Albert Chan
Encyclopedia
The Honourable
Albert Wai-yip Chan , born 3 March 1955 in Hong Kong
) is a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong
representing the New Territories West constituency, except for the periods 1997-2000 and Jan-May 2011. Chan is also a member of the Tsuen Wan
District
Council
. Before becoming a legislator, Chan was a social worker.
In 1986, together with Lee Wing Tat
, he founded the Hong Kong Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood
, and served as Chairman of the party after Lee left in 1990. From 1994-2002 he was a member of the Democratic Party
. In 2006 he co-founded the League of Social Democrats
but resigned in 2011 over differences with the then leadership to form People Power
with fellow legislator Raymond Wong.
He is active in grass roots issues and believes that the government is not genuinely committed to the electoral reform promised in the Hong Kong Basic Law
.
, Tanya Chan
, Leung Kwok-hung
and Wong Yuk-man resigned. Their resignation was to trigger a so-called "de facto referendum" when the by-election
was being held at the same year, in order to press the Chinese Government
into allowing universal suffrage
in Hong Kong, according to the Hong Kong Basic Law
. On 16 May 2010, he was re-elected as a lawmaker in the by-election
.
in the discussions over Hong Kong's political development. As two of the party's three legislators, the move left the party and the remaining legislator, Leung Kwok-hung ('Long Hair') in a difficult position. They also said that factional fighting within the party has become so hostile that it was beyond their ability to rectify the situation.
With Wong, he went on to launch People Power
, under which name he continues to sit in Legco.
The Honourable
The prefix The Honourable or The Honorable is a style used before the names of certain classes of persons. It is considered an honorific styling.-International diplomacy:...
Albert Wai-yip Chan , born 3 March 1955 in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
) is a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong
Legislative Council of Hong Kong
The Legislative Council is the unicameral legislature of Hong Kong.-History:The Legislative Council of Hong Kong was set up in 1843 as a colonial legislature under British rule...
representing the New Territories West constituency, except for the periods 1997-2000 and Jan-May 2011. Chan is also a member of the Tsuen Wan
Tsuen Wan District
Tsuen Wan District is one of the 18 districts of Hong Kong. It is located in the New Territories and is served by the Tsuen Wan Line of the MTR metro system. It had a population of 275,527 in 2001...
District
Districts of Hong Kong
The Districts of Hong Kong are the 18 political areas by which Hong Kong is geographically divided. Each district has a district council, which was formerly known as a district board. The districts were established in the early 1980s, when Hong Kong was under British rule...
Council
District Council of Hong Kong
The District Councils, formerly District Boards until 1999, are the local councils for the 18 Districts of Hong Kong. Under the supervision of Home Affairs Bureau of the Hong Kong Government, they are consultative bodies on district administration and affairs.- History :In 1982, under the...
. Before becoming a legislator, Chan was a social worker.
In 1986, together with Lee Wing Tat
Lee Wing Tat
Lee Wing-tat is a Member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong , returned by direct election as representative of the New Territories West constituency. He was the third Chairman of the Democratic Party...
, he founded the Hong Kong Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood
Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood
The Hong Kong Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood is a pro-democracy political party in the Hong Kong. It was established on 26 October 1986. The current chairman of the party is Bruce Liu.-History:...
, and served as Chairman of the party after Lee left in 1990. From 1994-2002 he was a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (Hong Kong)
The Democratic Party is a pro-democracy political party in Hong Kong. It was established on 2 October 1994. The party is currently the second largest party in the Legislative Council, headed by Chairman Albert Ho Chun-yan and, following the November 2008 merger with the Frontier, had around 745...
. In 2006 he co-founded the League of Social Democrats
League of Social Democrats
The League of Social Democrats or LSD is a radical pro-democratic political party in Hong Kong. Its declared purpose is to "take a clear-cut stand to defend the interests of the grassroots"...
but resigned in 2011 over differences with the then leadership to form People Power
People Power (Hong Kong)
People Power , is a political coalition in Hong Kong, taking a radical democratic position. It was established in early 2011 after Raymond Wong and Albert Chan quit the League of Social Democrats, citing disagreement with leader Andrew To and his faction...
with fellow legislator Raymond Wong.
He is active in grass roots issues and believes that the government is not genuinely committed to the electoral reform promised in the Hong Kong Basic Law
Hong Kong Basic Law
The Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, or simply Hong Kong Basic Law, serves as the constitutional document of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China...
.
2010 Five Constituencies Referendum
On 29 January 2010, Chan, and other four lawmakers, Alan LeongAlan Leong
Kah Kit Alan Leong , SC is a member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council, representing the Kowloon East geographical constituency and leader of the Civic Party. He is also vice-chairperson of the Independent Police Complaints Council.-Early career:...
, Tanya Chan
Tanya Chan
Tanya Chan Suk-chong is a Legislative Councillor and is a member of the Central and Western District Council of Hong Kong...
, Leung Kwok-hung
Leung Kwok-hung
Leung Kwok-hung , also known as Long Hair , is a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong , a founding member of the League of Social Democrats and a democratic political activist.-Biography:Leung is a self-proclaimed Trotskyist and a member of April Fifth Action, a radical socialist...
and Wong Yuk-man resigned. Their resignation was to trigger a so-called "de facto referendum" when the by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
was being held at the same year, in order to press the Chinese Government
Government of the People's Republic of China
All power within the government of the People's Republic of China is divided among three bodies: the People's Republic of China, State Council, and the People's Liberation Army . This article is concerned with the formal structure of the state, its departments and their responsibilities...
into allowing universal suffrage
Universal suffrage
Universal suffrage consists of the extension of the right to vote to adult citizens as a whole, though it may also mean extending said right to minors and non-citizens...
in Hong Kong, according to the Hong Kong Basic Law
Hong Kong Basic Law
The Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, or simply Hong Kong Basic Law, serves as the constitutional document of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China...
. On 16 May 2010, he was re-elected as a lawmaker in the by-election
Hong Kong by-election, 2010
The 2010 Hong Kong by-election is an election held on 16 May 2010 in Hong Kong, triggered by the resignation of five pan-democrat Legislative Councillors in January of the same year....
.
Resignation from the League of Social Democrats
In January 2011, Chan and fellow legislator Wong Yuk-man resigned from the League of Social Democrats over differences with the leadership over what stance to take towards the Democratic PartyDemocratic Party (Hong Kong)
The Democratic Party is a pro-democracy political party in Hong Kong. It was established on 2 October 1994. The party is currently the second largest party in the Legislative Council, headed by Chairman Albert Ho Chun-yan and, following the November 2008 merger with the Frontier, had around 745...
in the discussions over Hong Kong's political development. As two of the party's three legislators, the move left the party and the remaining legislator, Leung Kwok-hung ('Long Hair') in a difficult position. They also said that factional fighting within the party has become so hostile that it was beyond their ability to rectify the situation.
With Wong, he went on to launch People Power
People Power (Hong Kong)
People Power , is a political coalition in Hong Kong, taking a radical democratic position. It was established in early 2011 after Raymond Wong and Albert Chan quit the League of Social Democrats, citing disagreement with leader Andrew To and his faction...
, under which name he continues to sit in Legco.