Raymond Chan Chi-Chuen
陳志全
Former Member of the Legislative Council, Radio Host, and LGBTQ+ Activist
Date of Birth:
April 16, 1972
Gender:
Male
Tags:
Activist; Lawmakers; LGBT Rights Activist; NSL 47
Behind Bars Since
May 30, 1972
Bio
Raymond Chan Chi-chuen is a former Member of the Legislative Council, a former radio host, and an LGBTQ+ activist. Before his political career, Chan was a popular radio host on Commercial Radio Hong Kong, where he was known as "Slow Beat," often teaming up with Tam Tak-Chi (aka Fast Beat) who also joined politics later. [1]
In September 2010, Chan, along with several fellow radio hosts, co-founded the political group Power Voters (選民力量) which later became part of People Power (人民力量) to run against the Democratic Party in the 2011 District Council Elections after the Democratic Party supported Donald Tsang’s constitutional reform package.
Chan won a Legislative Council seat in 2012 and revealed days after his victory that he was gay, becoming the city’s first openly homosexual lawmaker. He has since emerged as a leading voice for LGBT rights in the city. His visibility and activism have been instrumental in raising awareness and fostering a more inclusive society. He was re-elected to his seat in 2016. [2]
As a legislative member, Chan sometimes deployed confrontational approach to protest against government's proposals. He was arrested multiple times in the LegCo and charged for contempt, including in 2019 as the pro-Beijing camp attempted to violate parliamentary rules to push through the extradition amendment. [3] He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. [4]
In 2020, Chan participated in the pro-democracy camp primaries where he garnered 17,101 votes and secured a nomination for the upcoming 2020 Legislative Elections.
In September 2020, Chan resigned from the legislature in protest against Beijing's decision to extend lawmakers' terms by at least a year after postponing the 2020 Legco elections. In a statement, he wrote that he would not serve in “an appointed legislature that breached the Basic Law” which states that each term shall be four years. [5]
Chan was among the 47 former opposition lawmakers and activists arrested in January 2021 and charged for violating the National Security Law for their participation in the pro-democracy camp primaries in July 2020. He was released on bail on Nov. 2, 2021 until May 30, 2024, upon his conviction. On Nov. 19, 2024, he was sentenced to 6.5 years in jail. [6]
Photo: Wikipedia
Charges
Conspiracy to commit subversion under the National Security Law for participating in the democratic primaries:
January 6, 2021: Arrested alongside 54 other pro-democracy activists.
February 28, 2021: Officially charged along with 45 activists from the 55 arrested in January.
Nov. 2, 2021: Released on bail. [1]
June 1, 2022: Pleaded not guilty.
May 30, 2024: Convicted and remanded in custody for sentence.
Nov. 19, 2024: Sentenced to 6.5 years in prison.
Dec. 13, 2024: Filed appeal against the conviction and sentence.
Assaulting, obstructing, or molesting a member being within the precincts of the Chamber when the pro-Beijing camp attempted to violate parliamentary rules to push through the extradition amendment on May 11, 2019 (ESCC2514/2019) [2]
Nov. 9, 2019: Arrested and charged. [3]
Aug. 8, 2022: Pleaded not guilty. [4]
Jan. 24, 2025: Scheduled for Trial
Contempt in the Legislative Council and intent to cause harm to others on June 4, 2020, for dropping a pot of pungent liquid in the chamber during a debate on a now-approved ordinance that would criminalize any disrespect or abuse of the Chinese national anthem (WKCC4003/2020)
Nov. 18, 2020: Arrested with two colleagues Ted Hui Chi-Fung and Eddie Chu Hoi-dick
Nov. 19, 2020: Released on bail
Aug. 8, 2022: Pleaded not guilty.
Jan. 24, 2025: Scheduled for Trial
Contempt and interfering with an officer of the Legislative Council in the execution of duty for staging a protest during a House Committee meeting on May 8, 2020 (WKCC3842/2020)
Nov. 1, 2020: Arrested along with six other lawmakers and released on bail [5]
Aug. 8, 2022: Pleaded not guilty.
Jan. 24, 2025: Scheduled for Trial
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