Michael Pang Cheuk-kei (Chinese: 彭卓棋; born 20 June 1994) is a Hong Kong politician and former Southern District Councillor. After being arrested for joining pro-democracy primaries as one of the Hong Kong 47, Pang joined a pro-Beijing group.
Michael Pang | |
|---|---|
彭卓棋 | |
.png) Pang in 2020 | |
| Southern District Councillor | |
| In office 1 January 2020 – 15 September 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Lee Pui-ying |
| Constituency | Stanley & Shek O |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 June 1994 Hong Kong |
| Political party | League of Social Democrats (2009–11) |
| Relations | Jordan Pang (brother) |
| Alma mater | University of Hong Kong (BSS) |
Early career
editBorn to a Hongkonger father and a Korean mother,[1] Pang studied in Shatin Christ College for secondary school, during which he worked with Wong Yuk-man from League of Social Democrats between 2009 and 2011. He was admitted to the University of Hong Kong after the first Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination in 2012, studying politics and history.
Once participated in the 2014 Umbrella Movement protest,[2] Pang lost Hong Kong University Students' Union elections in 2014 and 2015, after one of his proposed executive colleague was revealed to be a member of the Communist Youth League of China. Pang rejected any pro-China claims and insisted he was unaware of this information.[3]
Political career
edit
Pang joined pro-democracy Hong Kong South Concern Group in 2019, and ran in the local elections for Stanley & Shek O constituency where he had been focusing on. With the increased turnout and support amidst the anti-extradition bill protest, Pang defeated five-time councillor Lee Pui-ying with 49.9% of votes.[4]
In his term of office, Pang urged the authorities to rebuild Shek O Lovers Bridge, the tourist attraction destroyed by 2018 Typhoon Mangkhut.[5] The bridge re-opened to public in April 2021.[6] He also worked with the authorities on the renovation of two historic buildings, Shek O Bus Terminus and Stanley Post Office,[7][8] and the preservation of Stanley Road heritage trail.[9]
In the 2020 pro-democracy primaries for the now-postponed Legislative Council election, Pang was defeated in the Hong Kong Island constituency with the fewest votes.[10]
In January 2021, he was arrested by the national security police for his role in the primaries, and was subsequently charged with subversion along with others in the "Hong Kong 47" case. He was one of the few defendants released on bail by court in early March,[11] but will have to give up travel documents, observe a curfew and report to police regularly, in addition to a ban of making remarks that could be deemed as endangering national security.[12]
Under the new law that requires oath-taking for District Councillors, Pang's oath of office that pledges to uphold the Basic Law and bear allegiance to the Hong Kong Government was deemed invalid.[13] Pang, therefore, was unseated on 15 September 2021.[14]
Pang was later reported to have joined pro-China Basic Law Student Centre, giving a speech as the President of the Centre in 2022 which quoted Chinese President Xi Jinping and promoted Chinese constitution, raising concern if Pang joined the pro-Beijing camp.[15][16]
On 30 May 2024, Pang was found guilty of subversion in the primaries case, along with 13 other defendants.[17][18]
Electoral performance
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ind. democrat | Michael Pang Cheuk-kei | 2,680 | 49.86 | ||
| Nonpartisan | Lee Pui-ying | 2,592 | 48.22 | ||
| Nonpartisan | Chan Shun-yee | 103 | 1.92 | ||
| Majority | 88 | 1.64 | |||
| Turnout | 5,395 | 66.52 | |||
| Ind. democrat gain from Nonpartisan | Swing | ||||
References
edit- ^ 황덕현 (2019-12-16). ""내 피의 절반은 민주화 한국의 것, 홍콩시위에 관심 감사"". 뉴스1 (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-03-19.
- ^ "港大兩候選內閣傾向不「退聯」". Ming Pao (in Chinese). 2015-01-11. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
- ^ "【區選光復香港】港大學生會前候選會長洗清紅底嫌疑 落戶赤柱". Apple Daily. Archived from the original on 2019-10-09.
- ^ "Elected District Council members". Hong Kong Government. 2019-11-25. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
- ^ 陳諾希, 郭倩雯, 鄧栢良 (2020-02-14). "【情人節】石澳情人橋倒塌逾17個月 熱門拍拖點修復無期". 香港01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 2023-03-19.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ 黎靜珊 (2021-04-20). "石澳情人橋正式重開 保留粉藍色原貌 康文署：比以前更加穩固". HK01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 2023-03-19.
- ^ "石澳巴士總站破落 揭保育「三不管」 地署短租予新巴齊撇責 古蹟辦稱會「提供技術意見」". Ming Pao (in Traditional Chinese). 2021-06-14. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
- ^ "最古老赤柱郵局遭城巴撞毀 古蹟辦等部門視察". Sing Tao Headline (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 2023-03-19.
- ^ "Minutes of the 8th Meeting of the Southern District Council (SDC) (2020-2023)" (PDF). Southern District Council.
- ^ 林, 劍; 羅, 家晴 (2020-07-15). "民主派初選終極結果出爐 出線隊伍一覽 鄺俊宇何桂藍膺票王票后". HK01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 2023-03-20.
- ^ "Court releases three Hong Kong activists on bail in case involving 47". Reuters. 2021-03-13. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
- ^ "Hong Kong Court Allows Bail for 3 Councilors, Rejects Others". Bloomberg. 2021-03-13. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
- ^ "Oath-taking by District Council members". Hong Kong Government. 2021-09-15. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
- ^ Ho, Kelly (2021-09-16). "Hong Kong gov't ousts 7 elected pro-democracy district councillors over 'invalid' loyalty oaths". Hong Kong Free Press. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
- ^ 文維廣 (2023-01-27). "昔日民主派︱張秀賢疑加入建制組織 轉投陣營還有初選案彭卓棋". HK01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 2023-03-19.
- ^ "【Emily】任基本法學生研究中心會長 初選案彭卓棋講座引習講話". Ming Pao (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 2023-01-28. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
- ^ Pang, Jessie; Pomfret, James (30 May 2024). "'Hong Kong 47' trial: 14 democrats found guilty in landmark subversion case". Reuters. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- ^ "Who are the 16 Hong Kong democrats awaiting verdict in the city's largest national security trial?". Hong Kong Free Press. 2024-05-30. Retrieved 2024-06-17.