Alan Leong

Early career

Leong graduated with an LLB from the University of Hong Kong and an LLM from Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge. He was chairman of Hong Kong Bar Association from 2001 to 2003.

Political career

As chairperson of Hong Kong Bar Association, he mobilised many barristers to participate in the July 1 protests. He won a seat in the Legislative Council in the 2004 election.

In January 2011, Leong was elected the second leader of the Civic Party, replacing Audrey Eu.

2007 Chief Executive election

Leong was nominated by the Civic Party as its party candidate for the Chief Executive election in 2007. He was also supported by the pan-democrats, including the Democratic Party.

Leong later secured 132 nominations and became the first Pan-democracy camp candidate to succeed in joining the Chief Executive election. In the end Leong lost to Donald Tsang in the CE election on 25 March 2007, gaining 123 votes from the 800-member Election Committee.

"Five Constituencies Referendum"

Main article: 2010 Hong Kong by-election

In January 2010, Leong and other four lawmakers, Albert Chan, Tanya Chan, Leung Kwok-hung and Wong Yuk-man resigned their seats to force by-elections, in which they all stood, which they called on to be treated as a referendum to press the Chinese Central Government into allowing universal suffrage in Hong Kong. On 16 May 2010, he was re-elected as a lawmaker in the by-election.

Violence may sometimes be THE solution to a problem

In a public forum held between the HKU president and college faculties and students dated July 18, 2019 during 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, Leong claimed that "Violence may sometime be THE solution to a problem", which was refuted by the President Xiang Zhang.

Dissolution of the Civic Party and retirement

After the Civic Party failed to form a new executive committee in December 2022, Leong stated the party would be dissolved in 2023. He also announced his intention to retire from politics after the party's dissolution, saying he was "old enough to retire as a politician".

Personal life

Leong is married with three children.

References

References

1. link. (30 March 2015)
2. (8 January 2011). "Civic Party elects new leader, chairman". [[RTHK]].
3. (26 January 2010). "Hong Kong MPs quit in attempt to push Beijing towards direct elections". the Guardian.
4. "Pro-democracy lawmakers win by-elections".
5. "University president under fire for stance on protesters". University World News.
6. Ho, Kelly. (2022-12-05). "'That's the end of it': Hong Kong pro-democracy Civic Party to fold after no nominees received for exec. committee".