Albert Chan

Albert Chan Wai-yip
陳偉業
Member of the Legislative Council
In office
17 May 2010 – 30 September 2016
Succeeded byCheng Chung-tai
ConstituencyNew Territories West
In office
1 October 2000 – 28 January 2010
ConstituencyNew Territories West
In office
1 October 1995 – 30 June 1997
Preceded byNew constituency
Succeeded byReplaced by Provisional Legislative Council
ConstituencyNew Territories Central
In office
9 October 1991 – 30 September 1995
Preceded byNew constituency
Succeeded byConstituency abolished
ConstituencyNew Territories South
Personal details
Born (1955-03-03) 3 March 1955 (age 69)
Hong Kong
NationalityChinese
Political partyPeople Power (2011–)
Other political
affiliations
ADPL (1986–90)
United Democrats (1990–94)
Democratic (1994–2002)
LSD (2006–11)
SpouseLo Kit-mui
Alma materUniversity of Manitoba (BA, BSW)
University of British Columbia (MSW)
OccupationLegislative Councillor
formerly social worker
Albert Chan Wai-yip
Traditional Chinese陳偉業
Simplified Chinese陈伟业
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinChén Wěiyè
Yue: Cantonese
JyutpingCan4 Wai5 Jip6

Albert Chan Wai-yip 陳偉業 (born 3 March 1955, Hong Kong), also known by his nickname "Big Piece", is a former member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong representing the New Territories West constituency. He has served as a legislator from 1991 to 2016 except for the periods 1997–2000 and Jan–May 2010. Chan, formerly a social worker, was a member of the Tsuen Wan District Council.

Political career

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In 1986, together with Lee Wing-tat, he founded the Hong Kong Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood. 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 Wong Yuk-man. 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.[1]

2010 Five Constituencies Referendum

[edit]

On 29 January 2010, Chan, together with four other lawmakers (two from Civic Party, two from LSD) Alan Leong, Tanya Chan, Leung Kwok-hung and Wong Yuk-man, resigned their seats in the Legislative Council. They intended that the popular vote in the by-elections triggered by their resignations would act as a de facto referendum on electoral reform, pressing the PRC Government into allowing universal suffrage in Hong Kong in compliance with Hong Kong's constitution, the Basic Law.[2] On 16 May 2010, he was re-elected as a lawmaker in the by-election.[3]

People Power

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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 Party in the discussions over Hong Kong's political development. The move left the party and its 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.[4]

With Wong, he went on to launch People Power, under which name he continues to sit in Legco. In 2011 regional elections, he went against Tuen Mun Lok tsui Constituency's candidate Albert Ho Chun-yan, the then-chairman of Democratic Party. However, he was defeated.[citation needed] In 2012 legislative elections, Chan was reelected for a seventh time. He chose to make way for the youngster in the 2016 Legislative Council election, standing as a second candidate of Wong Ho-ming of its ally League of Social Democrats under the banner of "radical democrats". The list received 28,529 votes and failed to retain the seat.[citation needed]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ RTHK.org, Legislator says govt green paper intended to delay democratic development]; retrieved 5 January 2009.
  2. ^ "Hong Kong MPs quit in attempt to push Beijing towards direct elections". The Guardian. 26 January 2010. Archived from the original on 11 October 2021.
  3. ^ Pro-democracy lawmakers win by-elections Archived 28 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Wong Yuk-man, Albert Chan quit party Archived 13 September 2012 at archive.today, RTHK, 23 January 2011
[edit]
Legislative Council of Hong Kong
New constituency Member of Legislative Council
Representative for New Territories South
1991–1995
Served alongside: Lee Wing-tat
Succeeded by
Himself
as Representative for New Territories Central
Preceded by
Himself
as Representative for New Territories South
Member of Legislative Council
Representative for New Territories Central
1995–1997
Replaced by Provisional Legislative Council