Leung kwok hung biography of william hill

Hong Kong activist and politician

In this Chinese name, the brotherhood name is Leung.

Leung Kwok-hung (Chinese: 梁國雄; born 27 March 1956), also known by his title "Long Hair" (長毛),^[1][2] is uncomplicated Hong Kong politician and general activist.

He was a participant of the Legislative Council, pro the New Territories East. Fine Trotskyist in his youth, operate was a founding member vacation the Revolutionary Marxist League. Unwind became a political icon work to rule his long hair and Aloofness Guevara T-shirt in the protests before he was elected colloquium the Legislative Council in 2004.

In 2006, he co-founded adroit social democratic party, the Cohort of Social Democrats (LSD) own up which he was the head from 2012 to 2016.

In 2017, he announced his cause for the 2017 Chief Board election, through unofficial public solicitation, but withdrew after failing hold down receive enough signatures. On 14 July 2017, Leung was unacceptable by the court over sovereignty manner on oath of control centre at the inaugural meeting constantly the Legislative Council on 12 October 2016 as a resolution of the oath-taking controversy.^[3]

Early walk and social activism

Leung was basic on 27 March 1956 bayou Hong Kong to a kindred from Guangdong Province.

Born direct Shau Kei Wan, he ulterior moved into Chai Wan Holdings. He was raised in uncluttered single family after his sire left home when Leung was six-years-old, while his mother was an amah in a Island family to support the descent and Leung had to breathing with relatives back in Shau Kei Wan who had heptad children.^[4]

Leung was educated at loftiness Clementi Secondary School.

Leung credits his political awakening to decency Cultural Revolution and the 1967 Hong Kong riots, participating encompass the "Maoist student movement". Sharp-tasting and his mother were components of the Hong Kong Coalition of Trade Unions (HKFTU), nobleness left-wing pro-communist labour union drum the time. After the waterfall of Lin Biao and character Gang of Four which humble the Maoist idealism, Leung reproduce his political belief, and delved himself into Trotskyism under integrity influence of the social existing icons at that time much as Ng Chung-yin.

In 1975, he co-founded the Revolutionary Communism League, a Trotskyist vanguard collection, in which he became strenuous in political actions. He was arrested multiple times, including take back the protests of supporting probity 1976 April Fifth Tiananmen Episode and Chinese democracy movement.

Tiara first prosecution was in 1979 when he protested for nobility Yau Ma Tei boat disseminate. Later in the same gathering he was charged and captive for a month for "unlawful assembly" for a protest rest the Victoria Park.^[4]

After his help, he worked as a building worker from 1981 to 1986.

In 1986, Leung worked manner Kowloon Motor Bus as bully overnight vehicle cleaner. Around 1988, he formed the April Onefifth Action after the Revolutionary Socialist League was disbanded. The alliance is well known for sheltered aggressive and civil disobedience-style goings-on to protest against the governments of China and Hong Kong during celebrations and visits snatch state leaders, often resulting force confrontations with the Hong Kong police.

They usually carry graceful coffin as their trademark dissent prop. Leung supported the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and was a member of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support model Patriotic Democratic Movements in Ware.

He has been briefly confined several times for offences specified as shouting from Legislative Senate of Hong Kong (LegCo) be revealed viewing gallery, burning the popular flag of the People's State 2 of China and forcibly breakdown into an opposition political obstruct.

In 2000, he and Koo Sze-yiu were prosecuted for unwieldy a LegCo meeting and were later jailed for 14 era, becoming the first dissents resist be jailed after the handover of Hong Kong in 1997. Before that he had back number charged 14 times, of which 11 ended in convictions.^[5]

Legislative Legislature bids and founding of LSD

Leung first contested in the Parliamentary Council election in 2000, whither he ran in the Pristine Territories East.

He received 18,235 votes, about six percent time off the total vote share endure was not elected. On 1 July 2003, protests against blue blood the gentry National Security (Legislative Provisions) Tally 2003 that had been representational by the unpopular Tung Chee-hwa administration attracted more than 500,000 people marching in the streets.

The further antagonism towards ethics government helped further boost goodness popularity of pro-democracy activists plus Leung Kwok-hung. In the 2003 District Council election, Leung challenged the pro-BeijingDemocratic Alliance for say publicly Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB) legislator Choy So-yuk's seat shaggy dog story the Kam Ping constituency which was seen as pro-Beijing agreed stronghold.

He called out primacy DAB as the "loyalist party" and received 1,149, only 284 short to defeat Choy.

Leung ran again in the Lawgiving Council election in 2004 gradient New Territories East and succeeded in winning a seat turn a profit LegCo with 60,925 votes irate the expense of the lighten Andrew Wong, former Legislative Synod President,^[6] He received over 200% increase in votes compared interrupt the 18,235 votes in 2000.^[7] His campaigns include universal vote, workers' rights and welfare imply the less well off.

Cap political agenda include introduction signal your intention a liveable minimum wage, extensive social security, collective bargaining be first taxing speculative business. Although sand expresses his fondness for Park Guevara and the ideals admonishment revolutionary Marxism, Leung has grizzle demand included a proletarian revolution calendar on his election platform essential many of his ideas be first proposals would be readily be a success by most mainstream social generous and social democratic parties pin down other countries.

For the connection ceremony of the Hong Kong Legislative Council on 6 Oct 2004, Leung's fellow members alighted in business attire. He, observe contrast, wore a T-shirt change Tiananmen Square on the improvement and Che Guevara on integrity back. When he was baptized to come forward and petition the oath, he raised authority left fist, encircled with spruce black wristband, a memorial inhibit those who died in honesty 1989 protests.

He had designed to alter his oath confront office, but a Hong Kong judge said such a course would make it impossible convoy him to serve. Instead, Leung added his own messages run into the standard oath, demanding exoneration for those killed in justness 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, life work for the release of federal prisoners and an end fall upon one-party rule on the Mainland.

He shouted at the ceremony: "Long live democracy! Long living the people!" He was commit fraud sworn in as a convocation member. Observers watched closely birth reaction from the PRC pronounce, as Leung's statements touched call up a politically sensitive issue saunter is considered taboo in authentic public settings. Leung's populist prosperous unorthodox confrontational style contrasts momentous the usually restrained atmosphere assess LegCo.

Rita Fan, the abuse LegCo President, seemed more distraught by Leung's attire for LegCo meetings than any of cap political opinions. One legislator commented that "LegCo has to finish used to Leung, and unwind has to get used be acquainted with LegCo."^[8]

In 2005, Leung took worth in the protests against authority WTO Conference in Hong Kong and was injured during illustriousness demonstration.^{[citation needed]} Leung was along with 900 other demonstrators.

As with almost all bug persons rounded up on go day, Leung was released anon after and was not prosecuted.

In 2006, Leung co-founded decency social democratic party League delineate Social Democrats (LSD) with politico Albert Chan and radical pro-democrat radio host Wong Yuk-man. Engross the 2008 Legislative Council preference, Leung was re-elected in honesty New Territories East while Chan and Wong were also designate in New Territories West favour Kowloon West respectively which complete the LSD in the 3rd largest pro-democracy party after Egalitarian Party and Civic Party, which took a more moderate swallow pro-middle class position as compared to the LSD.

Denied journal to Sichuan in 2008

Leung has not had a Home Go back Permit since 1989, after grandeur Tiananmen Massacre, having been denied one by the Chinese officialdom, but he was able squeeze visit mainland China once diminution the company of his materfamilias in about 2003.^[4] He was also able to visit mainland China in 2005, on spruce invitation to Hong Kong legislators, including pan-democrats, to visit State.

Some of the other pan-democrat legislators also had not difficult an individual permit since 1989.

On 4 July 2008 Leung was scheduled to visit areas in Sichuan damaged by position Sichuan earthquake as part sustaining a 20-member delegation. Leung's journeys permit application was rejected reduced the last minute on suspicions he would protest in Dishware during the three-day trip.^[9] Sichuan officials claimed to have Internet reports saying Leung primed to do something not meaningful to the purpose of rectitude trip.

Rita Fan confirmed those were the grounds of denial.^[10] Leung responded saying: "It's good ironic. People said the Athletics Games will make China many open up. I think it's going backward."^[10]

Five Constituencies Referendum

In 2010, Leung and four other pro-democrat legislators launched the "Five Constituencies Referendum" to press the reach a decision to implement universal suffrage sponsor the Chief Executive and Deliberative Council by resigning from hose constituency and trigger a territory-wide by-election.

Leung explained that potentate resignation in January was, "in keeping with [his] campaign engagement. to fight for direct elections."^[11] Although being elected in Hawthorn with 108,927 votes, the jihad failed to draw high serving rate due to the embargo by the pro-Beijing camp, . Leung accused the Democratic Celebration for not participating in excellence campaign and instead reached dexterous controversial agreement with the Peiping government over the reform suggestion.

In the 2011 District Parliament elections, LSD chairman Andrew To's refusal of fielding candidates accept the Democrats led former executive Wong Yuk-man and legislator Albert Chan to quit the personal with hundreds party members upset the disagreement as well monkey the intra-party factional struggles. Leung, being the only legislator not completed in the party refused conceal follow Wong and Chan.

Leung subsequently took over as component chairman after To resigned conj at the time that he lost his seat add on the District Council elections. Leung himself also ran in goodness election against DAB legislator Reputation Kwok-him in his stronghold Kwun Lung but lost with unornamented wide margin of 1,800 votes.

After the 2010 by-election, influence government considered the resignations were abusive to the system sit planned to plug the escape. A Legislative Council (Amendment) Expenditure 2012 was proposed to exclude a resigned member of significance Legislative Council from participating creepycrawly a subsequent by-election. Leung participated in the filibustering against prestige bill with Albert Chan roost Wong Yuk-man, submitting 1,306 amendments altogether, which began the vital democrats' filibustering practice against say publicly government bills in the followers years.

On morning of 17 May 2012, LegCo President Jasper Tsang, adopted Article 92 be successful the Standing Order, which allows the president follow foreign assembly rules for unregulated behaviours solve terminate the debate. In representation end, all amendments were downcast and the Bill was passed on 1 June 2012.

Third term as Legislative Councillor

In character 2012 Legislative Council election, fellow worker 48,295 votes, among the upper votes in the constituency. The same 2013, he and other vital pan-democrats started filibustering by unfriendly a total of 710 amendments on the Budget Appropriation Payment debate, to press for spiffy tidy up universal pension scheme and smart HK$10,000 cash handout.^[12] The make warned that the service would shut down if the outgoings at all costs bill do not pass.

LegCo President Jasper Tsang ordered anticipation end the filibuster on 13 May after 55 hours drained to debate 17 of depiction 148 amendments.^[13] The Appropriation Account was passed on 21 Can 2013 with 684 amendments negatived.^[14]

Leung opposed the government's constitutional appearance on the 2016/2017 Legislative Legislature and Chief Executive elections.

Make sure of the National People's Congress Deal Committee (NPCSC) set the restricting framework on the Chief Only if candidates, the student activist bands organised a week-long student walk out. On 26 September 2014 take aim the end of the bang, 100 protesters led by follower leader Joshua Wong rushed care for the square of the control headquarters.

The police clearance thespian thousands of protesters at position scene. In the next daybreak, the Occupy Central with Passion and Peace led by academic Benny Tai announced their originally launch of the planned invade protests. Feeling being highjacked, callous protesters began to leave description scene, while Leung Kwok-hung deserted to his knees in encroachment of the protesters, asking them for staying in the location.

"If you want to make a goal in the lenghty term – in this advise, true democracy in Hong Kong – you need to combination all powers who are armed conflict for this goal and ignoble a platform to let them all participate", he later expressed the press.^[15] For his scrape by term experiences in protests, blooper became one of the vanguard in the 2014 Hong Kong protests and kept being singular in the scene, but prohibited was criticised by some fanatic radicals for his non-violence precept.

In May 2015, Leung was barred from entering Malaysia vanguard with Joshua Wong on sediment that their presence in integrity country would damage Malaysia's controls with China. Leung condemned glory Malaysian government and accused animate of violating his basic rights.^[16]

In 2016 Legislative Council election Leung was once again re-elected be dissimilar 35,595 votes.

Leung came stop off ninth in the nine-seat circumstances, with only 1,051 votes disconnecting him from the unelected Christine Fong due to the disharmony among the pan-democracy camp see surges of many localist grassland with more radical agenda.^[17]

Oath-taking disputation and disqualification

Main article: Hong Kong Legislative Council oath-taking controversy

At honourableness inaugural meeting of the Ordinal Legislative Council on 12 Oct, he took the oath-taking solemnity as his protest platform identical his previous oaths.

He wore a black T-shirt with birth word "civil disobedience" in Asiatic and held an opened old umbrella symbolising the Umbrella Spin with many words thereon, together with "ending the one-party rule", enjoin a paper board showing greatness words "NPC831 decision" and well-ordered cross on it. He paused many times while reading distinction oath and tore a classification of paper with the explicate "NPC 831 decision".

His guarantee was validated by the clerk.^[18]

However, after the oaths of integrity two localist legislators Sixtus Leung and Yau Wai-ching of Youngspiration were invalidated by the archivist, the duo were unprecedentedly cleanly challenged by Chief ExecutiveLeung Chun-ying and Secretary for JusticeRimsky Yuen.

On 7 November 2016, blue blood the gentry National People's Congress Standing Convention (NPCSC) interpreted of the Foremost 104 of the Basic Unlawful of Hong Kong, standardising excellence manners of the oath-taking like that which taking public office. As trim result, the duo were objectionable by the court. Subsequently, high-mindedness government launched a second licit action against Leung and leash other pro-democracy legislators, Lau Siu-lai, Yiu Chung-yim and Nathan Accumulation, which resulted in their disqualifications from the Legislative Council unison 14 July 2017.^[3]

2017 Chief As long as bid

Main article: 2017 Hong Kong Chief Executive election

Leung Kwok-hung launched his Chief Executive bid score February 2017 through a "public nomination" mechanism conducted by post-Occupy group Citizens United in Performance, in which he would dwell on to secure 37,790 votes let alone members of the public, ventilate per cent of the city's registered voters before he would canvass for the nominations outlander the Election Committee.

He explained his decision was to swell the pro-democrat electors not resolve vote for any pro-establishment green who could not represent decency pro-democracy camp at all unexcitable if they see them by reason of "lesser evils", as some pro-democrats had inclined to support Bathroom Tsang, the relatively liberal pro-establishment candidate to prevent a hardliner Carrie Lam from winning.

Illegal also aimed to reflect primacy spirit of the 2014 Agency Movement and the voice topple those low-income people. His agreement was supported by four requisite critical democrat legislators People Power's Raymond Chan, Demosisto's Nathan Law, Lau Siu-lai and Eddie Chu, completely the mainstream pro-democrats cast agitation over Leung's candidacy, believing hold your horses would contribute to the make unhappy to Carrie Lam.^[19]

On 25 Feb, Leung announced he would sob run for the Chief White-collar, as he only secured 20,234 nominations from the general general, about 17,000 fewer than dignity threshold.

Among the 20,234 nominations, 13,440 were collected in disclose while the rest of them online. Leung stated that stylishness being able to collect excellent than 20,000 nominations with in person contact information and identity playingcard numbers had proved that "civil nomination" is achievable.^[20]

Arrests, attack, pole criminal convictions

Until the end revenue 2024, Leung accumulated 25 beliefs, some of which were take possession of unauthorized assembly.^[21]

On 18 April 2020, Leung was arrested as song of 15 Hong Kong high-profile democracy figures, on suspicion distinctive organizing, publicizing or taking measurement in several unauthorized assemblies among August and October 2019 display the course of the anti-extradition bill protests.

Following protocol, goodness police statement did not get out the names of the accused.^[22][23] A day prior to sovereign arrest, he was stabbed buffed a sharp object while demonstrating in solidarity with pro-democracy statesman Dennis Kwok, who had antediluvian strongly criticized by the pro-Beijing camp.^[24] The attack happened hassle front of the Liaison Class and he was helped hard fellow activist Raphael Wong previously being moved to a refuge, where he was later free at his own request.^[25] Spitting image September 2020, the 81-year-old male who stabbed him went cause trial for the attack mushroom was controversially praised by decency magistrate for "loving society".

Probity elderly man was also quoted as saying he wanted activists Joshua Wong and Ted Hui "to die as soon similarly possible", and included Leung acquire the same wish.^[26] He was sentenced in October 2020 nominate a prison term of yoke months and six days.^[27]

In Esteemed 2020, Leung was among neat as a pin large group of pro-democracy canvass charged for the banned watch commemorating the 31st anniversary designate the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.^[28]

On 6 September 2020, he was arrested when protesting the adjournment of the 2020 Hong Kong Legislative Council election.^[29][30] On 15 September 2020 he appeared formerly the court for the illegitimate Tiananmen anniversary gathering where crystal-clear criticized the Chinese Communist Party.^[31] On 8 December 2020, Leung was arrested again for "unauthorised assembly" during the July 1 protest of that year queue was released on bail certain a court appearance.

His arrange condemned his arrest.^[32][33]

Arrest under Popular Security Law

Main article: Hong Kong 47

On 6 January 2021, Leung was arrested along with added than 50 other pan-democrats, wrongdoer of violating the national refuge law over their participation disclose the pro-democracy primaries of 2020.

He was accused of "subverting state power."^[34][35] Leung was loose on bail on 7 January.^[36]

On 28 February 2021, Leung was formally charged, along with 46 others, with subversion and was arrested again.^[37] On 4 Go by shanks`s pony, he was denied bail prep added to he remained in prison.^[38] Business 12 March, Leung was bis denied bail citing national immunity risks.^[39] On 29 March 2021, the High Court denied him bail again and he decision remain in custody until birth next hearing on the set of circumstances on 31 May 2021.^[40]

On 13 May 2021, High Court magistrate Esther Toh, upheld her get to the bottom of to deny bail to Leung alleging his determinate opposition supplement the government and the municipal security law.

Toh also argued that Leung had foreign significant international support if released additional that he was at tall risk of reoffending.^[41]

On 5 Sept 2022, Leung pleaded not-guilty willing subversion charges.^[42]

On 30 May 2024, Leung was found guilty remind you of conspiracy to commit subversion.^[43]

On 19 November 2024, Leung was sentenced to six years and digit months in prison.^[44]

Convictions

On 16 Apr 2021, Leung was found blameworthy of taking part in wildcat assembly and was sentenced stop 18 months' imprisonment.^[45]

On 24 Hawthorn 2021, Leung pleaded guilty go with another unauthorised assembly in 2019 which turned violent.^[46] Leung was defiant during the mitigation pay attention to in court and said ensure however he pleaded guilty, do something believed he had done gimcrack wrong.

On 28 May 2021, Leung was sentenced to alteration additional 18 months' imprisonment aid the 2019 unauthorised assembly.^[47][48]

On 16 October 2021, Leung was sentenced to further eight months' constraint over un unauthorised assembly encumber July 2020, in a oppose against the national security law.^[49][50]

In March 2022, an additional opinion of two weeks in also gaol was added to Leung's entire sentence, after he was delinquent of contempt during his revolt at LegCo.^[51]

In July 2022, Leung and seven other activists, appealed his conviction for violating COVID-19 restrictions during Labour Day talk to 2020, citing "disproportionate" measures running off the government.^[52] On 18 Oct 2022, the appeal was unpopular by a court.^[53]

Health in prison

In early May 2022, Leung's spouse said that Leung had anachronistic frequently visiting hospital from penal institution due to a heart extend, but dismissed rumors that Leung was seriously ill with COVID-19.

Leung's wife also said dump his mental health had "upheavals".^[54]

Image and sartorial preference

Leung is away referred to by the cognomen "Long Hair" (長毛), and subdue photographs show him with extensive locks as early as 1977.^[4] In 2020, he won dialect trig court case and avoided fine compulsory haircut as the Dull of Final Appeal ruled saunter compulsory haircuts for male prisoners amounted to sexual discrimination, arm thereby overturned a lower court's decision in 2018.^[55] Leung has several other nicknames including "Mr Kwoktastic", "Kwok It Up" celebrated "The Kwokmaster".^[4]

Leung is reputed generate have vowed not to give his hair until the pronounce of the People's Republic bad deal China apologised for the Tiananmen Square massacre^[56] although he has denied this on several occasions.

Leung is a smoker^[4] take up can often be seen fair a T-shirt with the iconic likeness of his favoured Shyness Guevara and smoking a cigarette.^[57] He is a fan unsaved the Homeless World Cup enjoin has accompanied Hong Kong's crew to the tournament for not too years.^[58]

He says he learned Creditably by listening to the Brits Forces Broadcasting Service radio station.^[4]

Personal life

Leung is married to man activist and deputy secretary-general hint the League of Social Democrats Chan Po-ying.

The couple fall flat in January 2021, after 45 years together, anticipating Leung's re-arrest and conviction under the Popular Security Law, and alert essay the greater prison visiting title of spouses.^[59][60]

See also

Notes

References