Martin Liao | |
|---|---|
廖長江 | |
 Liao attending theChairman's Sprint Prize 2024 trophy presentation ceremony as a steward of theHong Kong Jockey Club at theSha Tin Racecourse on 28 April 2024 | |
| Non-official Member of theExecutive Council | |
| Assumed office 25 November 2016 | |
| Appointed by | Leung Chun-ying Carrie Lam |
| Member of theLegislative Council | |
| Assumed office 1 October 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Philip Wong |
| Constituency | Commercial (Second) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1957 (age 67–68) |
| Education | University College London (BS,LLM) |
| Profession | Barrister |
Martin Liao Cheung-kong,JP (Chinese:廖長江, born 1957) is a non-official member of theExecutive Council of Hong Kong and a member ofLegislative Council of Hong Kong forCommercial (Second) constituency and a barrister.[1]
Liao received his honoraryBachelor of Science in Economics andMaster of Laws fromUniversity College London. He was a member of theCopyright Tribunal from 2001 to 2005. Since 2008, Liao has been a member of theNational People's Congress.[2][3]Andrew Liao is his older brother.
In the2012 Hong Kong legislative election, Liao secured theCommercial (Second)functional constituency, nominated by theChinese General Chamber of Commerce, uncontested.
He retained his Legislative Council seat in the2016 election, again without having to face an opponent. He became convenor of thepro-establishment caucus afterIp Kwok-him of theDemocratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) retired.
In November 2016, he was appointed by Chief ExecutiveLeung Chun-ying to theExecutive Council of Hong Kong.[4]
In November 2020, following theexpulsion of 4 pro-democracy lawmakers in the Legislative Council, Liao claimed that despite there being no opposition members in the Legislative Council, there would still somehow be opposing views within the legislature.[5]
In January 2021, Liao partially blamed teachers on the2019-20 Hong Kong protests and said that teachers could have "ulterior political motives" in classrooms which could "deeply impact students negatively."[6]
In February 2021, afterXia Baolong said that only "patriots" could be part of the Hong Kong government and that electoral changes would be needed, Liao agreed and said that it was not up to those in Hong Kong to decide rules on electoral changes, and that "It must be a matter for the National People's Congress and theNational People's Congress Standing Committee. Hong Kong has no say in any amendments to the Basic Law."[7]
In March 2021, Liao supported changes to Hong Kong's election system and criticized democratic systems, claiming that the changes would make Hong Kong less prone to "dictatorship of the majority."[8] In addition, Liao claimed that "Many people in Hong Kong are politically immature" and that one vote per person would not be suitable for Hong Kong.[8]
In March 2021, Liao criticizedRTHK, claiming that the station was biased against the government.[9]
In February 2022, Liao told SCMP that he would not be attending the 2022Two Sessions, as a Hong Kong delegate.[10]
Liao was appointed aJustice of the Peace in 2004.
| Legislative Council of Hong Kong | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Legislative Council Representative forCommercial (Second) 2012–present | Incumbent |
| Preceded by | Convenor of thepro-Beijing camp 2016–present | Incumbent |
| Order of precedence | ||
| Previous: Tommy Cheung Member of the Executive Council | Hong Kong order of precedence Member of the Executive Council | Succeeded by Joseph Yam Member of the Executive Council |