Kinda Li Ka-tat is a social worker and founder of Civic Autonomy Power (公民自主力量), served as a Kwun Tong District Councillor from 2019 to 2021.[1] Li was among the "Hong Kong 47" who were charged with violating the National Security Law as organizers or participants of the pro-democracy camp primaries in July 2020. He was sentenced to 4 years and 3 months in jail on Nov. 19, 2024.

Li graduated from the University of Hong Kong with a bachelor's degree in Social Work. He became a registered social worker and obtained a master's degree in Art Therapy. [2] Inspired by the Umbrella Revolution in 2014, he set up the local group Civic Autonomy Power with other social work students, dedicated to community services in Sau Mau Ping. [3]

After six years as a social worker, Leung was elected to the Kwun Tong District Council as an independent and a first-time candidate in the 2019 District Council Elections, in which the pro-democracy camp drew a landslide victory. He defeated Bunny Chan Chung-bun (陳振彬), a Hong Kong deputy to China's legislative body—the National People's Congress (全國人民代表大會)—who had served as a Kwun Tong Councillor for 19 years. [4]

In July 2020, Li participated in the pro-democracy primaries where he garnered 15,194 votes — 15.86% of the electorate — and secured a nomination for the upcoming legislative elections.[5] Although he was not one of the 12 pro-democracy candidates who were disqualified from running the elections, the Hong Kong government, on July 31, 2020, announced the postponement of the election, citing the resurgence of the COVID-19 cases, leaving his validity unresolved.[6]

On Jan. 6, 2021, Li was among over 50 pro-democracy figures arrested under Hong Kong’s National Security Law for participating in or organizing the election. 47 of them were officially charged with conspiracy to commit subversion on Feb. 28, 2021. [7] He was denied bail and has remained in custody since then. [8] On April 19, 2021, while still in detention, he resigned from his position as a District Councillor, believing that he could not effectively fulfill his duties. [9] Li pleaded guilty to the charges brought against him. Given mitigating factors, including his guilty plea and his service to the community as a District Councillor, the court ultimately sentenced him to 4 years and 3 months in prison. [10]