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Tam Yiu-chung

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In this Chinese name, the family name is Tam.
The Honourable
Tam Yiu-chung
GBM, JP
譚耀宗
Tam Yiu-chung in the Legislative Council Complex in 2015
Member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress
In office
18 March 2018 – 11 March 2023
Preceded byRita Fan
Succeeded byStarry Lee
Chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong
In office
28 August 2007 – 17 April 2015
Preceded byMa Lik
Succeeded byStarry Lee
Non-official Member of the Executive Council
In office
1997–2002
Appointed byTung Chee-hwa
Preceded byNew council
Member of the Legislative Council
In office
30 October 1985 – 31 July 1995
Preceded byNew constituency
Succeeded byCheng Yiu-tong
ConstituencyLabour
In office
21 December 1996 – 30 June 1998
(Provisional Legislative Council)
Preceded byNew parliament
Succeeded byParliament abolished
In office
2 July 1998 – 30 September 2016
Preceded byNew parliament
Succeeded byEddie Chu
ConstituencyNew Territories West
Personal details
Born (1949-12-15) 15 December 1949 (age 74)
British Hong Kong
NationalityChinese
Political partyDemocratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB)
Other political
affiliations		Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions (FTU)
SpouseLai Xiang-ming
ResidenceHong Kong
Alma materAustralian National University
London Metropolitan University
OccupationLegislative Councillor
Trade unionists
Politician
Signature
Tam Yiu-chung
Traditional Chinese譚耀宗
Simplified Chinese谭耀宗
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinTán Yaòzōng
Yue: Cantonese
JyutpingTaam4 Jiu6zung1

Tam Yiu-chung, GBM, JP (Chinese: 譚耀宗; born 15 December 1949) is a pro-Beijing politician in Hong Kong. He is a former member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC), former member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong (LegCo) and former chairman of the pro-Beijing Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB).

A member of the traditional left-wing Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions (FTU), Tam was a member of the Hong Kong Basic Law Drafting Committee (BLDC) and among the first elected members of the Legislative Council through the Labour functional constituency in 1985. He was the founding vice-chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong formed in 1992 and its party chairman from 2007 to 2015.

He was elected to the Legislative Council of Hong Kong in New Territories West from 1998 until his retirement in 2016. A member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Tam was elected to the National People's Congress in 2017 and succeeded Rita Fan to become the Hong Kong representative in the NPCSC. On 15 January 2021, the United States Department of the Treasury placed sanctions on six officials, including Tam, responsible for the mass arrests of pro-democratic activists on 6 January.[1]

Early career

[edit]

Tam was born in a Hakka family of Huiyang ancestry in Hong Kong on 15 December 1949. In 1968, when he was a 19-year-old window display designer, he joined a retail union. He later rose to be the union's vice-chairman in 1975 and become one of the vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions (FTU), the largest pro-Communist trade union in Hong Kong, with Cheng Yiu-tong in 1982.

After the Sino-British Joint Declaration finalised which determined the Chinese sovereignty of Hong Kong after 1997 in December 1984, Tam was appointed by the Beijing government to the Hong Kong Basic Law Drafting Committee (BLDC) which responsible for the drafting of the mini-constitution of Hong Kong after 1997 in February 1985. In September 1985, he was first elected to the Legislative Council of Hong Kong (LegCo) in the first ever Legislative Council election as one of the Labour representatives, along with Pang Chun-hoi, president of the pro-Kuomintang Hong Kong and Kowloon Trades Union Council (TUC).[2]

During the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, Tam and Cheng Yiu-tong joined the pro-democrats' demonstrations in support of the Tiananmen students. After the massacre on 4 June, he strongly condemned the Beijing authorities for the bloody suppression. However, he soon turned muted on the events with other pro-Beijing leftists.[3] In 1992, he co-founded the pro-Beijing party the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB) with other local pro-Communist leaders. He became the founding vice-chairman of the party.

In the 1995 Legislative Council elections, he gave up his Legislative Council seat in the Labour constituency to fight in Kowloon Southeast, one of 18 geographical constituencies elected by the public at large, but narrowly defeated by the Democratic Party candidate Fred Li Wah-ming, finishing a little over 2,000 votes behind.[2]

SAR Legislative Council

[edit]

In 1996, he was elected to the Provisional Legislative Council tightly controlled by Beijing on the eve of the unification by the 400-strong Selection Committee. In the first SAR Legislative Council election, he was elected through the New Territories West.[2]

In 1997, he was appointed by Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa to the Executive Council which he served until 2002. He was also appointed chairman of the Elderly Commission from 1997 to 2005.[2] In 1999, he was awarded the Gold Bauhinia Star (GBS) by the government.

After the 2003 District Council election the DAB's disastrous performance, the party chairman Tsang Yok-sing resigned from his office and succeeded by Ma Lik. He was re-elected to become the vice-chairman for the second time. In 2007, after being acting chairman for the preceding three weeks, he succeeded Ma Lik who died of cancer to become the party chairman.[4]

Under his chairmanship, the DAB received electoral victories in the 2007 and 2011 District Council elections. In the 2012 Legislative Council election, he led the party to achieve the greatest victory in history, bagging 13 seats in total, by deploying two and three tickets in Hong Kong Island and New Territories West respectively and having all the tickets being elected except for Lau Kong-wah's ticket in District Council (Second).

In February 2015, he announced that he will step down as DAB chairman to open the door for a new generation of leaders.[2] On 17 April 2015, Starry Lee succeeded Tam in the party's leadership election.[5] He received Grand Bauhinia Medal (GBM), the highest award in the Hong Kong medal system, by the government on 1 July 2016.

National People's Congress

[edit]

He did not seek for re-election in the 2016 Legislative Council election along with three other party seniors Tsang Yok-sing, Ip Kwok-him and Chan Kam-lam.

Tam Yiu-chung had been also a Hong Kong deputy to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) since 2003.[2] In 2017, he switched from the CPPCC to run for the National People's Congress (NPC) and succeeded Rita Fan to be the Hong Kong representative in the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC).

In March 2018, he warned of the recent constitutional amendments in China meant Hongkongers who call for an end to "one-party dictatorship" in China, a slogan of the pro-democrats and one of the five pillars of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China (HKASPDMC) might be disqualified from running for local office.[6]

In the same month, Tam condemned Occupy Central co-founder Benny Tai for his remarks on the possibility of Hong Kong independence after the end of "dictatorship" in China. Tam urged Hong Kong to urgently implement Article 23 of the Basic Law to criminalise a series of acts including sedition, treason and subversion. He also asked if it was still appropriate for Tai to keep his job at HKU.[7]

In October 2020, Tam said that discussions about Hong Kong independence should not be allowed in schools, and claimed it would violate the National Security Law.[8]

In November 2020, Tam warned that pro-democracy lawmakers in the Legislative Council who were using filibustering techniques may be disqualified from their positions.[9] In response, the pro-democracy lawmakers threatened to collectively quit if any of them were disqualified.[9] Following the disqualification of the 4 lawmakers, Tam said that he strongly supported the decision.[10]

In January 2021, following repeated calls from Tam to reform the judiciary, Chief Justice Geoffrey Ma said that the judiciary should not be reformed simply due to the pro-Beijing party being unhappy with the court's rulings.[11]

In February 2021, Tam wrote that Hong Kong's political system needed reforming, and that the NPCSC was responsible for resolving issues that the Hong Kong could not fix by itself.[12] Also in February, Tam linked the city with the CCP, asking "If you oppose the Chinese Communist Party, how can you maintain that you genuinely safeguard the interests of Hong Kong?"[13]

In March 2021, Tam led the "Sign For HK 2021 campaign," which claimed to have collected 2.38 million signatures from those in Hong Kong in support of changes to only allow "patriots" to serve in the government.[14] The deputy chief of the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (PORI) said he was skeptical of the authenticity of the signatures, and said that it was impossible to collect so many signatures in such a short time.[14]

Also in March 2021, Tam suggested that pan-democrats could only blame themselves for the enacting of laws to ensure only "patriots" serve in the government.[15] After the NPCSC passed legislation to allow only "patriots" to serve in the government, Tam claimed that Hong Kong could continue with democratic development after normality is restored.[16]

In October 2021, Tam stated that "When the foreign powers invaded China in 1900, they looted and burned down the Old Summer Palace in today's Beijing. That's a historical fact and there's no alternative way to interpret it."[17] However, the looting and burning of the palace happened in 1860, during the Second Opium War.[18]

Though Tam had originally supported the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, in 2021 he claimed that he did not know all of the facts, and when organizers of the annual Tiananmen vigil were arrested under the national security law, Tam said authorities were just following the law.[19]

On 5 January 2022, Carrie Lam announced new warnings and restrictions against social gathering due to potential COVID-19 outbreaks.[20] One day later, it was discovered that many government officials attended a birthday party hosted by Witman Hung Wai-man, with 222 guests.[21][22][23] At least one guest tested positive with COVID-19, causing many guests to be quarantined.[23] Tam later said that he saw no issues with the private party, and instead blamed the crew of Cathay Pacific, as well as Frank Chan Fan for allowing aircrew to quarantine at home.[24] Tam also defended one guest, Caspar Tsui, and said that it was Tsui's job to meet with people from various sectors.[25]

Tam tested positive for COVID-19 on 30 June 2022, and was unable to attend July 1 celebrations with CCP general secretary Xi Jinping.[26]

In July 2022, Tam said that pro-democracy figures should not cut ties with the Chinese Communist Party.[27]

In August 2022, after Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan and John Lee vowed "The Hong Kong government would fully support and facilitate all necessary measures by Beijing to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity," Tam said Hong Kong did not have much decision making power and that "It depends on what Beijing wants us to do."[28]

In November 2022, Tam said he would not run for the next NPCSC election, and that he was proud of his previous work on the national security law, as well as electoral reforms.[29]

In November 2022, Tam said that if Hong Kong courts allow Jimmy Lai to use a UK-based lawyer, the NPCSC would need to step in to block the use of foreign lawyers and clear any misunderstandings about the national security law; Tam also denied that he was influencing the court's decision.[30] In contrast, Ronny Tong said that it was inappropriate to comment on cases before rulings were issued.[31] Professor Johannes Chan Man-mun, former law dean of HKU, said that the NPCSC interpretation "may severely compromise Hong Kong as an international city," and that calls to have the NPCSC intervene before the court had issued its decision were "disturbing" and could undermine the rule of law and judicial independence in the city.[32]

Tam earlier said that the only way to resolve the issue was to have the NPCSC intervene; in December 2022, Tam backtracked and claimed "I've never insisted on an interpretation."[33] Tam also later claimed that "it would be best" if Hong Kong could handle the issue without the NPCSC.[34] In January 2023, after the NPCSC ruled that the Chief Executive could ban foreign lawyers, Tam said that changing Hong Kong law to align it with the national security law would have no impact on the legal system, and would only bring benefits.[35]

In December 2022, Tam said that defendants charged under the national security law could have their trials in mainland China if they cannot find a lawyer in Hong Kong.[36]

In January 2023, Tam said that all foreign lawyers should be banned from national security cases, and that "It is clearer to draw a line in the sand by ruling out foreign lawyers from taking part in national security cases as it is difficult to tell whether the case involves state secrets in the first place."[37]

Personal life

[edit]

Tam studied Adult Education at Australian National University and Trade Union Studies at the London Metropolitan University. He is married with two sons.[2] His sons are Australian citizens and hold Australian passports.[38][39]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Brunnstrom, Humeyra Pamuk, David (15 January 2021). "U.S. announces new sanctions on six linked to Hong Kong mass arrests". Reuters. Retrieved 17 January 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Cheung, Tony (8 February 2015). "Outgoing DAB chairman Tam Yiu-chung looks to a new generation". South China Morning Post.
  3. ^ 六•四23周年 回望當年 建制派熱血撐學運. Apple Daily. 25 May 2012.
  4. ^ 關於我們 > 歷史 > 大事年表 > 2007. The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong.
  5. ^ 民 建 聯 領 導 層 改 選 李 慧 琼 當 選 主 席. RTHK. 17 April 2015.
  6. ^ "Mainland official agrees with Hong Kong poll ban for anyone decrying 'one-party dictatorship'". South China Morning Post. 21 March 2018.
  7. ^ "Protesters call on HKU to fire Benny Tai". South China Morning Post. 3 April 2018.
  8. ^ "Yeung under fire over 'unfeasible' comment".
  9. ^ a b "All opposition lawmakers threaten to quit as filibustering showdown looms". South China Morning Post. 9 November 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  10. ^ "All Hong Kong opposition lawmakers quit over Beijing resolution". South China Morning Post. 12 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  11. ^ "Give us details of reforms required, Hong Kong chief justice tells critics". South China Morning Post. 5 January 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  12. ^ "Top Beijing advisers ramp up calls for Hong Kong political system overhaul". South China Morning Post. 19 February 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  13. ^ "Loyalty, not love, key to 'patriots governing Hong Kong': political heavyweight". South China Morning Post. 25 February 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  14. ^ a b Ho, Kelly (22 March 2021). "Hong Kong pro-Beijing group claims over 2.38 million signatures in support of electoral changes". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  15. ^ "Pro-Beijing heavyweight defends security law, electoral overhaul as moderate steps". South China Morning Post. 26 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  16. ^ "Overhaul abolishes district council presence - RTHK". news.rthk.hk. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  17. ^ "Hong Kong bookstore slammed for selling title 'glorifying' invasion of China". South China Morning Post. 18 October 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  18. ^ Paul French and Oscar Holland (14 February 2021). "Debates over Beijing's derelict Old Summer Palace are about more than history". CNN. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  19. ^ McLaughlin, Timothy (20 October 2021). "How Hong Kong's Elite Turned on Democracy". The Atlantic. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  20. ^ "Bars, gyms to close, 6pm restaurant curfew as Hong Kong ramps up Omicron battle". South China Morning Post. 5 January 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  21. ^ "衞生防護中心最新發現洪為民宴會人數為222人 - RTHK".
  22. ^ Hong Kong Finds New Suspected Covid Case at Official’s Scandal-Hit Birthday Party
  23. ^ a b "All 170 guests of Covid-19 scandal-hit birthday party sent to quarantine". South China Morning Post. 7 January 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  24. ^ "Pro-Beijing camp closes ranks over birthday party scandal, blames Cathay". South China Morning Post. 8 January 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  25. ^ "A Hong Kong minister's expected exit hints at Beijing's views on accountability". South China Morning Post. 27 January 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  26. ^ "Hong Kong lawmaker tests positive for Covid after posing for photo with Xi Jinping". South China Morning Post. 3 July 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  27. ^ Standard, The. "Pan-democrats need to 'embrace change'". The Standard. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  28. ^ "Hong Kong leader vows to help safeguard nation after Pelosi visits Taiwan". South China Morning Post. 3 August 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  29. ^ "Tam Yiu-chung to bow out from NPC - RTHK". news.rthk.hk. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  30. ^ "Tam Yiu-chung backs NPCSC interpretation on UK lawyer - RTHK". news.rthk.hk. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  31. ^ "'Beijing unlikely to allow foreign lawyers in Hong Kong's national security cases'". South China Morning Post. 27 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  32. ^ "Hong Kong asks Beijing to interpret national security law after Jimmy Lai victory". South China Morning Post. 28 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  33. ^ "Strong chance no Hong Kong national security law interpretation: Priscilla Leung". South China Morning Post. 13 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  34. ^ Chau, Candice (15 December 2022). "Beijing interpretation of issue in Lai case welcome but may be overkill, says Hong Kong gov't adviser Ronny Tong". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  35. ^ "Beijing tells HK to put local laws in line with NSL - RTHK". news.rthk.hk. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  36. ^ Li, Almond (5 December 2022). "National security defendants can be tried in mainland China if no Hong Kong lawyer available, top official says". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  37. ^ "Overseas lawyers could be 'banned from Hong Kong security trials within 6 months'". South China Morning Post. 24 January 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  38. ^ "Hong Kong's ruling elite fight to extinguish freedom whilst clutching foreign passports, money and property abroad". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. 4 July 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  39. ^ "Chinese Australians warn of sleeper agents". the Australian.
[edit]
Legislative Council of Hong Kong
New constituency Member of Legislative Council
Representative for Labour
1985–1995
Served alongside: Pang Chun-hoi 		Succeeded by
New parliament Member of Provisional Legislative Council
1997–1998 		Replaced by Legislative Council
Member of Legislative Council
Representative for New Territories West
1998–2016 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chairman of Finance Committee
2007–2008 		Succeeded by
Political offices
New title Non-official Member of Executive Council
1997–2002 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Chairman of Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong
2007–2015 		Succeeded by
National People's Congress
Preceded by Member of Standing Committee
Representative for Hong Kong SAR
2018–2023 		Succeeded by
Order of precedence
Preceded by
Li Dak-sum
Recipients of the Grand Bauhinia Medal
 Hong Kong order of precedence
Member of the Legislative Council 		Succeeded by
Chan Wing-kee
Recipients of the Grand Bauhinia Medal
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