Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee is a versatile figure in Hong Kong's political and media spheres. She has made a significant impact through her roles as a barrister, politician, columnist, and writer.[1] She served as the editor-in-chief of Ming Pao newspaper and a columnist at the Standard and South China Morning Post for a weekly column titled "The Margaret Ng Column" during the British Colonial era.[2]

Ng began her political career in 1995, representing the Legal sector constituency as a member of the Legislative Council for 17 years until her successor from the Civil Party, Dennis Kwok, was elected.[3] In 2003, Ng became a member of the Basic Law Article 23 Concern Group, a pro-democracy group of a coalition of lawyers advocating for universal suffrage from a legal and constitutional perspective.[4]

In recent years, she played a pivotal role as a board member of Stand News, a staunch pro-democracy newspaper. Simultaneously, she served as a trustee of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund (612人道支援基金), which provided humanitarian and financial support to persons who were injured, arrested, attacked, or threatened by violence during the 2019 anti-extradition law protests.[5] She was arrested along with other trustees, including Cardinal Zen, on charges of colluding with foreign forces on May 11, 2022.[6] On Nov. 25, 2022, the trustees were convicted for failing to properly register the Fund under the Societies Ordinance. They filed an appeal to the High Court two weeks later.

Ng was found guilty of organizing and knowingly participating in an unauthorized assembly during the 2019 movement. She received a 12-month sentence suspended for 24 months.[7]

She faced additional charges, including "conspiracy to publish seditious publications," during her tenure as the Director of Stand News.[8] Ng was released on bail on Dec. 30, 2021.

In 2020, Ng received the 2020 American Bar Association International Human Rights Award in recognition of her efforts to advance human rights and democracy in Hong Kong.[9]

Photo: Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee's Wikipedia