 pro-democracy lawmakers from the Legislative Council, the DAB expressed support for the decision and accused the pro-democracy lawmakers of harming the country's interest.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pan-dems have only themselves to blame: Regina Ip - RTHK|url=https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1559509-20201111.htm?|access-date=2020-11-11|website=news.rthk.hk|language=en-gb|archive-date=11 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111112153/https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1559509-20201111.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 2021, following calls from [[Xia Baolong]] that only "patriots" should be part of the government, the DAB supported his position and said that it should be done, as it claimed pro-democracy figures had done things "[I]ncluding advocating Hong Kong independence to poison young people, supporting black violence to damage the rule of law, colluding with foreign forces to interfere in Hong Kong's affairs and even attempting to steal the power to govern by running in an election to paralyse the government."<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-02-23|title=Hong Kong's Lam says China's patriots-only rule is not meant to exclude democrats from politics|url=https://hongkongfp.com/2021/02/23/hong-kongs-lam-says-chinas-patriots-only-rule-is-not-meant-to-exclude-democrats-from-politics/|access-date=2021-02-24|website=Hong Kong Free Press HKFP|language=en-GB|archive-date=23 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210223124115/https://hongkongfp.com/2021/02/23/hong-kongs-lam-says-chinas-patriots-only-rule-is-not-meant-to-exclude-democrats-from-politics/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== John Lee era (2022–present) ===
In August 2022, after [[2022 visit by Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan|Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan]], the DAB said it fully supported the mainland Chinese government and military in response to the visit.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-03 |title=Hong Kong leader vows to help safeguard nation after Pelosi visits Taiwan |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3187502/top-hong-kong-officials-politicians-slam-us-speaker-nancy |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref>

==Ideology==
{{Conservatism in Hong Kong}}
{{Main|Conservatism in Hong Kong|Pro-Beijing camp (Hong Kong)}}
The DAB is known as a Beijing loyalist party of "loving China and loving Hong Kong".<ref>[http://europe.newsweek.com/oh-be-young-and-chinese-174448 Oh, To Be Young And Chinese] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623132938/https://www.newsweek.com/oh-be-young-and-chinese-174448 |date=23 June 2021 }}, ''[[Newsweek]]'', 6 July 1997</ref>{{Failed verification|date=February 2018}} It stresses the "one country" part of the "[[One country, two systems]]" principle. As for issues on democratic reform, it takes a position to support slower pace in relative to what the [[Democratic Party of Hong Kong|Democratic Party]] supports, DAB claims by doing so stability and prosperity will be achieved. Former party chairman [[Tam Yiu-chung]] claims the DAB to be "rational and pragmatic".<ref>{{cite news|title=Outgoing DAB chairman Tam Yiu-chung looks to a new generation|first=Tony|last=Cheung|date=8 February 2015|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1707454/outgoing-dab-chairman-tam-yiu-chung-looks-new-generation|newspaper=South China Morning Post|access-date=10 February 2015|archive-date=10 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150210180534/http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1707454/outgoing-dab-chairman-tam-yiu-chung-looks-new-generation|url-status=live}}</ref>

The party's main claim is that it is natural for ethnic Chinese in Hong Kong to be "patriotic" and support the [[government of the People's Republic of China]].<ref name="Chan">Chan, Ming K. So, Alvin Y. White, Lynn T. Crisis and Transformation in China's Hong Kong. [2002] (2002). M.E. Sharpe. {{ISBN|0-7656-1000-0}}.</ref> The party supports nearly every policy of the HKSAR Government.

* Furthering co-operation between Hong Kong and the mainland, promoting mutual trust, and creating opportunities economically.
* "Constructive monitor" of the HKSAR government, scrutinising various government policies and decisions, providing "constructive policy alternatives" whilst securing the progress, prosperity, social stability and harmony for Hong Kong.
* To break down social barriers based on the common interest of Hong Kong; to strengthen communications with Hong Kong residents to better reflect their opinion; to be more accountable to the public.
* To nurture political talent by committing the necessary funding, organising training, providing opportunities for those who want to take part in politics.

The DAB's support of [[social welfare]] improvements, including greater spending on education, housing, and employee retraining, has given it strong grassroots support.<ref>{{cite book |page=24|title=Hong Kong in Focus: Political and Economic Issues|editor-first=S. G.|editor-last=Rioni|publisher=Nova Publishers|year=2002 }}</ref>

The DAB was historically a [[Left-wing politics|left-wing]] party,<ref name="Ma, Ngok (2012)">"Political Parties and Elections". In Lam, Wai-man; Lui, Percy Luen-tim; Wong, Wilson (eds.). Contemporary Hong Kong Government and Politics. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press. ISBN 978-9-88-813947-7.</ref> but it is currently considered a [[big tent]],<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Chun |first=Andrew |date=4 June 2019 |title=Harmony and Discord: Development of Political Parties and Social Fragmentation in Hong Kong, 1980-2017 |journal=Open Political Science |volume=2 |page=58 |doi=10.1515/openps-2019-0006 |quote=Political parties in Hong Kong generally do not have a specific ideological or political spectrum, such as conservatism or  socialism,  at  all.  The  DAB  and  the  Democratic  Party,  the  two  most  prominent  political  parties  in  Hong  Kong,  are  examples, as they claim that they are centrists. These parties tend to become catch-all parties, which means that they try to get a wide range of support from different parts of society (Ma, 2012: 165)|doi-access=free }}</ref> [[Centre-right politics|centre-right]]<ref>{{cite book |title=前哨: Issues 179-184 |quote=... 中間偏右;民建聯就由左派變成大右派 ... |date=2006 |publisher=明力有限公司|language=Chinese}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ira.lib.polyu.edu.hk/bitstream/10397/6983/1/FLC_ppt.pdf|title='Ladders for climbing up or jumping off? On the interpretation of metaphors in political discourse in Hong Kong|first1=Ariel Shuk-ling|last1=Chan|last2=Foong Ha|first2=Yap|year=2013|page=14|access-date=26 August 2020|archive-date=23 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623132907/http://ira.lib.polyu.edu.hk/bitstream/10397/6983/1/FLC_ppt.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> or [[Right-wing politics|right-wing]]<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6DBVCwAAQBAJ&dq=%22%E4%B8%AD%E9%96%93%E5%81%8F%E5%8F%B3%22+%22%E6%B0%91%E5%BB%BA%E8%81%AF%22&pg=PA147 |author=黃以謙 |title=進擊の區議員: 我要真, 真普選 |quote=... 中間偏右路線之外,亦令自由黨失去社會泛階層的支持。現在香港的政治光譜,在右有民建聯、... |date=2015 |publisher=Xianggang cai jing yi dong chu ban |isbn=978-988-12923-7-7 |language=Chinese}}</ref> party. It had leaned to a more pro-middle-class position and professional-oriented since its merger with the [[Hong Kong Progressive Alliance]] (HKPA) in 2005.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}

The party also takes a [[social conservative]] stance, espousing 'traditional family values' and opposing same-sex marriage despite it not being in the party's official platform.<ref name="samesexmarriage" /> The DAB collaborated with evangelical [[Christianity|Christian]] organisations in 2006 in drafting a submission on "harmonious families".<ref name="Wong2013">{{cite journal |last1=Wong |first1=Wai-Ching Angela |author-link=Wai-Ching Angela Wong|title=The Politics of Sexual Morality and Evangelical Activism in Hong Kong |journal=Inter-Asia Cultural Studies |date=2013 |volume=14 |issue=3|pages=340–360 |doi=10.1080/14649373.2013.801606|s2cid=144941807 }}</ref> These organisations include the Hong Kong branches of the [[Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International]] and the [[Christian Broadcasting Network]].<ref name="Wong2013" />

=== Internal factions ===
As the largest political party of Hong Kong, the party can be divided into several main factions:{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}}
* Business sector, with business and professionals background and also former members of the [[Hong Kong Progressive Alliance]].
* Rural leaders representing the interests of [[Indigenous inhabitants of the New Territories (Hong Kong)|Indigenous inhabitants of the New Territories]].
* Members with [[Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers]] background.
* Unionists, i.e. members belonging or came from the [[Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions]].

==Controversies==
===Comments of Tiananmen massacre===
On 15 May 2007, then-party chairman [[Ma Lik]] provoked widespread condemnation within the local community when he claimed that [[Ma Lik#"Not a massacre" controversy|"there was not a massacre"]] during the [[Tiananmen Square protests of 1989]], as there was "no intentional and indiscriminate shooting". He said the popular belief of foreigners' "rash claims" that a massacre took place showed Hong Kong's lack of maturity. He said that Hong Kong showed, through this lack of patriotism and national identity, that it would thus "not be ready for democracy until 2022".<ref name=tirade/>

Vice-chairman [[Tam Yiu-chung]] defended Ma, but questioned the timing: "people will understand it gradually".<ref name=tirade>Ambrose Leung, "Fury at DAB chief's Tiananmen tirade", Page 1, [[South China Morning Post]], 16 May 2007</ref> However, Vice-chairman [[Lau Kong-wah]] immediately offered to apologise, and distanced the party from Ma, saying that Ma had expressed "a personal opinion".<ref name=ming2>「馬力認輕佻拒撤觀點,否認促為六四定調 願受黨處分」, [[Ming Pao]], 7 May 2007 {{in lang|zh}}</ref> The DAB Central committee declined any further action against Ma following their meeting, and there was no official apology.

===Allegations of irregularities===
The DAB has been accused by pro-democracy media and politicians of providing benefits to certain people, including seafood meals and local trips to [[Islands District, Hong Kong|outlying islands]] at prices significantly lower than market rates to win their support. Other allegations include arranging free transport to mobilise people for their causes.

During the [[2015 Hong Kong local elections|2015 District Council elections]], the [[South China Morning Post]] reported that elderly residents of care homes were being bussed to polling stations by DAB-arranged transport. A DAB candidate, Daniel Lam Tak-shing, was alleged to have instructed them on who to vote for outside of a polling station, raising questions on whether those votes were cast of their own will. He was also accused of giving out [[Vote buying|free gifts]] to these residents.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lam|first=Jeffie|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1881785/hong-kong-district-council-elections-elderly-people-bussed|title=Exposed: Pro-establishment supporters bussed elderly people to polling stations and directed them to vote in Hong Kong elections|work=South China Morning Postdate=2015-11-22|access-date=2022-11-09}}</ref> However, none of these practices are strictly illegal in Hong Kong.

== Young DAB ==
The youth wing is the Young Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (Young DAB). In August 2022, it released results of a survey, showing that 30% of those polled in Hong Kong did not identify as being Chinese.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Standard |first=The |title=30pc youths 'don't identify as Chinese' |url=https://www.thestandard.com.hk/section-news/section/4/244610/30pc-youths-%27don%27t-identify-as-Chinese%27 |access-date=2022-08-15 |website=The Standard |language=en}}</ref> The Young DAB said that the government should enhance national identity, and vice-chairman Nicholas Muk Ka-chun said that "If you've looked at the Education Bureau's website [...] you would have noticed that the word 'patriot' does not exist".<ref name=":1" />

==Election performances==

===Legislative Council elections===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;"
|-align=center
! '''Election'''
! Number of<br />popular votes
! % of<br />popular votes
! [[Geographical constituency|GC]]<br />seats
! [[Functional constituency (Hong Kong)|FC]]<br />seats
! [[Election Committee (constituency)|EC]]<br />seats
! Total seats
! +/−
! Position
|-
! [[1995 Hong Kong legislative election|1995]]
| 142,801{{nochange}}
| 15.66{{nochange}}
| 2
| 2
| 2
| {{Composition bar|6|60|hex={{party color|DABHK}}}}
| 5{{increase}}
| 3rd{{nochange}}
|-
! [[1998 Hong Kong legislative election|1998]]
| 373,428{{increase}}
| 25.23{{increase}}
| 5
| 2
| 2
| {{Composition bar|9|60|hex={{party color|DABHK}}}}
| –
| 3rd{{nochange}}
|-
! [[2000 Hong Kong legislative election|2000]]
| 374,780{{increase}}
| 28.40{{increase}}
| 7
| 3
| 1
| {{Composition bar|11|60|hex={{party color|DABHK}}}}
| 2{{increase}}
| 2nd{{nochange}}
|-
! [[2004 Hong Kong legislative election|2004]]
| 454,827{{increase}}
| 25.49{{decrease}}
| 9
| 3
| rowspan=4| 
| {{Composition bar|12|60|hex={{party color|DABHK}}}}
| 2{{increase}}
| '''1st'''{{increase}}
|-
! [[2008 Hong Kong legislative election|2008]]
| 433,684{{decrease}}
| 28.45{{increase}}
| 9
| 4
| {{Composition bar|13|60|hex={{party color|DABHK}}}}
| 2{{increase}}
| '''1st'''{{nochange}}
|-
! [[2012 Hong Kong legislative election|2012]]
| 366,140{{decrease}}
| 20.22{{decrease}}
| 9
| 4
| {{Composition bar|13|70|hex={{party color|DABHK}}}}
| 3{{increase}}
| '''1st'''{{nochange}}
|-
! [[2016 Hong Kong legislative election|2016]]
| 361,617{{decrease}}
| 16.68{{decrease}}
| 7
| 5
| {{Composition bar|12|70|hex={{party color|DABHK}}}}
| 1{{decrease}}
| '''1st'''{{nochange}}
|-
! [[2021 Hong Kong legislative election|2021]]
| 680,563{{increase}}
| 51.43{{increase}}
| 10
| 4
| 5
| {{Composition bar|19|90|hex={{party color|DABHK}}}}
| 6{{increase}}
| '''1st'''{{nochange}}
|}

===Municipal elections===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;"
|-align=center
! Election
! Number of<br/>popular votes
! % of<br/>popular votes
! [[Urban Council of Hong Kong|UrbCo]]<br/>seats
! [[Regional Council of Hong Kong|RegCo]]<br/>seats
! Total<br/>elected seats
|-
! [[1995 Hong Kong municipal elections|1995]]
| 90,548{{nochange}}
| 16.24{{nochange}}
| {{Composition bar|5|32|hex={{party color|DABHK}}}}
| {{Composition bar|3|27|hex={{party color|DABHK}}}}
| {{Composition bar|8|59|hex={{party color|DABHK}}}}
|-
|}

===District Councils elections===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;"
|-align=center
! Election
! Number of<br />popular votes
! % of<br />popular votes
!{{Abbr|D.E.|Directly elected}}<br/>seats
!{{Abbr|E.C.|Electoral college of "Three Committees"}}<br/>seats
!{{Abbr|App.|Appointed}}<br/>seats
!{{Abbr|''Ex off.''|Ex officio}}<br/>seats
! Total seats
! +/−
|-
! [[1994 Hong Kong local elections|1994]]
| 81,126{{nochange}}
| 11.82{{nochange}}
|37
| rowspan="7" |
|
|0
| {{Composition bar|37|346|hex={{party color|DABHK}}}}
| 12{{increase}}
|-
! [[1999 Hong Kong local elections|1999]]
| 190,792{{increase}}
| 23.53{{increase}}
|83
|13
|0
| {{Composition bar|83|390|hex={{party color|DABHK}}}}
| 27{{increase}}
|-
! [[2003 Hong Kong local elections|2003]]
| 241,202{{increase}}
| 22.94{{decrease}}
|62
|14
|0
| {{Composition bar|62|400|hex={{party color|DABHK}}}}
| 21{{decrease}}
|-
! [[2007 Hong Kong local elections|2007]]
| 292,916{{increase}}
| 25.73{{increase}}
|115
|14
|0
| {{Composition bar|115|405|hex={{party color|DABHK}}}}
| 40{{increase}}
|-
! [[2011 Hong Kong local elections|2011]]
| 282,119{{decrease}}
| 23.89{{decrease}}
|136
|11
|1
| {{Composition bar|136|412|hex={{party color|DABHK}}}}
| 16{{increase}}
|-
! [[2015 Hong Kong local elections|2015]]
| 309,262{{increase}}
| 21.39{{decrease}}
|119
| rowspan="2" |
|1
| {{Composition bar|119|431|hex={{party color|DABHK}}}}
| 0{{nochange}}
|-
! [[2019 Hong Kong local elections|2019]]
| 492,042{{increase}}
| 16.78{{decrease}}
|21
|0
| {{Composition bar|21|452|hex={{party color|DABHK}}}}
| 96{{decrease}}
|-
! [[2023 Hong Kong local elections|2023]]
| 486,942{{decrease}}
| 41.58{{increase}}
|41
|68
|38
|0
| {{Composition bar|147|470|hex={{party color|DABHK}}}}
| 126{{increase}}
|-
|}

==Leadership==

===Chairpersons===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! width=10px |No.
! width=180px |Chairman<br /><small>(Birth–Death)</small>
! width=1px |Portrait
! width=180px|Constituency
! width=120px|Took office
! width=120px|Left office
! Duration
|-
|'''1''' || [[Tsang Yok-sing]]<br />{{small|(born 1947)}} || [[File:Tsang Yok-sing.jpg|100px]] || [[Kowloon West (1998 constituency)|Kowloon West]] || 10 July 1992 || 3 December 2003 || {{small|{{Age in years and days|1992|7|10|2003|12|3|duration=on|sep=and}}}} 
|-
|'''2''' || [[Ma Lik]]<br />{{small|(1952–2007)}} |||| [[Hong Kong Island (constituency)|Hong Kong Island]] || 9 December 2003 || 8 August 2007<ref group="n" name="died"/> || {{small|{{Age in years and days|2003|12|9|2007|8|8|duration=on|sep=and}}}}
|-
|'''Act.''' || rowspan="2"| [[Tam Yiu-chung]]<br />{{small|(born 1949)}} || rowspan="2"| [[File:Tam Yiu-chung.jpg|100px]] || rowspan="2"| [[New Territories West (constituency)|New Territories West]] || 28 August 2007 || 3 September 2007 || {{small|{{Age in years and days|2007|8|28|2007|9|3|duration=on|sep=and}}}}
|-
|'''3''' || 3 September 2007 || 17 April 2015 || {{small|{{Age in years and days|2007|9|3|2015|4|17|duration=on|sep=and}}}}
|-
|'''4''' || [[Starry Lee]]<br />{{small|(born 1974)}} || [[File:Starry Lee.jpg|100px]] || [[District Council (Second)]] || 17 April 2015 || 25 September 2023 || {{small|{{Age in years and days|2015|4|17|2023|9|25|duration=on|sep=and}}}}
|-
|'''5'''|| [[Gary Chan]]<br />{{small|(born 1976)}} || [[File:Chan Hak-kan in 2019.jpg|133x133px]] || [[New Territories North East (2021 constituency)|New Territories North East]] || 25 September 2023 || ''Incumbent'' || {{small|{{Age in years and days|2023|9|25|duration=on|sep=and}}}}
|-
|}
{{Reflist| group="n"|refs =
<ref group="n" name="died">
Died in office, [[Tam Yiu-chung]] served as acting chair between 28 August to 3 September 2007.
</ref>
}}

===Vice-Chairpersons===
* [[Tam Yiu-chung]], 1992–1997, 2002–2007
* [[Cheng Kai-nam]], 1997–2000
* [[Ip Kwok-him]], 1998–2009
* [[Lo Chi-keung]], 2000–2005
* [[Maria Tam Wai-chu]], 2005–2007
* [[Lau Kong-wah]], 2005–2012
* [[Gregory So Kam-leung]], 2007–2008
* [[Ann Chiang Lai-wan]], 2008–2015
* [[Carson Wen]], 2009–2011
* [[Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan]], 2011–2022
* [[Starry Lee Wai-king]], 2011–2015
* [[Thomas Pang Cheung-wai]], 2013–2019
* [[Brave Chan Yung]], 2013–present
* [[Gary Chan Hak-kan]], 2015–2023
* [[Holden Chow Ho-ding]], 2015–present
* [[Chan Hok-fung]], 2019–2021
* [[Thomas Pang Cheung-wai]], 2021–2023
* [[Ben Chan|Ben Chan Han-pan]], 2023–present
* [[Elizabeth Quat]], 2023–present

===Secretaries general===
* [[Cheng Kai-nam]], 1992–1997
* [[Ma Lik]], 1997–2003
* Kan Chi-ho, 2003–2009
* [[Thomas Pang Cheung-wai]], 2009–2013
* [[Chan Hok-fung]], 2013–2019
* Albert Wong Shun-yee, 2019–2021
* Chan Hok-fung, 2021–present

===Treasurers===
* Wong Kine-yuen, 1992–2017
* Chong Wai-ming, 2017–present

===Deputy secretaries general===
* [[Tso Wong Man-yin]], 2005–2009
* Albert Wong Shun-yee, 2009–2011
* [[Chan Hok-fung]], 2011–2013
* Chris Ip Ngo-tung, 2013–present
* Kin Hung Kam-in, 2017–present
* [[Vincent Cheng Wing-shun]], 2017–present
* [[Joe Lai Wing-ho]], 2017–present
* [[Frankie Ngan Man-yu]], 2019–present

===Senate chairmen===
* [[Jose Yu|Jose Sun-Say Yu]], 2005–2015
* Lo Man-tuen, 2015–present

==Representatives==
===Executive Council===
* [[Ip Kwok-him]]
* [[Cheung Kwok-kwan]]

===Legislative Council===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"
|-
! Constituency !! Member
|-
| [[Hong Kong Island East (2021 constituency)|Hong Kong Island East]]|| [[Edward Leung Hei]]
|-
|[[Hong Kong Island West (2021 constituency)|Hong Kong Island West]]
|[[Chan Hok-fung]]
|-
| [[Kowloon West (2021 constituency)|Kowloon West]]|| [[Vincent Cheng Wing-shun]]
|-
|[[Kowloon East (2021 constituency)|Kowloon East]]
| [[Ngan Man-yu]]
|-
| [[Kowloon Central (2021 constituency)|Kowloon Central]]|| [[Starry Lee Wai-king]]
|-
|[[New Territories South East (2021 constituency)|New Territories South East]]
|[[Li Sai-wing]]
|-
|[[New Territories North (2021 constituency)|New Territories North]]
|[[Lau Kwok-fan]]
|-
| [[New Territories North West (2021 constituency)|New Territories North West]]|| [[Holden Chow Ho-ding]]
|-
|[[New Territories South West (2021 constituency)|New Territories South West]]
| [[Chan Han-pan]]
|-
| [[New Territories North East (2021 constituency)|New Territories North East]]|| [[Chan Hak-kan]]
|-
|[[Agriculture and Fisheries (constituency)|Agriculture and Fisheries]]
| [[Steven Ho Chun-yin]]
|-
| [[Accountancy (constituency)|Accountancy]]|| [[Edmund Wong Chun-sek]]
|-
| [[Import and Export (constituency)|Import and Export]]|| [[Kennedy Wong Ying-ho]]
|-
| [[HKSAR Deputies to the National People's Congress, HKSAR Members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and Representatives of Relevant National Organisations (constituency)|HKSAR Members of NPCCC and CPPCC]] || [[Chan Yung]]
|-
| rowspan="5" | [[Election Committee (constituency)|Election Committee]] || [[Rock Chen|Rock Chen Chung-nin]]
|-
| [[Nixie Lam]]
|-
|[[Elizabeth Quat]]
|-
|[[Lillian Kwok Ling-lai]]
|-
|[[Chan Wing-kwong]]
|}

===District Councils===
The DAB has won 109 seats in all 18 District Councils (2024–2027):
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"
|-
! District !! Constituency !! Member
! District !! Constituency !! Member
|-
! colspan=3| Hong Kong Island & Kowloon
! colspan=3| New Territories 
|-
| rowspan="6" |[[Central and Western District Council|Central and Western]]
|Central
|Jan Noel Shih
| rowspan="7" |[[Tsuen Wan District Council|Tsuen Wan]]
|Tsuen Wan Northwest
|Matthew Wong Kai-chun
|-
|Western
|Timothy Lau Tin-ching
|Tsuen Wan Southwest
|Ng Chun-yu
|-
| rowspan="3" |District Committees
|Yeung Hok-ming
| rowspan="4" |District Committees
|Tsang Tai
|-
|Iris Cheung Ka-yan
|Jones Chan Chun-ching
|-
|Yeung Hoi-wing
|Marco Chow Sum-ming
|-
|Appointed
|Ip Yik-nam
|Lau Chung-kwong
|-
|[[Wan Chai District Council|Wan Chai]]
|Wan Chai
|Nicholas Muk Ka-chun
|Appointed
|Koo Yeung-pong
|-
| rowspan="13" | [[Eastern District Council|Eastern]]
| Tai Pak
| Eddie Ting Ko-ho
| rowspan="9" | [[Tuen Mun District Council|Tuen Mun]]
|Tuen Mun East
| Terry Yip Man-pan
|-
|Hong Wan
|Annie Lee Ching-har
|Tuen Mun West
|Chung Kin-fugn
|-
|Chai Wan
|Elaine Chik Kit-ling
|Tuen Mun North
|Apple Lai Ka-man
|-
| rowspan="6" |District Committees
|Wong Chi-chung
| rowspan="5" |District Committees
|Tsang Hin-hong
|-
|Lam Wing-shing
|Ching Chi-hung
|-
|Hung Chi-kit
|Chan Tsim-heng
|-
|Kwok Wing-kin
|Johnny Ip Chun-yuen
|-
|Joseph Chan Hoi-wing
|Jason Tsoi Shing-hin
|-
|Lau Suk-yin
|Appointed
|Rex Mo Shing-fung
|-
| rowspan="4" |Appointed
|Lam Sum-lim
| rowspan="12" |[[Yuen Long District Council|Yuen Long]]
|Yuen Long Town Centre
|Riben Li Kai-lap
|-
|Hung Lin-cham
|Yuen Long Rural East
|Chui Kwan-siu
|-
|Cheng Chi-sing
|Tin Shui Wai South and Ping Ha
|Terry So Yuen
|-
|Lau Hing-yeung
|Tin Shui Wai North
|Fennie Lai Yuet-kwan
|-
| rowspan="8" |[[Southern District Council|Southern]]
|Southern District Northwest
|Cheung Lai-nam
| rowspan="5" |District Committees
|Tom Tong Tak-chun
|-
| rowspan="4" |District Committees
|Sunny Wong Choi-lap
|Leung Yip-pang
|-
|Victor Lau Ngai
|Ma Shuk-yin
|-
|Danny Siu Wai-chung
|Lam Wai-ming
|-
|Nicole Wong Yu-ching
|Calvin Sze To Chun-hin
|-
| rowspan="3" |Appointed
|Roy Chu Lap-wai
| rowspan="3" |Appointed
|Yu Chung-leung
|-
|Li Kai-ying
|Lui Kin
|-
|Chan Yuk-kit
|Weelie Wong Wai-ling
|-
| rowspan="8" | [[Yau Tsim Mong District Council|Yau Tsim Mong]]
| Yau Tsim Mong South
| Chris Ip Ngo-tung
| rowspan="12" | [[North District Council|North]]
|Wu Tip Shan
|Yiu Ming 
|-
|Yau Tsim Mong North
|Lee Ka-hin
|Robin's Nest
|Ko Wai-kei
|-
| rowspan="4" |District Committees
|Benjamin Choi Siu-fung
| rowspan="7" |District Committees
|Lau Chun-hoi
|-
|Craig Jo Chun-wah
|Sherwood Ng Yiu-cho
|-
|Lau Pak-kei
|Ray Hau Hon-shek
|-
|Alex Poon King-wo
|Wu King-pang
|-
| rowspan="2" |Appointed
|Benny Yeung Tsz-hei
|Phillip Tsang Hing-lung
|-
|Edmond Chung Kong-mo
|Pun Hau-man
|-
| rowspan="8" | [[Sham Shui Po District Council|Sham Shui Po]]
| Sham Shui Po West
|Leo Ho Kwan-chau
|Windy Or Sin-yi
|-
| Sham Shui Po East
|Raymond Lam Wai-man
| rowspan="3" |Appointed
|Chu Ho-yin
|-
| rowspan="3" |District Committees
|Wu Wanqiu
|Wan Wo-fai
|-
|Cheung Tak-wai
|Lai Sum
|-
|Chan Lung-kit
| rowspan="6" |[[Tai Po District Council|Tai Po]]
|Tai Po South
|Peggy Wong Pik-kiu
|-
| rowspan="3" |Appointed
|Samuel Chan Wai-ming
|Tai Po North
|Wu Cheuk-him
|-
|Wong Chung-leung
| rowspan="3" |District Committees
|Lee Man-kit
|-
|Nicole Lau Pui-yuk
|Barry Mui Siu-fung
|-
| rowspan="6" | [[Kowloon City District Council|Kowloon City]]
|Kowloon City North
|Yeung Chun-yu
|Wong Wai-tung
|-
|Kowloon City South
| Ng Po-keung
|Appointed
|Chan Pok-chi
|-
| rowspan="2" |District Committees
|Chan Chi-wah
| rowspan="10" | [[Sai Kung District Council|Sai Kung]]
|Sai Kung and Hang Hau
|Yau Ho-lun
|-
| Ng Fan-kam
|Tseung Kwan O South
|Amber Sze Pan-pan
|-
| rowspan="2" |Appointed
|Lam Tak-shing
|Tseung Kwan O North
|Edwin Wan Kai-ming
|-
|Poon Kwok-wah
| rowspan="3" |District Committees
|Phillip Li Ka-leung
|-
| rowspan="5" |[[Wong Tai Sin District Council|Wong Tai Sin]]
|Wong Tai Sin East
|Kyle Yuet Ngai-keung
|Kan Tung-tung
|-
|Wong Tai Sin West
|Poon Cheuk-bun
|Chau Ka-lok
|-
| rowspan="2" |District Committee
|Yuen Kwok-keung
| rowspan="4" |Appointed
|Ki Lai-mei
|-
|Joe Lai Wing-ho
|Chong Yuen-tung
|-
|Appointed
|Leung Tang-fung
|Angel Chong Nga-ting
|-
| rowspan="11" | [[Kwun Tong District Council|Kwun Tong]]
|Kwun Tong Central
| [[Wilson Or Chong-shing]]
|Chan Kuen-kwan
|-
|Kwun Tong North
|Cheung Pui-kong
| rowspan="9" |[[Sha Tin District Council|Sha Tin]]
|Sha Tin West
|Chan Tan-tan
|-
|Kwun Tong West
|Tam Siu-cheuk
|Sha Tin East
|Chu Wun-chiu
|-
| rowspan="4" |District Committees
|Cheung Yiu-pan
|Sha Tin North
|Choi Wai-shing
|-
|Derek Tsang Wing-fai
| rowspan="4" |District Committees
|Maisy Kung Mei-chi
|-
| April Feng Yunsi 
|[[Ronald Yeung (cyclist)|Ronald Yeung Ying-hon]]
|-
|Au Yeung Kwan-nok
|Ng Kai-tai
|-
| rowspan="4" |Appointed
|Hung Kam-in
|Mok Hei-man
|-
|Hsu Yau-wai
|Appointed
|Kelly Tung King-lei
|-
|Jack Cheung Ki-tang
|
|Roy Lam Kwong-kwan
|-
|Juliana Yu
| rowspan="14" |[[Kwai Tsing District Council|Kwai Tsing]]
|Tsing Yi
|Lo Yuen-ting
|-
| colspan="3" rowspan="16" |
|Kwai Tsing East
|Jody Kwok Fu-yung
|-
|Kwai Tsing West
|Wong Chun-yeung
|-
| rowspan="8" |District Committees
|Ng Kin-wah
|-
|Tang Lai-ling
|-
|Lam Ying-wai
|-
|Yuen Yun-hung
|-
|Wong Shuk-man
|-
|Benny Ng Yam-fung
|-
|Ng Chi-wah
|-
|Wong Siu-kwan
|-
| rowspan="3" |Appointed
|Chu Lai-ling
|-
|Leung Kar-ming
|-
|Poon Chi-sing
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[Islands District Council|Islands]]
|Islands
|Yip Pui-kei
|-
| rowspan="2" |District Committees
|Mealoha Kwok Wai-man
|-
|Lau Shun-ting
|-
|}

===National People's Congress===
* [[Chan Yung]]
* [[Choy So-yuk]]
* [[Ip Kwok-him]]
* [[Tam Yiu-chung]] ([[NPCSC]] member)
* [[Wong Ting-chung]]

===Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference===
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* Chau On Ta-yuen
* Rock Chen Chung-nin
* Chong Shaw-swee
* Chung Shui-ming
* Ip Shun-hing
* [[Starry Lee Wai-king]]
* [[Leung Che-cheung]]
* Lo Siu-kit
* Nancy Wong
* Michael Ngai Ming-tak
* [[Thomas Pang Cheung-wai]]
* Irons Sze 
* Ricky Tsang Chi-ming
* Wong Ming-yeung
* Yu Kwok-chun
* Zhou Chun-ling
{{div col end}}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Hong Kong|China|Politics}}
* [[United Front Work Department]]
* [[United Front (China)]]
* [[Politics of Hong Kong]]
* [[List of political parties in Hong Kong]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong}}
* [https://www.eng.dab.org.hk/ Official website]

{{Clear}}
{{Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong}}
{{Hong Kong political parties}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Democratic Alliance For The Betterment And Progress Of Hong Kong}}
[[Category:Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong| ]]
[[Category:1992 establishments in Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Centre-right parties in Asia]]
[[Category:Chinese Communist Party]]
[[Category:Chinese nationalist political parties]]
[[Category:Conservative parties in China]]
[[Category:Conservative parties in Hong Kong]]
[[Category:National conservative parties]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1992]]
[[Category:Political parties in Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Right-wing parties in China]]
[[Category:Socially conservative parties]]