Lee Wing Tat
Encyclopedia
Lee Wing-tat is a Member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong
(LegCo), returned by direct election as representative of the New Territories West constituency. He was the third Chairman of the Democratic Party
(DP). He is seen as a conservative inside the party.
in 1979. He graduated from the Faculty of Science of the University of Hong Kong with a pass. He first participated in politics in the 1980s and was the Vice-Chairman of the Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood
(ADPL). He was elected to the District Council and the Regional Council in 1985 and 1986 respectively. He was a founding member of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China.
In 1989, during the visit of Geoffrey Howe
to Hong Kong, Lee protested at the conference and called Howe's speech "bullshit".
He left the ADPL and formed the United Democrats of Hong Kong
(香港民主同盟，港同盟), which developed into the Democratic Party in 1994. He was elected to the Legco in the same year. He once lost his seat in the 2000 election but was re-elected in 2004. He was vice-chairman of Democratic Party from 2002 to 2004 and was elected Chairman at the sixth AGM of the DP in succession to Yeung Sum
. His challenger for the Chairman's post Chan King-ming was elected Vice-Chairman instead.
, but only received 52 nominations and thus failed to get on the ballot. As a result, he withdrew from the election on 15 June 2005. His participation in the election faced great criticisms within the party and the pro-democracy camp.
" of the party. In early 2006, someone alleged to the Apple Daily
that some senior members were involved in spying activities of China. The "suspects" were all Young Turks and included vice-chairman Chan King Ming
and Gary Fan
. The Young Turks later held a press conference to criticise the list of "suspects", with some even directly naming Lee as responsible.
– to hold a popular vote for five new District Council functional constituencies
.
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...
(LegCo), returned by direct election as representative of the New Territories West constituency. He was the third Chairman 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...
(DP). He is seen as a conservative inside the party.
Early life
He was elected vice-chairman of the Hong Kong University Students' UnionThe Hong Kong University Students' Union
The Hong Kong University Students' Union is one of the two officially recognized student organizations in the University of Hong Kong, alongside with HKU Postgraduate Student Association.-History:...
in 1979. He graduated from the Faculty of Science of the University of Hong Kong with a pass. He first participated in politics in the 1980s and was the Vice-Chairman of the 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:...
(ADPL). He was elected to the District Council and the Regional Council in 1985 and 1986 respectively. He was a founding member of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China.
In 1989, during the visit of Geoffrey Howe
Geoffrey Howe
Richard Edward Geoffrey Howe, Baron Howe of Aberavon, CH, QC, PC is a former British Conservative politician. He was Margaret Thatcher's longest-serving Cabinet minister, successively holding the posts of Chancellor of the Exchequer, Foreign Secretary, and finally Leader of the House of Commons...
to Hong Kong, Lee protested at the conference and called Howe's speech "bullshit".
He left the ADPL and formed the United Democrats of Hong Kong
United Democrats of Hong Kong
The United Democrats of Hong Kong was a pro-democracy political party in Hong Kong. By 1995 it was merged with the Meeting Point to form the Democratic Party...
(香港民主同盟，港同盟), which developed into the Democratic Party in 1994. He was elected to the Legco in the same year. He once lost his seat in the 2000 election but was re-elected in 2004. He was vice-chairman of Democratic Party from 2002 to 2004 and was elected Chairman at the sixth AGM of the DP in succession to Yeung Sum
Yeung Sum
Yeung Sum SBS JP is the second Chairman of the Democratic Party , a pro-democracy political party in Hong Kong. He is a lecturer in the University of Hong Kong. He was a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong.-Biography:...
. His challenger for the Chairman's post Chan King-ming was elected Vice-Chairman instead.
Chief Executive Election
He declared his intention to run in the Hong Kong Chief Executive ElectionHong Kong Chief Executive election, 2005
The Hong Kong Chief Executive election of 2005 was held to fill the vacancy of the territory's top office. Tung Chee Hwa submitted a resignation document to the Chinese government, and it was officially approved on 12 March. On 24 June, Donald Tsang was sworn in as the new Chief Executive on 16 June...
, but only received 52 nominations and thus failed to get on the ballot. As a result, he withdrew from the election on 15 June 2005. His participation in the election faced great criticisms within the party and the pro-democracy camp.
Criticisms
Lee was criticized for suppressing the second-tier members and "Young TurksYoung Turks
The Young Turks , from French: Les Jeunes Turcs) were a coalition of various groups favouring reformation of the administration of the Ottoman Empire. The movement was against the absolute monarchy of the Ottoman Sultan and favoured a re-installation of the short-lived Kanûn-ı Esâsî constitution...
" of the party. In early 2006, someone alleged to the Apple Daily
Apple Daily
Apple Daily is a Hong-Kong-based tabloid-style newspaper founded in 1995 by Jimmy Lai Chee Ying and is published by its company, Next Media. A sister publication carrying the same name is published in Taiwan, Republic of China under a joint venture between Next Media and other Taiwanese companies...
that some senior members were involved in spying activities of China. The "suspects" were all Young Turks and included vice-chairman Chan King Ming
Chan King Ming
Chan King-ming was the vice-chairman of the Democratic Party of Hong Kong from 2004-06. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Environmental Science Program of the Chinese University of Hong Kong.-Academics:...
and Gary Fan
Gary Fan
Gary Fan Kwok Wai is a full-time member of Sai Kung District Council in Hong Kong. He is a member of the Neo Democrats political grouping and one of its four convenors...
. The Young Turks later held a press conference to criticise the list of "suspects", with some even directly naming Lee as responsible.
Departure
Lee did not seek a second term as party chairman in the party's internal elections in December 2006.Views, policy positions and Legco voting
In June 2010, he voted with the party in favour of the government’s 2012 constitutional reform package, which included the late amendment by the Democratic Party – accepted by the Beijing governmentGovernment 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...
– to hold a popular vote for five new District Council functional constituencies
Functional constituency
In the political systems of Hong Kong and Macau, a functional constituency is a professional or special interest group involved in the electoral process...
.