Andrew Wan

Summary

Andrew Wan Siu-kin (Chinese: 尹兆堅; born 7 June 1969) is the former vice-chairman of the Democratic Party and a former member of the Kwai Tsing District Council for Shek Yam constituency. He was elected in the 2016 Hong Kong Legislative Council election through New Territories West.

Andrew Wan Siu-kin
尹兆堅
Member of the Legislative Council
In office
1 October 2016 – 1 December 2020
Preceded byLeung Yiu-chung
ConstituencyNew Territories West
Vice-Chairman of the Democratic Party
In office
2 December 2018 – 6 December 2020
ChairpersonWu Chi-wai
Preceded byLi Wing-shing
Succeeded byLam Cheuk-ting
Edith Leung
In office
14 December 2014 – 4 December 2016
ChairpersonEmily Lau
Preceded byRichard Tsoi
Succeeded byLi Wing-shing
Member of the Kwai Tsing District Council
In office
1 January 2020 – 11 May 2021
Preceded byLi Sai-lung
ConstituencyShek Yam
In office
1 January 2004 – 31 December 2015
Preceded byLi Chi-fai
Succeeded byLi Sai-lung
ConstituencyShek Yam
Personal details
Born (1969-06-07) 7 June 1969 (age 54)
Hong Kong
Political partyNeighbourhood and Worker's Service Centre (2002–08)
Democratic Party (2009–present)
Alma materCity University of Hong Kong (BSS)
University of Essex (MA)
OccupationSocial worker
District councillor
Signature

Career edit

Born in Hong Kong in 1969, Andrew‘s ancestral hometown is Huizhou (惠州), Guangdong province. Wan graduated from the City University of Hong Kong with the Bachelor of Social Science (BSocSc) in Social Work and studied at the University of Essex from 2006 and graduated with Bachelor and Master of Arts in Sociology.

In 2002, he joined the pro-democracy Neighbourhood and Worker's Service Centre (NWSC) as the assistant of legislator Leung Yiu-chung and ran in the 2003 District Council elections, defeating the pro-Beijing Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB) in Shek Yam and was re-elected in 2007. He partnered with Leung Yiu-chung in the 2004 Legislative Council election in the second place and helped Leung to win a seat the LegCo although he was not elected himself.

Wan quit the NWSC in 2008 and joined the Democratic Party in 2009. In the 2014 party leadership election, he was elected as Vice-Chairman of the Democratic Party.[1]

In 2015 Hong Kong district council elections, he lost his seat in the Kwai Tsing District Council to newcoming Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong Li Sai-lung in Shek Yam with a margin of 54 votes. He was elected in the 2016 Hong Kong Legislative Council election through New Territories West.

Arrests edit

Wan was arrested on 1 November 2020, along with six other democrats, in connection with the melee that had broken out in the LegCo on 8 May 2020. On that day, Starry Lee, the incumbent chair of the House Committee of the Legislative Council, had attempted to commence a meeting of the committee after extended stalling tactics of the pan-democratic camp over the previous months.[2]

On 6 January 2021, Wan was among 53 members of the pro-democratic camp who were arrested under the national security law, specifically its provision regarding alleged subversion. The group stood accused of the organisation of and participation in unofficial primary elections held by the camp in July 2020.[3] Wan was released on bail on 7 January.[4]

Wan was charged with subversion on 28 February 2021 along with 46 others politicians and activists. On 25 March 2021, the High Court denied him bail and ordered back to prison until the next hearing on the case.[5]

After he was charged with national security law, Wan announced that he decided to resign as Kwai Tsing District Council member on 11 May 2021.[6]

On 28 May 2021, High Court judge Esther Toh upheld her decision that Wan had his bail denied, citing content on his computer that advocated for Hong Kong independence, and the formation of a group which called for international sanctions against Hong Kong officials who allegedly permitted "excessive police violence".[7] This, the court argued, demonstrated a "persistent and strong devotion" to the agenda of subversion and secession.[8]

References edit

  1. ^ "劉慧卿成功連任民主黨主席". Apple Daily. 14 December 2014.
  2. ^ Ho, Kelly (1 November 2020). "Hong Kong police arrest 7 democrats in connection with chaos during May legislative meeting". Hong Kong Free Press. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  3. ^ "National security law: Hong Kong rounds up 53 pro-democracy activists". BBC News. 6 January 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  4. ^ Chau, Candice (8 January 2021). "'Hong Kong has entered a bitter winter,' says primaries organiser as 52 democrats in mass arrest bailed out". Hong Kong Free Press. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  5. ^ Ho, Kelly (23 March 2021). "Hong Kong court denies bail to ex-lawmaker charged under national security law". Hong Kong Free Press. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  6. ^ "【47 人案】尹兆堅辭任葵青區議員 「我會盡快歸隊,與大家一起守護香港」 | 立場報道 | 立場新聞". 立場新聞 Stand News. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  7. ^ "Result". legalref.judiciary.hk. Archived from the original on 23 June 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  8. ^ "毛孟靜尹兆堅被拒保釋 官指難保不危害國安". 香港文匯網 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 29 May 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
Political offices
Preceded by
Li Chi-fai
Member of Kwai Tsing District Council
Representative for Shek Yam
2004–2015
Succeeded by
Li Sai-lung
Preceded by
Li Sai-lung
Member of Kwai Tsing District Council
Representative for Shek Yam
2020–2021
Vacant
Party political offices
Preceded by Vice Chairperson of Democratic Party
2014–2016
Served alongside: Lo Kin-hei
Succeeded by
Preceded by Vice Chairperson of Democratic Party
2018–present
Served alongside: Lo Kin-hei
Succeeded by
Lam Cheuk-ting
Edith Leung
Legislative Council of Hong Kong
Preceded by Member of Legislative Council
Representative for New Territories West
2016–2020
Vacant