Agnes Chow

Agnes Chow Ting (Chinese: 周庭, born 3 December 1996) is a Hong Kong politician and social activist. She is a former member of the Standing Committee of Demosistō and former spokesperson of Scholarism. Her candidacy for the 2018 Hong Kong Island by-election, supported by the pro-democracy camp, was blocked, based on her party's advocacy of self-determination for Hong Kong.[2]

Agnes Chow
周庭
Agnes Chow in late 2019
Born
Chow Ting[1]

(1996-12-03) 3 December 1996
Hong Kong
Nationality
EducationHoly Family Canossian College
Hong Kong Baptist University
OccupationStudent
Known forSpokesperson for Scholarism;
co-founder of Demosistō
Political partyDemosistō (2016–2020)
Chinese name
Chinese周庭

Personal life

Chow has described growing up in an apolitical household.[3] Her social activism began around the age of 15, after being inspired by a Facebook post with thousands of young people agitating for change.[4] According to Chow, her Catholic upbringing had an influence on her participation in the social movements.[5]

In 2014, Chow attended Hong Kong Baptist University, where she studied government and international relations.[6] In 2018, Chow deferred her final year of university studies to run in the Hong Kong Island by-election.[7] Chow also renounced her British nationality, which was a qualification requirement mandated by the Basic Law.[8]

Chow is fluent in Cantonese, English, and Japanese.[9] She taught herself Japanese from watching television shows.[8] Chow has made appearances in Japanese media, interviews, and news programmes.[10][11] Media outlets in Japan have referred to her as the "Goddess of Democracy" (民主の女神) for her role in Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement.[12][13][14]

In February 2020, Chow launched a YouTube channel, where she uploaded vlogging videos in Cantonese and Japanese.[15] As of August 2020, Chow had over 200,000 subscribers.[16]

Early activism
Agnes Chow and Joshua Wong pictured on 23 September 2014, wearing red blindfolds to symbolise students figuratively blinded by China's political power.

Chow first came to prominence in 2012 as the spokesperson of student activist group Scholarism. Then a student at Holy Family Canossian College, she protested against the implementation of the Moral and National Education scheme, which critics deemed "brainwashing". During a demonstration, she met fellow activists Joshua Wong and Ivan Lam.[17][18] The movement successfully drew thousands of protesters gathered in front of the Central Government Complex, which led to the government backing down in September 2012.[19]

In 2014, Chow collaborated with student organizations to advocate electoral reform in Hong Kong.[20] Chow was a leader of the class boycott campaign against the restrictive electoral framework set by the National People's Congress Standing Committee for the 2017 Chief Executive election, which led to the massive Occupy protests dubbed the "Umbrella Revolution".[21] During the occupation, citing heavy political pressure, Chow stepped away from politics, including resigning as spokesperson of Scholarism.[22]

Demosistō
Agnes Chow campaigning with Nathan Law for the 2018 Hong Kong Island by-election.

In the wake of Occupy, a new generation of younger, more radical democrats gained prominence and were looking to move into participatory politics. In April 2016, Chow co-founded political party Demosistō with Joshua Wong and Nathan Law, also student leaders in the Occupy protests. She was the first deputy secretary-general of the party, from 2016 to 2017.[23] She campaigned with party chairman Law in the 2016 Legislative Council election, in which the latter was elected as the youngest-ever member of the Legislative Council.[24] In 2017, she participated in the protest during the visit of Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping, in which they covered the Golden Bauhinia statue with banners. She was arrested along with Law and Demosistō secretary-general Wong.[25]

On 30 June 2020, Chow, Law and Wong announced that they had disbanded Demosistō, which they co-founded.[26] The announcement came just hours before Beijing passed the national security law in Hong Kong, which raised concerns of political persecution of activists.[27][28]

Legislative Council bid

After Law was ejected from the Legislative Council over the oath-taking controversy in July 2017 and sentenced to imprisonment in August of the same year, Chow became Demosistō's candidate in the 2018 Hong Kong Island by-election.[29] To qualify for the election, she gave up her British citizenship.[8] On 27 January 2018, her candidacy was disqualified by the Electoral Affairs Commission on the basis of that she "cannot possibly comply with the requirements of the relevant electoral laws, since advocating or promoting 'self-determination' is contrary to the content of the declaration that the law requires a candidate to make to uphold the Basic Law and pledge allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region."[30][31]

Michael Davis, a former law professor of the University of Hong Kong, warned that Chow's disqualification was wrong and the government was on a "slippery slope".[30] Former university law dean Professor Johannes Chan Man-mun said there was no legal basis for such a move.[32] Basic Law Committee member Albert Chen Hung-yee said election rules were not clear that returning officers had the power to disqualify candidates based on their political views.[30] Chief Executive Carrie Lam asserted that "any suggestion of Hong Kong independence, self-determination, independence as a choice or self-autonomy is not in line with Basic Law requirements and deviates from the important principle of 'one country two systems'."[33] Had Chow been elected, she would have been Hong Kong's youngest-ever lawmaker, ahead of her colleague Nathan Law.[34]

After Chow's disqualification, Demosistō endorsed pro-democracy candidate Au Nok-hin, who won the by-election.[35][36] On 2 September 2019, Chow succeeded in her appeal after the judge ruled that "she had insufficient opportunity to respond to the grounds for disqualification".[37][38] Since her ban was overturned by the Hong Kong Court, Au lost his Legislative Council seat as the court claimed he was not duly elected.[39][40] After the ruling, Chow described the result as a "Pyrrhic victory".[41]

Arrests

Chow was arrested on 30 August 2019 at her Tai Po home for allegedly participating in, and inciting, an unauthorised assembly at Hong Kong Police Headquarters on 21 June 2019.[42] On the same day, many high-profile Hong Kong pro-democracy figures were arrested, including Joshua Wong, Au Nok-hin, Andy Chan, and Jeremy Tam.[43] She was freed the same day on bail, but her smartphone, like those of her fellow arrestees, was confiscated by police.[44] Amnesty International called the arrests "an outrageous assault" on free expression.[45][46]

Chow pleaded guilty to the charges on 6 July 2020, telling the media she was mentally prepared to go to prison.[47] She was formally convicted on 5 August 2020.[48]

Following the enactment of the national security law by the NPCSC, Chow was arrested again on 10 August 2020, reportedly on charges of violating the national security law.[49][50] The detainment took place amid a mass arrest of various pro-democracy figures on the same day, including media mogul Jimmy Lai.[51] Chow's arrest sparked a worldwide social media campaign calling for her release, which also prompted statements from Japanese politicians and celebrities.[52][53] She was released on bail on 12 August 2020, where she said that her arrest was "political persecution and political suppression. I still don’t understand why I was arrested", she concluded.[54]

Filmography
  • Frontline (2020). Battle For Hong Kong. 11 February 2020. As herself.[55]

References
  1. "Summary of Judicial Decision - Chow Ting ("the Petitioner") v Teng Yu-Yan, Anne (Returning Officer for the Hong Kong Island Geographical Constituency) ("Returning Officer") & Au Nok-hin HCAL 804/2018; [2019] HKCFI 2135" (PDF). Department of Justice. 2 September 2019.
  2. "Hong Kong bars pro-democracy activist from standing for election". thestar.com. 27 January 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  3. Haas, Benjamin (4 February 2018). "Enemy of the state? Agnes Chow, the 21-year-old activist who has China worried". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  4. Lyons, Kate (30 August 2019). "Who are the arrested Hong Kong activists?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  5. Clark, Meagan (29 August 2019). "Christian pro-democracy activists arrested in Hong Kong ahead of weekend's 'leaderless' protests". Religion Unplugged. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  6. Ng, Jason Y. (25 January 2018). "Interview: Pro-democracy by-election candidate Agnes Chow: who is she and why does she want your vote?". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  7. Phillips, Tom (27 January 2018). "Hong Kong authorities block pro-democracy candidate from byelection". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  8. https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/01/25/interview-pro-democracy-election-candidate-agnes-chow-want-vote/
  9. Johnson, Jesse (4 June 2020). "Hong Kong democracy activists press Japan to reconsider Xi visit". The Japan Times. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  10. "Hong Kong's Pro-Democracy Vote is 'Blood Shed By Citizens' – Activist Agnes Chow Ting". JAPAN Forward. 29 November 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  11. "密着3年！香港の"民主の女神"【特集】｜テレビ東京ビジネスオンデマンド". テレビ東京ビジネスオンデマンド (in Japanese). Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  12. "How Agnes Chow Ting Made Herself Fluent in Japanese". Unseen Japan. 11 December 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  13. "「日本の皆さんは、まだ自分の力を自覚できてないんじゃないかと思います」 香港の民主化運動を世界に発信する大学生周庭が語る覚悟のVOICE（社会運動家・大学生／23歳）". TOKYO VOICE WEB (in Japanese). 4 February 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  14. "Inside the Battle for Hong Kong: "We're Now at War"". FRONTLINE. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  15. 陳, 零 (14 March 2020). "周庭講日文做 YouTuber：希望日本人提起香港時，不再諗起成龍陳美齡". Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  16. Agnes Chow's channel on YouTube
  17. Lyons, Kate. "Who are the arrested Hong Kong activists?". The Irish Times. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  18. "Joshua Wong, le visage du combat pour la démocratie à Hong Kong". France 24 (in French). 10 July 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  19. "Study and Society". Varsity. 14 November 2013.
  20. "Can This 22-Year-Old Bring Democracy to Hong Kong?". OZY. 11 October 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  21. "Long read: The boy who took on Beijing". Newsroom. 4 April 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  22. "Interview: Scholarism's Agnes Chow urges Hongkongers to adopt new solutions in fight for democracy". Hong Kong Free Press. 27 September 2015.
  23. Choi, Christy. "Hong Kong's pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong has been "blacklisted" from Thailand". Quartz. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  24. "The Rule of Nathan Law: Hong Kong's Youngest Lawmaker Arises". Time. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  25. "Hong Kong police arrest democracy activists ahead of Xi Jinping visit". CNBC. 28 June 2017.
  26. "Joshua Wong, Nathan Law and Agnes Chow quit Demosisto". The Standard. 30 June 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  27. Press, Hong Kong Free (30 June 2020). "Leaders of Hong Kong pro-democracy group Demosisto step down as security law passes". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  28. Submission, Internal (30 June 2020). "Hong Kong democracy party Demosisto disbands over security law fears". The Japan Times. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  29. "周庭出戰港島補選！　「學民女神」有望成最年輕立法會議員". HK01. 1 November 2017.
  30. "Hong Kong activist Agnes Chow banned from Legco by-election". South China Morning Post. 27 January 2018.
  31. Tom Phillips, "Hong Kong authorities block pro-democracy candidate from byelection", The Guardian, 27 January 2018 (page visited on 27 January 2018).
  32. "陳文敏：從判詞、釋法、法例都無權撤銷姚松炎參選資格". 眾新聞 CitizenNews. 26 January 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  33. Kimmy Chung, Tony Cheung, "Political storm in Hong Kong as activist Agnes Chow banned from by-election over party’s call for city’s 'self-determination'." Additional reporting by Emily Tsang. South China Morning Post. 27 January 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  34. "Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Agnes Chow banned from March by-election." Shanghaiist on Medium. 28 January 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  35. "Hong Kong court overturns gov't decision to ban activist Agnes Chow from election". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  36. "Elections Deliver a Blow to Hong Kong's Democracy Movement". Time. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  37. Ramzy, Austin; Yu, Elaine (29 October 2019). "Hong Kong Bars Joshua Wong, a Prominent Activist, From Seeking Election". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  38. "Hong Kong Activist Agnes Chow Wins Appeal Overturning Election Ban". Radio Free Asia. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  39. James Griffiths; Eric Cheung. "Hong Kong court overturns ban on pro-democracy candidate Agnes Chow". CNN. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  40. "Pro-democracy lawmakers Au Nok-hin and Gary Fan lose seats as Hong Kong's top court rejects election petition appeals". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. 17 December 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  41. Ramzy, Austin; Yu, Elaine (29 October 2019). "Hong Kong Bars Joshua Wong, a Prominent Activist, From Seeking Election". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  42. Grundy, Tom; Cheng, Kris (29 August 2019). "Hong Kong activist Agnes Chow arrested, as pro-democracy leaders rounded up". Hong Kong Free Press.
  43. News, Taiwan. "Details of Hong Kong protester arrests emerge". Taiwan News. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  44. Hui, Mary (7 May 2020). "Hong Kong's mass arrests are giving police crucial intelligence: people's phones". Quartz. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  45. "Democracy activists in Hong Kong arrested in dawn swoop". www.amnesty.org. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  46. "Hong Kong police arrest top pro-democracy figures". BBC News. 30 August 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  47. "Police HQ siege: Agnes Chow admits two charges". The Standard. 6 July 2020.
  48. Wong, Brian (5 August 2020). "Hong Kong protests: activist Agnes Chow, associate of opposition figure Joshua Wong, convicted of inciting siege of police headquarters". South China Morning Post.
  49. "據報前眾志成員周庭涉違國安法被捕　一批便衣抵大埔住所". Stand News. 10 August 2020.
  50. "Hong Kong activist Agnes Chow arrested, says fellow activist". Reuters. 10 August 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  51. Lee, Daphne K. (11 August 2020). "#FreeAgnes Campaign Shows Solidarity With Hong Kong Activists". The News Lens International Edition. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  52. "Japanese come out in support of arrested Hong Kong activist". The Japan Times. 11 August 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  53. Reynolds, Isabel (11 August 2020). "Japan's #FreeAgnes Campaign Shows Support for Detained Hong Kong Activist". Bloomberg. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  54. Lo, Clifford; Leung, Christy; Lau, Chris (12 August 2020). "National security law: Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai freed on bail as activist Agnes Chow calls her arrest 'political persecution and suppression'". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  55. "Battle For Hong Kong". PBS. 11 February 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
Party political offices
New title Deputy Secretary-General of Demosistō
2016–2017		 Succeeded by
Chris Kwok
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