Li Huaming

Fred Li Wah-ming is a registered social worker and former member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong. A native of Shanghai who grew up in Hong Kong, he is a member of the Democratic Party and considered a pro-establishment figure within the party.

Political career

In the late 1980s, Li joined the pro-democracy group Meeting Point and was elected as a Kwun Tong District Councillor, a position he held until 1994. In 1991, he ran for the Legislative Council in Kowloon East alongside Szeto Wah of the United Democrats of Hong Kong (predecessor to the Democratic Party) and was successfully elected. He did not seek re-election to the District Council, focusing on Legislative Council duties.

In 1994, it was reported that Fred Li, along with Tik Chi-yuen and Wong Wai-yin, abstained from voting on Emily Lau’s proposal for full universal suffrage in 1995, which some viewed as a missed democratic opportunity. Others noted that even had it passed, the motion required the Governor's signature, and Governor Chris Patten already had his own electoral reform package. Moreover, China had long opposed the “through-train” arrangement and intended to reconstitute LegCo per the Basic Law, including preserving functional constituencies.

In the 1995 LegCo election, he defeated Federation of Trade Unions vice-secretary Tam Yiu-chung in Kowloon East South. Tam later shifted to Tsuen Wan.

In July 1999, Fred Li, his wife, and daughter were denied entry at Huanggang checkpoint en route to Dongguan. His Home Return Permit was confiscated, and he was held for questioning for one hour. He quoted immigration officers as saying they were “acting on orders,” though no reasons were given. The Constitutional Affairs Bureau stated that exit-entry issues fell under Mainland jurisdiction per "one country, two systems".

In the 1999 District Council election, Li ran in Shun Tin West, an unfamiliar constituency, and was defeated by DAB’s Kwok Bit-ching. However, his aides Ho Wai-to and Law Chun-yi won seats in adjacent areas.

In the 2000 LegCo election, Li again ran with Szeto Wah in Kowloon East and was re-elected. He was re-elected again in 2004. After Szeto Wah retired from LegCo, Li had intended to promote Wu Chi-wai as successor, but the party's standing was weakened by the Ho Wai-to controversy, and only one seat was retained.

In 2008, Li and Wu split into separate tickets in Kowloon East. Li was re-elected, while Wu was not.

On 1 July 2009, Li was awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star (SBS).

In 2012, Li announced he would not run for the LegCo election that year, citing lack of retirement benefits as a key factor.

Other events

In October 2012, Li founded Fred Consultancy.

In September 2014, he helped his daughter purchase a luxury flat in Tseung Kwan O for HK$18.53 million.

In June 2017, Li criticized lawmakers Nathan Law, Eddie Chu, and Raymond Chan for attending a Taiwan event, saying such acts "cross Beijing's red lines" and accused them of denying Chinese identity.

In October 2017, Li and his wife bought another property in Tseung Kwan O for about HK$10 million.

In the same month, Li called the act of booing the national anthem "childish rebellion" that "shames us all".

In November 2017, he defended airing a speech by Li Fei (Basic Law Committee chairman) in schools, calling it educational and not “brainwashing”.

In January 2018, Li was revealed to be a lobbyist for Hong Kong Golf Club regarding the renewal of the Fanling lease. The Democratic Party opposed the lease, but Li argued he had no obligation to declare his business.

In his January 2018 column “You Don't F***ing Respond?”, Li criticized Baptist University students’ protest over Mandarin requirements, saying apologies don’t erase accountability.

From September 2018, Li has taught an undergraduate course in the Department of Social Work and Social Administration at the University of Hong Kong.

In mid-2020, Li purchased a penthouse unit at 133 Portofino in Sai Kung for HK$38 million.

In August 2021, his daughter sold their Tseung Kwan O property for HK$29.6 million, earning a profit of over HK$11 million.

Before the 2021 LegCo election, the Democratic Party debated boycotting the vote due to arrests and exile of members. In September 2021, Li said the party should contest elections or dissolve. He also hinted at a political comeback.

In January 2022, Li was suspended from the party for six months for endorsing independent social welfare candidate Tik Chi-yuen without party approval. Li admitted the violation but said he stood by his decision.

Personal life

Fred Li is married to Yip Ching-lan, and they have one daughter. Over the years, Li has frequently appeared in news reports regarding real estate transactions involving himself and his family, particularly for purchasing or selling luxury apartments in Tseung Kwan O and Sai Kung.

Honours

• Silver Bauhinia Star (SBS), 2009
• Justice of the Peace (JP)

See also

• Politics of Hong Kong
• Legislative Council of Hong Kong
• Democratic Party (Hong Kong)
• Reform Club of Hong Kong
• United Democrats of Hong Kong