Andrew Wan Explained

Andrew Wan Siu-kin
Native Name Lang:zh-hk
Office:Member of the Legislative Council
Term Start:1 October 2016
Term End:1 December 2020
Predecessor:Leung Yiu-chung
Constituency:New Territories West
Office1:Vice-Chairman of the Democratic Party
Term Start1:2 December 2018
Term End1:6 December 2020
Predecessor1:Li Wing-shing
Successor1:Lam Cheuk-ting
Edith Leung
1Blankname1:Chairperson
1Namedata1:Wu Chi-wai
Term Start2:14 December 2014
Term End2:4 December 2016
Predecessor2:Richard Tsoi
Successor2:Li Wing-shing
1Blankname2:Chairperson
1Namedata2:Emily Lau
Office3:Member of the Kwai Tsing District Council
Constituency4:Shek Yam
Term Start4:1 January 2004
Term End4:31 December 2015
Predecessor4:Li Chi-fai
Successor4:Li Sai-lung
Constituency3:Shek Yam
Term Start3:1 January 2020
Term End3:11 May 2021
Predecessor3:Li Sai-lung
Birth Date:1969 6, df=yes
Birth Place:Hong Kong
Occupation:Social worker
District councillor
Signature:Andrew_Wan_Signature.png

Andrew Wan Siu-kin (; 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.

Career

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

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]

Notes and References

  1. News: 劉慧卿成功連任民主黨主席. 14 December 2014. Apple Daily.
  2. Web site: Hong Kong police arrest 7 democrats in connection with chaos during May legislative meeting. Kelly. Ho. Hong Kong Free Press. 1 November 2020. 16 December 2020.
  3. Web site: National security law: Hong Kong rounds up 53 pro-democracy activists. BBC News. 6 January 2021. 13 February 2021.
  4. Web site: 'Hong Kong has entered a bitter winter,' says primaries organiser as 52 democrats in mass arrest bailed out. Candice. Chau. Hong Kong Free Press. 8 January 2021. 4 February 2021.
  5. News: Ho . Kelly . Hong Kong court denies bail to ex-lawmaker charged under national security law . 25 March 2021 . . 23 March 2021.
  6. Web site: 【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. 2021-05-10. 立場新聞 Stand News. en.
  7. Web site: Result. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210623144135/https://legalref.judiciary.hk/lrs/common/search/search_result_detail_frame.jsp?DIS=136081&QS=%28nsl%29&TP=JU. 23 June 2021. 2021-06-23. legalref.judiciary.hk.
  8. Web site: 毛孟靜尹兆堅被拒保釋 官指難保不危害國安. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210529041947/https://www.wenweipo.com/a/202105/29/AP60b18d4fe4b0a46dabec6dc6.html. 29 May 2021. 2021-05-30. 香港文匯網. zh-Hans-HK.