Roy Tam
譚凱邦
Tam in 2020
Tsuen Wan District Councillor
In office
1 January 2016 (2016-01-01) – 19 April 2021 (2021-04-19)
Preceded byConstituency created
ConstituencyMa Wan
Personal details
Born (1980-05-17) 17 May 1980
NationalityHong Konger
Political partyNeo Democrats (until 2021)
Alma materChinese University of Hong Kong (BSc)
WebsiteRoy Tam on Facebook

Roy Tam Hoi-pong (Chinese: 譚凱邦; born 17 May 1980) is a Hong Kong activist and politician. Known for advocating environmental activism and localism and as a former member of the Tsuen Wan District Council, Tam was charged with in 2021 with subversion in Hong Kong 47 case.

Early career

After graduating from CNEC Christian College and from Chinese University of Hong Kong with Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, Tam first worked as a teacher in multiple schools,[1] teaching biology, science, and computer science. Notable students include Tommy Cheung, former spokesman of student activist group Scholarism.[2]

Environmental activism

Dedicated in promoting environmental awareness, Tam co-founded and was the inaugural editor-in-chief of Green Post, a campus media on environmental protection.[3] He also founded two local environmental groups, Footprint and Green Sense, in 2002 and 2004 respectively.[4][5]

Tam, as the President of Green Sense, was well known for several clashes with government on urban planning, including housing development over wetlands,[6] airport expansion,[7] and reclamation.[8] He was often interviewed on green issues, such as walled buildings,[9] energy saving.[10] In 2009 the group advocated 50-cent charge for disposable utensils after McDonald's Skip the Straw Day programme.[11]

However, Tam's environmental views was sometimes criticised as radical, such as recommending no escalators in metro stations and calling for boycotting World Wildlife Fund,[12] and was branded by pundit Choy Chi-keung as "environmentalism Taliban" after Tam urged to cancel television programme Hole in the Wall for wasting Styrofoam,[13][14] and by others for his objection to Ice Bucket Challenge.[15]

Political career

Tam in 2008

Tam ran in the 2008 legislative election in Kowloon West constituency under the slogan "vote for a green Hong Kong". He supported universal suffrage for both Chief Executive and Legislative Council elections, but claimed to be neither a democrat nor a conservative.[16] Despite supported by Civic Party and Democratic Party's New Territories East branch chairman,[17] he was defeated by a large margin.

Tam announced his intention to join the 2012 election, but abandoned his election plan citing illness.

A localism supporter to reduce quota of Chinese One-way Permit,[18] Tam in 2013, along with various pro-democracy legislator and activists, initiated the anti-assimilation, anti-communization, anti-Leung movement, urging a stop to Chinese interference in Hong Kong and the resignation of Leung Chun-ying as Chief Executive.[19] Tam also called on Taiwan to alert growing Chinese influence.[20] Tam is also a supporter for Taiwan independence to preserve democratic institutions and defend local culture after he described Hong Kong's One Country, Two Systems as a failure.[21] He further protested against the influx of Chinese migrants which overburdened Hong Kong's medical system.[22]

After being elected to the Tsuen Wan District Council in the new Ma Wan constituency in 2015, Tam again intended to run in the 2016 legislative election for the pro-democracy Neo Democrats, but withdrew to take care of his ill wife.

In 2019 amidst the large scale protest, Tam was re-elected in the District Council election in a landslide victory. Neo Democrats put Tam's name forward in the 2020 pro-democracy primaries,[23] but was defeated with the least votes amongst the candidates.

Tam was arrested in February 2021 for "subversion of state power" for running in the primaries and detained since then after bail denied by court. The case of which would be known as "Hong Kong 47". He quit Neo Democrats and resigned from the District Council on 20 April 2021. He remanded in custody after the judge considered he "persistently reiterated his stance against the Hong Kong government".[24]

Electoral performances

2008 legislative election

2008 Legislative Council election: Kowloon West[25]
List Candidates Votes % ±
Quota 41,317 20.00
DAB Starry Lee Wai-king
Chung Kong-mo, Chan Wai-ming, Vincent Cheng Wing-shun		 39,013 18.88 −8.25
LSD Wong Yuk-man
Lee Wai-yee		 37,553 18.18 N/A
ADPL Frederick Fung Kin-kee
Rosanda Mok Ka-han, Tsung Po-shan, Wong Chi Yung, Yeung Chun-yu		 35,440 17.16 −2.89
Democratic James To Kun-sun
Lam Ho-yeung		 29,690 14.37 −12.22
Nonpartisan Priscilla Leung Mei-fun
Edward Leung Wai-keun, Aaron Lam Ka-fai		 19,914 9.64 N/A
Civic Claudia Mo Man-ching, Ng Yuet-lan, Tang Chi-ying 17,259 8.35 N/A
Liberal Michael Tien Puk-sun, Ho Hin-ming 13,011 6.30 N/A
Nonpartisan Lau Chin-shek 10,553 5.11 N/A
Independent Tam Hoi-pong 1,603 0.78 N/A
Nonpartisan Francis Chong Wing-charn 1,076 0.52 N/A
SDA James Lung Wai-man, Bantawa Sukra 591 0.29 N/A
Nonpartisan Lam Yi-lai 590 0.29 N/A
Nonpartisan Lau Yuk-shing, Nandeed Cheung Kit-fung, David Tsui 290 0.14 N/A
Total valid votes 206,583 100.00
Rejected ballots 1,182
Turnout 207,765 47.18 −7.56
Registered electors 440,335

2015 local elections

Tsuen Wan District Council Election, 2015: Ma Wan
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Neo Democrats Roy Tam Hoi-pong 1,668 48.4
NPP Kevin Wong Chiu-wah 1,056 30.6
Nonpartisan Justin Tseng Wen-tien 529 15.4
Third Side William Luk Wai-leung 193 5.6
Majority 612 17.8
Turnout 3,469 61.3
Neo Democrats win (new seat)

2019 local elections

Tsuen Wan District Council Election, 2019: Ma Wan
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Neo Democrats Roy Tam Hoi-pong 3,538 69.09
Independent Wong Chun-yeung 1,493 29.15
Nonpartisan Lun Chi-wai 90 1.76
Majority 2,045 31.94
Turnout 5,174 74.13
Neo Democrats hold Swing

References

  1. ↑ "My HK - Roy Tam Hoi-pong". South China Morning Post. 2007-07-01. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  2. ↑ "社運師徒". Archived from the original on 2014-07-15. Retrieved 2016-04-20.
  3. ↑ "綠色報創刊號" (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 2001-03-29. Archived from the original on 2009-08-19. Retrieved 2009-08-24.
  4. ↑ "自然足印網頁" (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Archived from the original on 2009-08-23. Retrieved 2009-08-24.
  5. ↑ "環保觸覺網頁" (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Archived from the original on 2009-06-28. Retrieved 2009-08-24.
  6. ↑ "Court backs environmentalist in battle with Hong Kong developer over wetlands". South China Morning Post. 2020-09-05. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  7. ↑ "Judicial review threatened over Hong Kong third runway consultation". South China Morning Post. 2015-12-15. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  8. ↑ "Lantau reclamation plan another white elephant, concern groups warn". South China Morning Post. 2018-10-11. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  9. ↑ 明報 (2009-06-21). "油街「地王」建築物或降高限" (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Yahoo News. Archived from the original on 2009-06-27. Retrieved 2009-08-24.
  10. ↑ "熱爆黃大仙高溫37度" (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 香港商報. 2009-08-03. Retrieved 2009-08-24.
  11. ↑ "環團籲即棄餐具徵費". Sing Tao Daily (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Yahoo News. 2009-08-24. Retrieved 2009-08-27.
  12. ↑ "與長實分手贏環團掌聲". 2014-05-20. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04.
  13. ↑ "環團轟《大咕窿》 斥無綫浪費發泡膠 體積如兩巴士". Ming Pao via Yahoo News. 2009-08-03. Archived from the original on 2009-08-07.
  14. ↑ "蔡子強：小心莫變成環保塔利班". Ming Pao. 2009-08-06.
  15. ↑ "政壇：譚凱邦暗寸「水炮演習」浪費". The Sun. 2014-09-09.
  16. ↑ "環保人士譚凱邦非陪跑冀爭第5席". Metro Daily.
  17. ↑ "譚凱邦獲民主黨核心力撐 公民黨歡迎新人上場". 蘋果日報. Archived from the original on 2008-06-26. Retrieved 2008-06-23.
  18. ↑ "Activist behind migration ad rejects criticism from equality chief". South China Morning Post. 2013-10-14. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  19. ↑ "「一人$100換特首」明日港台兩地登廣告". Apple Daily. 2013-09-02. Archived from the original on 2013-11-04. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  20. ↑ "香港中國化 港人盼台灣引以為鑑". Liberty Times. 2013-09-04.
  21. ↑ "譚凱邦: 香港都想獨了台灣幹嘛不獨". Liberty Times. 2014-03-06.
  22. ↑ "Hundreds of protesters claim hospitals overwhelmed by migrants". South China Morning Post. 2019-02-17. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  23. ↑ "【立法會選舉】新民主同盟擬派三人參戰 將與民主派協調". Stand News (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 2020-06-07. Archived from the original on 2020-06-07. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
  24. ↑ "Judge denies activist bail after deciding he still threatens national security". South China Morning Post. 2021-09-20. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  25. ↑ "2008 Legislative Election". Electoral Affairs Commission. 8 September 2008. Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
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