62 Facts About Edward Leung

Edward Leung Tin-kei is a Hong Kong politician and activist.

Edward Leung is the former spokesperson of Hong Kong Indigenous, a localist group.

Edward Leung signed the declaration, giving up his pro-independence stance in the 2016 Hong Kong Legislative Council election in September.

Edward Leung was barred from running in the election because the electoral officer was not convinced by his declaration.

Edward Leung served four years of his sentence in maximum-security prison, before his early release in early 2022 for good behaviour.

In 2019, Edward Leung was recognised by Time magazine on its 100 Next, a list of rising stars expected to shape the future.

Edward Leung was born into a wealthy family in Wuhan, Hubei, China.

Edward Leung moved to Hong Kong at the age of one with his mother.

Edward Leung's great-grandfather was killed by the Chinese Communist Party and his properties were confiscated.

Edward Leung's grandfather studied in British Hong Kong, later returned to Shanghai to study Economic Management at Shanghai Institute of Finance and Economics.

In 1953, Edward Leung's grandfather graduated from the university, and was allocated to work in Xinjiang Province Bureau of Mine for seven years, later resided in Zhuhai.

In Summer 1990, Edward Leung's father met his wife in Wuhan, the couple registered in Wuhan and Edward Leung's mother resigned her job shortly after.

In 2000, Edward Leung's parents invested in restaurants in Wuhan, but took a loss due to SARS and Avian Influenza.

Edward Leung's father was a college teacher with expertise in Chinese history, Chinese language and Buddhism.

Edward Leung had a strong interest in contemporary Chinese history and taught Leung histories of Hong Kong and world history.

Edward Leung's mother worked as a housewife after moving to Hong Kong and later worked as a tutor, teaching Edward Leung literacy.

When Edward Leung was young, he questioned the rationale behind political events such as the Handover of Hong Kong in 1997 and the yearly Hong Kong 1 July marches in 2003.

Edward Leung's parents were excited with these events and explained to Leung about their meanings.

Edward Leung completed his college studies at Shung Tak Catholic English College in Yuen Long District.

Edward Leung then realised Hong Kong people protest to pursuit democracy and felt touched with their passion to preserve the truth of history.

Edward Leung studied at the University of Hong Kong, majoring in Philosophy with a minor in Politics and Public Administration, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 2016.

Edward Leung felt disappointed with the Hong Kong government ignoring the will of people, forcibly passing the Express Rail Grant and postponing the implementation of dual universal suffrage.

Edward Leung was a member of Ricci Hall, HKU and led its development actively.

In September 2014, Umbrella Revolution erupted, besides part-timing in an art gallery and studying, Edward Leung spent most of his time joining the movement.

In March 2015, under the referral from his classmate, Edward Leung met Ray Wong, another political activist, but was unable to join Hong Kong Indigenous.

In December 2015, Edward Leung decided to participate 2016 New Territories East by-election, with the aim of promoting Localism ideology, testing his approval rate, and encouraging young politicians.

On 15 January 2016, Edward Leung was nominated to represent Hong Kong Indigenous to run for New Territories East by-election, and was endorsed by Youngspiration, another localist group.

Edward Leung organized a small election parade in Sheung Shui, to explain the social problems brought by parallel importers, and was not interfered by the police.

However, Edward Leung received supports from other political organizations and activists such as Youngspiration, Civic Passion, LegCo councilor Wong Yuk-man, Chin Wan.

Edward Leung applied to elect for New Territories East District, and initially refused to sign the declaration and asked for judicial review.

Edward Leung eventually decided to sign the declaration, claiming to support the Hong Kong Basic Law and declaring loyalty to HKSAR, and no longer advocating independence.

Edward Leung photographed the stalker and conflict occurred in Tai Koo Station, police arrived and filed the case as dispute, later changed to public fighting because the stalker claimed that Edward Leung had assaulted him.

Meanwhile, Ta Kung Pao continuously dug information on Edward Leung's background, including his birthplace and ancestry.

On 18 December 2017, Hong Kong Indigenous issued a statement, announcing Edward Leung has resigned his membership and spokesperson duty.

On 22 January 2018, Edward Leung pleaded guilty of assault charges, but denied rioting and inciting riot.

Edward Leung was later sentenced to 6 years in prison.

On 5 March 2020, local media reported that Edward Leung had been transferred to a maximum-security prison.

In March 2019, jurors ruled with 7:2 ratio that Edward Leung was not guilty in a second rioting case pertaining to the same night in 2016 as the other one.

In October 2019 Edward Leung launched a crowdfunding campaign for his appeal, and received over 450,000 Hong Kong dollars in 15 minutes.

On 29 April 2020, Edward Leung lost an appeal against his six-year jail term.

Edward Leung was released from Shek Pik Prison on 19 January 2022 on after serving four years of his six-year sentence.

Edward Leung stated that he would not give any interviews or receive visits, and must observe a supervision order.

Edward Leung was inspired by The Social Contract by French thinker, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Hong Kong City-state by Chin Wan.

Edward Leung has identified himself as a radical localist loyal to Hong Kong, promoting localism, and openly support, advocate Hong Kong Independence.

Edward Leung refused to identify himself as a Chinese, asserting Hong Kong's ability to be independent, and is an inevitable trend.

Edward Leung initially wanted to incorporate localism ideology into mainstream political agenda, and provide the rights for Hong Kong people to determine their future.

Edward Leung believed his by-election approval rate is an alarm to the government.

Edward Leung believes that the core values and systems of Hong Kong are slowly corroded by China and anyone can be considered Hong Kong people if he or she is willing to defend Hong Kong's core values, respect Hong Kong culture, and willing to merge and maintain Hong Kong's codes and systems.

Edward Leung believes localism supporters need a councilor to represent their wills.

Edward Leung mentioned "no bottom line" does not necessarily mean at all costs.

Edward Leung mentioned that to confront an evil government, actions should not be confined with "no violence", everything must be done to counter suppression.

Edward Leung expects Hong Kong revolution will require at least 16 years to succeed.

In 2018, Edward Leung revealed his wish for Localist and Democrats to reach a consensus, resolve differences and stand united against the government.

In 2019, Edward Leung wrote an open letter to support Anti-extradition bill protesters, but implored protesters not to risk their lives and be dominated by hatred.

Edward Leung claimed that, after the by-election, localism effectively became the third power in Hong Kong Politics, alongside Pro-democracy groups and Pro-Beijing groups.

Later Edward Leung was sentenced to 6 years in prison due to participation in the 2016 Mong Kok civil unrest.

Former Chief Executive of Hong Kong Edward Leung Chun-Ying criticized Edward Leung's behaviour.

Since Edward Leung was born in China, he was once accused of improvising his localist stance.

In November 2019, Edward Leung was nominated by Time on its "100 Next" as one of the top 100 rising stars predicted to shape the world's future.

Time commented that although Edward Leung has been jailed since 2016, Anti-extradition Bill protesters treated him as a spiritual leader.

The late businessman Stanley Ho and Edward Leung are both HKU alumni.

On 27 May 2020, HKU uploaded several group photographs, dated on 18 February 2014 at Ricci Hall 85th Anniversary with other alumni to show condolences, but Edward Leung's part was found to be intentionally scrapped.