Martin Lee (politician)
Martin Lee Chu-ming ( Chinese李柱銘, born June 8, 1938 in Hong Kong ) is a Hong Kong politician and lawyer . He is the founding chairman of the United Democrats of Hong Kong and its successor, the Democratic Party , the largest party in the pro-democracy camp in Hong Kong . From 1985 to 1997 and from 1998 to 2008 he was a member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council . Often referred to by his followers as the "father of democracy" in Hong Kong, he is one of the best-known advocates for strengthening democracy and human rights in Hong Kong and China.
Career
Martin Lee attended Wah Yan College in Kowloon and then studied English literature and philosophy at Hong Kong University . After graduating in 1960, Lee taught for three years before moving to the UK to study law at Lincoln's Inn . He was admitted to the bar and began practicing as such in Hong Kong in 1966. During the Hong Kong riots in 1967 , he defended the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions . In 1979 he was appointed Queen's Counsel . From 1980 to 1983 he was chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association . From October 1985 to August 1991 he represented the functional constituency of the legal system in the Hong Kong Legislative Council and from October 1991 to June 1997 the constituency of Hong Kong Island East . Finally, from July 1998 to September 2008, Lee represented the Hong Kong Island constituency . In 1990 he became the founding chairman of the United Democrats of Hong Kong, which four years later became part of the Democratic Party .
Originally, Lee advocated surrendering Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China , but quickly became concerned that China would fail to abide by agreements and gradually erode Hong Kong's rights. Prior to the surrender of Hong Kong, Lee traveled through Europe and the United States to express his concern. He met with Madeleine Albright and Bill Clinton , among others . Lee also met with President Clinton when he visited Hong Kong in 1998.
In 2003, Lee was one of the opponents of the Security Act, which would have been preceded by the implementation of Article 23 of the Hong Kong Basic Law. This would have banned treason and sedition and given the Hong Kong authorities the power to ban groups banned on the Chinese mainland in Hong Kong. In the course of this point of dispute, there was a large protest in Hong Kong . During the 2014 Hong Kong protests , Lee was arrested on the last day.
The independence protests in Hong Kong flared up again in 2019. Martin Lee is also fighting for democratic freedom in Hong Kong and will be arrested for this in 2020. He is accused of participating in the organization of illegal protests with 13 other people.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ Ling Woo Liu: Hong Kong's "Father of Democracy" to Retire . In: Time . April 21, 2008, ISSN 0040-781X ( time.com [accessed November 26, 2019]).
- ↑ Martin Lee's website. Retrieved November 26, 2019 .
- ↑ Martin Lee. May 4, 1997. Retrieved November 26, 2019 (American English).
- ↑ PRESS RELEASE 3/7/1998 - Democratic Party Chairman Martin Lee Sits Down With US President Bill Clinton. Retrieved November 26, 2019 .
- ↑ We will bad-mouth Article 23 but not HK, says Martin Lee. May 30, 2003, accessed November 26, 2019 .
- ↑ Hong Kong's controversial 'Iron Lady' . December 30, 2016 ( bbc.com [accessed November 26, 2019]).
- ↑ Hong Kong: Hundreds of thousands protest against Article 23 . ISSN 0174-4909 ( faz.net [accessed November 26, 2019]).
- ↑ Hong Kong's democracy protest camp falls: leading protesters arrested. Retrieved November 26, 2019 .
- ↑ Arrest of activists: Hong Kong police take action against democracy movement . In: FAZ.NET . ISSN 0174-4909 ( faz.net [accessed April 22, 2020]).
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Lee, Martin |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | 李柱銘 (Chinese); Lee, Martin Chu-ming (full name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Chinese politician |
| DATE OF BIRTH | June 8, 1938 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Hong Kong |