Albert Ho

The Honourable Albert Ho Chun-yan
何俊仁
Chairman of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China
Incumbent
Assumed office 15 December 2014
Deputy	Richard Tsoi Mak Hoi-wah
Preceded by	Lee Cheuk-yan
Member of the Legislative Council
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 October 2012
Preceded by	New constituency
Constituency	2nd District Council
In office 1 July 1998 – 30 September 2012
Preceded by	New parliament
Succeeded by	Kwok Ka-ki
Constituency	New Territories West
In office 11 October 1995 – 30 June 1997
Preceded by	New constituency
Succeeded by	Replaced by Provisional Legislative Council
Constituency	New Territories West
Chairman of the Democratic Party
In office 17 December 2006 – 10 September 2012
Vice Chairperson	Emily Lau Chung-kai Sin
Preceded by	Lee Wing-tat
Succeeded by	Emily Lau
Personal details
Born	(1951-12-01) 1 December 1951 Hong Kong
Political party	Democratic Party
Spouse	Tang Suk-yee
Alma mater	University of Hong Kong
Occupation	Solicitor

Albert Ho Chun-yan (Chinese: 何俊仁; Yale: Hòh Jeun Yàhn; Pinyin: Hé Jùnrén; born 1 December 1951) is currently chairman of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China and was chairman of the Democratic Party from 2006 to 2012. He is a solicitor and a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong.

Ho was born in Hong Kong. He was elected to the Regional Council (disbanded in 1999), and Legislative Council in 1995 and has served since then. In 2004, Ho unsuccessfully challenged Rita Fan in the Legco presidential election. In 2015, Ho lost his District Council seat through which he was elected as LegCo member in 2012.

In 2013, Ho grabbed international headlines after it was revealed that he had assisted Edward Snowden during the latter's stay in Hong Kong.

Attack incident

On 20 August 2006, Ho was assaulted by three unidentified men using baseball bats and a baton in a McDonald's restaurant in Central, Hong Kong, after he had attended a protest against the government's plan to adopt a Goods and Services Tax. He suffered injuries to his head, arm and face, including a broken nose.

Democratic Party chairman Lee Wing Tat claimed that the attack was related to a lawsuit Albert Ho was working on, and had nothing to do with politics. Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang condemned the attack, declaring that the attackers would be pursued to the "ends of the earth". Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee also condemned it.

It was also the first attack on a LegCo member since the Handover. On 12 October 2006, five suspects were arrested by police in Hong Kong and Zhongshan. Cheung Wing-ho, Leung Kwan-ping, Chan Chun-kit and Leung Fu-keung were all been charged with "wounding with intent". A 56-year-old man was also arrested while trying to board a plane. Another suspect, a 77-year-old, was arrested on 3 November 2006, while trying to board a ferry to Macau. However, court proceedings were adjourned until 28 November because of the continuing investigations. The defendants were refused bail, as the magistrate perceived there was a serious flight risk. According to Next Magazine (Vol 870), these men were closely associated with Stanley Ho.

Views, policy positions and Legco voting

In June 2010, as party leader, he led negotiations with the government, and most notably with the Beijing government, on the 2012 constitutional reform package, persuading them to accept an amendment to have the five new District Council functional constituencies elected by popular vote, and then leading the effort to have his party support the proposal, ensuring its success.

2012 Chief Executive election

Albert Ho announced in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong on 4 October 2011 that he would contest the 2012 Chief Executive election. With the pan democrats securing an estimated 205 votes, Albert Ho took part in a pan-democrat primary election on 8 January 2012 against Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood lawmaker Frederick Fung and won. Out of the 1,132 EC votes, Albert Ho came third with only 76. Leung Chun-ying was declared duly elected by the Returning Officer.

2014 Hong Kong protests

In October 2014, during pro-democracy protests that began on 26 September, Albert Ho said he was prepared to take a bullet if demonstrations turn violent. He did not support violence in the cause of democracy, but was willing to make a "sacrifice" on behalf of young people "because the future belongs to them."

See also

• List of graduates of University of Hong Kong