Albert Chan Wai-yip (born 3 March 1955,
Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delta i ...
) is a former member of the
Legislative Council of Hong Kong
The Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (LegCo) is the unicameral legislature of Hong Kong. It sits under China's " one country, two systems" constitutional arrangement, and is the power centre of Hong Ko ...
representing the
New Territories West
New Territories West (NTW) is the western part of Hong Kong's New Territories, covering Yuen Long, Tuen Mun, Tsuen Wan, Kwai Tsing and the Islands District.
History
Settlements in the area, except the Islands District, have been connected by the ...
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
The Tsuen Wan District Council () is the district council for the Tsuen Wan District in Hong Kong. It is one of 18 such councils. The Tsuen Wan District Council currently consists of 21 members, of which the district is divided into 19 constitue ...
.
Political career
In 1986, together with
Lee Wing-tat
Lee Wing-tat (; born 25 December 1955) is a former Member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong (LegCo), returned by direct election as representative of the New Territories West constituency. He was the former third Chairman of the Democr ...
, he founded the
Hong Kong Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood
The Hong Kong Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood (ADPL) is a Hong Kong pro-democracy social-liberal political party catering to grassroots interest with a strong basis in Sham Shui Po. Established on 26 October 1986, it was one ...
. From 1994–2002 he was a member of the
Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to:
*Democratic Party (United States)
Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to:
Active parties Africa
*Botswana Democratic Party
*Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea
*Gabonese Democratic Party
*Demo ...
. In 2006 he co-founded the
League of Social Democrats
The League of Social Democrats (LSD) is a social democratic party in Hong Kong. Chaired by Chan Po-ying, wife of Leung Kwok-hung, it positions itself as the radical wing of the pro-democracy camp and stresses on "street actions" and "parliame ...
but resigned in 2011 over differences with the then leadership to form
People Power with fellow legislator
Wong Yuk-man
Raymond Wong Yuk-man (; born 1 October 1951) is a Hong Kong communist, pro-china, author, current affairs commentator and radio host. He is a former member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong (LegCo), representing the geographical constitue ...
. 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
The Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China is a national law of China that serves as the organic law for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). Comprising nine chapters, 160 ...
.
2010 Five Constituencies Referendum
On 29 January 2010, Chan, together with four other lawmakers (two from
Civic Party
The Civic Party (CP) is a pro-democracy liberal political party in Hong Kong. It is currently chaired by barrister Alan Leong.
The party was formed in 2006 on the basis of the Basic Law Article 45 Concern Group, which was derived from the ...
, two from LSD)
Alan Leong
Alan Leong Kah-kit (; born 22 February 1958), SC is a former member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council, representing the Kowloon East geographical constituency, and the sitting-Chairman of the Civic Party. He was also vice-chairperson of th ...
,
Tanya Chan
Tanya Chan (; born 14 September 1971) is a Hong Kong politician who served as a Legislative Councillor representing Hong Kong Island from 2008 to 2012, and again from 2016 to 2020. She is a founding member of the Civic Party. Chan is sometimes kn ...
,
Leung Kwok-hung
Leung Kwok-hung ( zh, t=梁國雄; born 27 March 1956), also known by his nickname "Long Hair" (), is a Hong Kong politician and social activist. He was a member of the Legislative Council, representing the New Territories East. A Trotskyi ...
and
Wong Yuk-man
Raymond Wong Yuk-man (; born 1 October 1951) is a Hong Kong communist, pro-china, author, current affairs commentator and radio host. He is a former member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong (LegCo), representing the geographical constitue ...
, 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
Universal suffrage (also called universal franchise, general suffrage, and common suffrage of the common man) gives the right to vote to all adult citizens, regardless of wealth, income, gender, social status, race, ethnicity, or political stan ...
in Hong Kong in compliance with Hong Kong's constitution, the
Basic Law. On 16 May 2010, he was re-elected as a lawmaker in
the by-election.
People Power
In January 2011, Chan and fellow legislator
Wong Yuk-man
Raymond Wong Yuk-man (; born 1 October 1951) is a Hong Kong communist, pro-china, author, current affairs commentator and radio host. He is a former member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong (LegCo), representing the geographical constitue ...
resigned from the League of Social Democrats over differences with the leadership over what stance to take towards the
Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to:
*Democratic Party (United States)
Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to:
Active parties Africa
*Botswana Democratic Party
*Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea
*Gabonese Democratic Party
*Demo ...
in the discussions over Hong Kong's political development. The move left the party and its remaining legislator,
Leung Kwok-hung
Leung Kwok-hung ( zh, t=梁國雄; born 27 March 1956), also known by his nickname "Long Hair" (), is a Hong Kong politician and social activist. He was a member of the Legislative Council, representing the New Territories East. A Trotskyi ...
('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.
Wong Yuk-man, Albert Chan quit party
, RTHK, 23 January 2011
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
Tuen Mun or Castle Peak is an area near the mouth of Tuen Mun River and Castle Peak Bay in the New Territories, Hong Kong. It was one of the earliest settlements in what is now Hong Kong and can be dated to the Neolithic period. In the more ...
Lok tsui Constituency's candidate Albert Ho Chun-yan, the then-chairman of Democratic Party. However, he was defeated. 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
The League of Social Democrats (LSD) is a social democratic party in Hong Kong. Chaired by Chan Po-ying, wife of Leung Kwok-hung, it positions itself as the radical wing of the pro-democracy camp and stresses on "street actions" and "parliame ...
under the banner of "radical democrats". The list received 28,529 votes and failed to retain the seat.
References
External links
Legco biography
Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chan, Albert
1955 births
Living people
Hong Kong social workers
Hong Kong Christians
University of Manitoba alumni
University of British Columbia alumni
Charter 08 signatories
Hong Kong Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood politicians
Democratic Party (Hong Kong) politicians
League of Social Democrats politicians
People Power (Hong Kong) politicians
United Democrats of Hong Kong politicians
District councillors of Tsuen Wan District
Members of the Regional Council of Hong Kong
HK LegCo Members 1991–1995
HK LegCo Members 1995–1997
HK LegCo Members 2000–2004
HK LegCo Members 2004–2008
HK LegCo Members 2008–2012
HK LegCo Members 2012–2016