Leung Kwok-hung
Leung Kwok-hung | |
---|---|
梁國雄 | |
New Territories East | |
Chairman of the League of Social Democrats | |
In office 12 February 2012 – 21 February 2016 | |
Preceded by | Andrew To |
Succeeded by | Avery Ng |
Personal details | |
Born | Chinese (Hong Kong) | 27 March 1956
Political party | April Fifth Action (since 1991) League of Social Democrats (since 2006) |
Other political affiliations | Revolutionary Marxist League (1975–1991) |
Spouse |
Chan Po-ying (m. 2021) |
Residence(s) | Kai Yip Estate, Kowloon Bay |
Education | Clementi Secondary School |
Occupation | Politician |
Leung Kwok-hung | |
---|---|
Hanyu Pinyin | cháng máo |
Yue: Cantonese | |
Yale Romanization | chèuhng mòuh |
Leung Kwok-hung (
In 2017, he announced his candidacy for the
Early life and social activism
Leung was born on 27 March 1956 in Hong Kong to a family from the
Leung was educated at the
In 1975, he co-founded the
After his release, he worked as a construction worker from 1981 to 1986. In 1986, Leung worked for
He has been briefly jailed several times for offences such as shouting from
Legislative Council bids and founding of LSD
Leung first contested in the
Leung ran again in the
For the swearing-in ceremony of the Hong Kong Legislative Council on 6 October 2004, Leung's fellow members arrived in business attire. He, in contrast, wore a T-shirt with Tiananmen Square on the front and Che Guevara on the back. When he was called to come forward and take the oath, he raised his left fist, encircled with a black wristband, a memorial to those who died in the 1989 protests. He had planned to alter his oath of office, but a Hong Kong judge said such a step would make it impossible for him to serve. Instead, Leung added his own messages to the standard oath, demanding vindication for those killed in the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, calling for the release of political prisoners and an end to one-party rule on the Mainland. He shouted at the ceremony: "Long live democracy! Long live the people!" He was then sworn in as a council member. Observers watched closely the reaction from the PRC government, as Leung's statements touched upon a politically sensitive issue that is considered taboo in official public settings. Leung's populist and unorthodox confrontational style contrasts with the usually restrained atmosphere of LegCo. Rita Fan, the then LegCo President, seemed more concerned by Leung's attire for LegCo meetings than any of his political opinions. One legislator commented that "LegCo has to get used to Leung, and he has to get used to LegCo."[8]
In 2005, Leung took part in the protests against the
In 2006, Leung co-founded the social democratic party
Denied entry to Sichuan in 2008
Leung has not had a
On 4 July 2008 Leung was scheduled to visit areas in Sichuan damaged by the Sichuan earthquake as part of a 20-member delegation. Leung's travel permit application was rejected at the last minute on suspicions he would protest in China during the three-day trip.[9] Sichuan officials claimed to have seen Internet reports saying Leung planned to do something not relevant to the purpose of the trip. Rita Fan confirmed those were the grounds of denial.[10] Leung responded saying: "It's so ironic. People said the Olympic Games will make China more open up. I think it's going backward."[10]
Five Constituencies Referendum
In 2010, Leung and four other pro-democrat legislators launched the "
In the 2011 District Council elections, LSD chairman Andrew To's refusal of fielding candidates against the Democrats led former chairman Wong Yuk-man and legislator Albert Chan to quit the party with hundreds party members over the disagreement as well as the intra-party factional struggles. Leung, being the only legislator left in the party refused to follow Wong and Chan. Leung subsequently took over as party chairman after To resigned when he lost his seat in the District Council elections. Leung himself also ran in the election against DAB legislator Ip Kwok-him in his stronghold Kwun Lung but lost with a wide margin of 1,800 votes.
After the 2010 by-election, the government considered the resignations were abusive to the system and planned to plug the loophole. A
Third term as Legislative Councillor
In the
Leung opposed the
In May 2015, Leung was barred from entering Malaysia along with Joshua Wong on grounds that their presence in the country would damage Malaysia's ties with China. Leung condemned the Malaysian government and accused it of violating his basic rights.[16]
In 2016 Legislative Council election Leung was once again re-elected with 35,595 votes. Leung came in ninth in the nine-seat constituency, with only 1,051 votes separating him from the unelected Christine Fong due to the infighting among the pan-democracy camp and surges of many localist candidates with more radical agenda.[17]
Oath-taking controversy and disqualification
At the inaugural meeting of the
However, after the oaths of the two
2017 Chief Executive bid
Leung Kwok-hung launched his Chief Executive bid in February 2017 through a "public nomination" mechanism conducted by post-Occupy group Citizens United in Action, in which he would seek to secure 37,790 votes from members of the public, one per cent of the city's registered voters before he would canvass for the nominations from the Election Committee. He explained his decision was to urge the pro-democrat electors not to vote for any pro-establishment candidates who could not represent the pro-democracy camp at all even if they see them as "lesser evils", as some pro-democrats had inclined to support John Tsang, the relatively liberal pro-establishment candidate to prevent a hardliner Carrie Lam from winning. He also aimed to reflect the spirit of the 2014 Umbrella Movement and the voice of those low-income people. His bid was supported by four radical democrat legislators People Power's Raymond Chan, Demosisto's Nathan Law, Lau Siu-lai and Eddie Chu, while the mainstream pro-democrats cast doubt over Leung's candidacy, believing it would contribute to the victory to Carrie Lam.[19]
On 25 February, Leung announced he would not run for the Chief Executive, as he only secured 20,234 nominations from the general public, about 17,000 fewer than the threshold. Among the 20,234 nominations, 13,440 were collected in public while the rest of them online. Leung stated that he being able to collect more than 20,000 nominations with personal contact information and identity card numbers had proved that "civil nomination" is achievable.[20]
Arrests, attack, and criminal convictions
On 18 April 2020, Leung was arrested as one of 15 Hong Kong high-profile democracy figures, on suspicion of organizing, publicizing or taking part in several unauthorized assemblies between August and October 2019 in the course of the anti-extradition bill protests. Following protocol, the police statement did not disclose the names of the accused.[21][22] A day prior to his arrest, he was stabbed with a sharp object while demonstrating in solidarity with pro-democracy legislator Dennis Kwok, who had been strongly criticized by the pro-Beijing camp.[23] The attack happened in front of the Liaison Office and he was helped by fellow activist Raphael Wong before being moved to a hospital, where he was later discharged at his own request.[24] In September 2020, the 81-year-old man who stabbed him went on trial for the attack and was controversially praised by the magistrate for "loving society". The elderly man was also quoted as saying he wanted activists Joshua Wong and Ted Hui "to die as soon as possible", and included Leung in the same wish.[25] He was sentenced in October 2020 to a prison term of three months and six days.[26]
In August 2020, Leung was among a large group of pro-democracy figures charged for the banned vigil commemorating the
On 6 September 2020, he was arrested when protesting the postponement of the 2020 Hong Kong Legislative Council election.[28][29] On 15 September 2020 he appeared before the court for the banned Tiananmen anniversary gathering where he criticized the Chinese Communist Party.[30] On 8 December 2020, Leung was arrested again for "unauthorised assembly" during the July 1 protest of that year and was released on bail pending a court appearance. His party condemned his arrest.[31][32]
Arrest under National Security Law
On 6 January 2021, Leung was arrested along with more than 50 other pan-democrats, accused of violating the national security law over their participation in the pro-democracy primaries of 2020. He is accused of "subverting state power."[33][34] Leung was released on bail on 7 January.[35]
On 28 February 2021, Leung was formally charged, along with 46 others, with subversion and was arrested again.[36] On 4 March, he was denied bail and he remained in prison.[37] On 12 March, Leung was again denied bail citing national security risks.[38] On 29 March 2021, the High Court denied him bail again and he will remain in custody until the next hearing on the case on 31 May 2021.[39]
On 13 May 2021, High Court judge Esther Toh, upheld her decision to deny bail to Leung alleging his determinate opposition to the government and the national security law. Toh also argued that Leung had foreign and international support if released and that he was at high risk of reoffending.[40]
On 5 September 2022, Leung pleaded not-guilty to subversion charges.[41]
Convictions
On 16 April 2021, Leung was found guilty of taking part in unauthorised assembly and was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment.[42]
On 24 May 2021, Leung pleaded guilty over another unauthorised assembly in 2019 which turned violent.[43] Leung was defiant during the mitigation hearing in court and said that however he pleaded guilty, he believed he had done nothing wrong. On 28 May 2021, Leung was sentenced to an additional 18 months' imprisonment over the 2019 unauthorised assembly.[44][45]
On 16 October 2021, Leung was sentenced to further eight months' imprisonment over un unauthorised assembly in July 2020, in a protest against the national security law.[46][47]
In March 2022, an additional sentence of two weeks in prison was added to Leung's overall sentence, after he was convicted of contempt during his time at LegCo.[48]
In July 2022, Leung and seven other activists, appealed his conviction for violating COVID-19 restrictions during Labour Day in 2020, citing "disproportionate" measures from the government.[49] On 18 October 2022, the appeal was rejected by a court.[50]
Health in prison
In early May 2022, Leung's wife said that Leung had been frequently visiting hospital from prison due to a
Image and sartorial preference
Leung is widely referred to by the sobriquet "Long Hair" (長毛), and press photographs show him with long locks as early as 1977.[4] He has several other nicknames including "Mr Kwoktastic", "Kwok It Up" and "The Kwokmaster".[4]
Leung is reputed to have vowed not to cut his hair until the government of the People's Republic of China apologised for the
Leung is a smoker[4] and can often be seen sporting a T-shirt with the iconic likeness of his favoured Che Guevara and smoking a cigarette.[53] He is a fan of the Homeless World Cup and has accompanied Hong Kong's team to the tournament for several years.[54]
He says he learned English by listening to the British Forces Broadcasting Service radio station.[4]
Personal life
Leung is married to fellow activist and deputy secretary-general of the League of Social Democrats Chan Po-ying. The couple wed in January 2021, after 45 years together, anticipating Leung's re-arrest and conviction under the National Security Law, and alert to the greater prison visiting rights of spouses.[55][56]
See also
Notes
- ^ Leung served as member of the Legislative Council until 14 July 2017 when his oath on 12 October 2016 was invalidated and his seat was vacated according to the ruling of the Court of First Instance.
References
- Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
An activist Hong Kong lawmaker known for his long hair has finally gotten a haircut.
- New York Times. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
The Honorable Mr. Leung Kwok-hung, better known in Hong Kong as Cheung Mo, or "Long Hair," remained on his feet.
- ^ a b "Four More Hong Kong Lawmakers Ousted in a Blow to Democratic Hopes". TIME. 14 July 2017. Archived from the original on 28 September 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g Evans, Annemarie (26 August 2015). "My life: Activist and politician 'Long Hair' on prison, being banned from China and his amah mother". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 30 August 2015.
- ^ "梁 國 雄 即 時 入 獄 14 天". Sing Tao Daily. 27 May 2000. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
- ^ "Election results in 2004". Archived from the original on 7 November 2005. Retrieved 3 July 2005.
- ^ Election result in 2000 Archived 22 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Long Hair and the Legislature in Hong Kong" Archived 23 March 2021 at the Wayback Machine, Eleanor Randolph, The New York Times, 13 October 2004
- ^ Reuters, '"China bars radical HK democrat from Sichuan visit" Archived 22 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 4 July 2008.
- ^ a b WTopnews. ""Hong Kong lawmaker barred from Sichuan quake zone" Archived 11 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine." Wtopnews. Retrieved on 4 July 2008.
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- ^ "Filibustering continues over budget". RTHK. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
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- ^ "LegCo Reporter Council Meeting 2012-2013 Issue No. 28 (21 May 2013)". Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
- ^ "Prominent Hong Kong activist says protesters need to unify, strategize". LA Times. 30 October 2014. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
- ^ Chan, Wilfred (29 May 2015). "Malaysia bars entry to prominent Hong Kong democracy activists". CNN. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
- ^ "(HK elections) Leung Kwok-hung re-elected - the Standard". Archived from the original on 6 September 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
- ^ "IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE CONSTITUTIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE LAW LIST NO 224 OF 2016". Archived from the original on 25 October 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
- ^ "'Long Hair' Leung Kwok-hung enters chief executive race, urging allies not to vote for 'lesser evils'". South China Morning Post. 8 February 2017. Archived from the original on 24 November 2017. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
- ^ "【特首選戰】長毛宣佈不參選:2萬人撐證公民提名可行". Apple Daily. 25 February 2017. Archived from the original on 1 April 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
- ^ Yu, Elaine; Ramzy, Austin (18 April 2020). "Amid Pandemic, Hong Kong Arrests Major Pro-Democracy Figures". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- ^ Wong, Rachel (18 April 2020). "15 Hong Kong pro-democracy figures arrested in latest police round up". Hong Kong Free Press. Archived from the original on 22 April 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- ^ Lo, Clifford; Lum, Alvin (16 April 2020). "Ousted lawmaker 'Long Hair' Leung Kwok-hung stabbed while protesting outside Beijing's liaison office in Hong Kong". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 12 July 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
- ^ Wong, Rachel (17 April 2020). "Pro-democracy activist 'Long Hair' stabbed with sharp object during demo". Hong Kong Free Press. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ Cheung, Jane (17 September 2020). "Old man gets court praise for attack on 'Long Hair'". The Standard. Archived from the original on 8 December 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
- ^ Ho, Kelly (27 September 2021). "Hong Kong man jailed for 9 years for stabbing lawmaker Junius Ho". Hong Kong Free Press. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- ^ Cheung, Tony; Leung, Christy (6 August 2020). "Hong Kong activists Joshua Wong, Nathan Law among 24 charged over roles in banned June 4 Tiananmen Square vigil". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
- ^ "Ninety people arrested in Mongkok and Yau Ma Tei". The Standard. 6 September 2020. Archived from the original on 8 December 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
- ^ Zhou, Joyce; (writing) Master, Farah; (ed.) Schmollinger, Christian; (ed.) Cameron-Moore, Simon (6 September 2020). "Hong Kong police fire pepper balls at protesters opposed to election delay, new law". Reuters. Archived from the original on 6 September 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
{{cite news}}
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- ^ Wong, Rachel (8 December 2020). "Hong Kong police arrest 8 more opposition figures, inc. 'Long Hair', Eddie Chu, Figo Chan, Wu Chi-wai". Hong Kong Free Press. Archived from the original on 8 December 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- ^ Wong, Natalie; Tsang, Emily (8 December 2020). "Former Hong Kong lawmakers among eight opposition activists arrested over illegal assembly". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 8 December 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- ^ "National security law: Hong Kong rounds up 53 pro-democracy activists". BBC News. 6 January 2021. Archived from the original on 11 February 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
- ^ "大批泛民遭警上門拘捕 疑與民主派初選有關 涉顛覆國家政權罪". HK01 (in Chinese). 6 January 2021. Archived from the original on 5 January 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
- ^ Chau, Candice (8 January 2021). "'Hong Kong has entered a bitter winter,' says primaries organiser as 52 democrats in mass arrest bailed out". Hong Kong Free Press. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
- ^ "Hong Kong charges 47 activists in largest use yet of new security law". BBC News. 28 February 2021. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
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- ^ Wong, Brian (12 March 2021). "National security law: bail denied again for 11 of the 47 Hong Kong opposition figures charged with subversion; 10 others withdraw bids at last minute". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 12 March 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
- ^ Chau, Candice (29 March 2021). "Hong Kong court denies bail to ex-lawmaker charged under national security law". Hong Kong Free Press. Archived from the original on 30 March 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
- ^ Wong, Brian (13 May 2021). "Hong Kong internet radio host facing money-laundering, sedition charges denied bail over Taiwan connections, High Court judge says". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 23 June 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
- ^ Xu, William (7 September 2022). "Activists in Hong Kong plead guilty to subversion". Asia News Network. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
- ^ "Hong Kong: Jimmy Lai sentenced to 14 months for pro-democracy protests". BBC News. BBC. 16 April 2021. Archived from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
- ^ ""Long Hair" pleads guilty and denies wrongdoing over National Day assembly case". The Standard. 24 May 2021. Archived from the original on 25 May 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
- ^ "Hong Kong's Jimmy Lai gets new sentence over democracy protests". Al Jazeera. 28 May 2021. Archived from the original on 28 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
- ^ Siu, Jasmine (28 May 2021). "Hong Kong protests: Jimmy Lai jailed for 14 months over role in 2019 illegal rally, while seven co-defendants receive up to 18 months". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 28 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
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- ^ "Seven activists jailed over July 1 protest". RTHK. 16 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
- ^ Wong, Brian (29 March 2022). "Former Hong Kong lawmaker 'Long Hair' Leung Kwok-hung jailed for an extra 2 weeks for contempt of Legco". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ^ Chau, Candice (19 July 2022). "8 Hong Kong democrats file appeal against Covid-related conviction and sentence at 2020 Labour Day demo". Hong Kong Free Press. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
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- ^ "Long Hair always wears Ernesto Che Guevara T-shirt" Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine. mass-age.com, retrieved 26 April 2007
- ^ Zeng, Vivienne (18 September 2015). "Hong Kong footballer wins Fair Play Award at Homeless World Cup". Hong Kong Free Press.
- ^ Till prison we part’: Hong Kong crackdown pushes veteran activists ‘Long Hair’ and Chan Po-ying to wed [dead link], Hong Kong Free Press, 24 April 2021
- ^ "李八方online︱長毛同緊密戰友陳寶瑩拉埋天窗". 蘋果新聞. 壹傳媒. 18 January 2021. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.