Yeung Kwong

Yeung Kwong, GBM (Traditional Chinese:楊光, Simplified Chinese:杨光) is a Hong Kong Communist activist in the 1960s. He was awarded the Grand Bauhinia Medal in 2001, when the Hong Kong government was under chief executive Tung Chee-HwaCarroll, John M. [2007] (2007). A Concise History of Hong Kong. Rowman & Littlefield publishing. ISBN 0742534227.] , who has close ties to the PRC's Chinese government. The award became controversial as critics argued the event was a symbolic gesture for the approval of the 1967 leftist riots.Chan, Ming K. So, Alvin Y. White III, Lynn T. [2002] (2002). Crisis and Transformation in China's Hong Kong. M.E. Sharpe. ISBN 0765610000.]

Biography

According to Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, Yeung joined the labour movement around 1948.

Inspired by the mainland China's Cultural Revolution and the concession Portuguese Macau government made, he was thought to be the mastermind of the 1967 leftist riots in Hong Kong. When the leftists formed the Hong Kong and Kowloon Committee for Anti-Hong Kong British Persecution Struggle (港九各界反抗港英迫害鬥爭委員會) in 1967, Yeung was appointed the chairman of committee.

Murder Accusations

It is widely believed by many that Yeung was deeply involved in the murder of Commercial Radio Hong Kong radio host Lam Bun during the leftist riots. On 24 August, 1967, Lam Bun and his brother was driving from Lam's residence in Ho Man Tin when leftist rioters, dressed as road construction workers, stopped Lam's car. The car was set on fire. Both Lam and his brother later died in a local hospital.

It was believed that Lam's popular radio show was a reason why the leftists decided to murder him. At the time, Lam's show, "Failure to Strike" (Chinese: 欲罷不能), poked fun at the leftist's action to strike and cause general unrest in Hong Kong.

After the murder occurred, an anonymous person, claiming to be from a leftist organisation, took responsibility for Lam Bun's murder. The person also called Lam a "Degenerate of the Chinese Race", "a lackey of the British Colonial Government", and that his murder is a "disciplinary action to cleanse the race". The person also vowed to kill other "degenerates" in the future. This statement galvanised public opinion against the leftists, and caused a widespread crackdown on leftist activities.

No person was ever arrested in connection to this case, and the case is still open as of 2007.

Many people believe that Yeung, as the leader of a prominent leftist labour organisation in Hong Kong, was directly and deeply involved in the planning of the killing. Some claim Yeung ordered the killing himself.

Praise

Yeung is not without supporters. The leftist establishments often credit Yeung for helping to foster great strides in liberties after the riot. However, critics often point out that in reality, the improvement of worker's conditions only happened in the 1970s, years after Yeung's tenure as FTU's chairman concluded.

The Grand Bauhinia Medal controversy

Award

In 2001, then Chief Executive Tung Chee-Hwa awarded the Grand Bauhinia Medal, the highest honour in Hong Kong, to pro-Communist party activist Yeung for his "involvement in improving worker's rights". Yeung was nominated by the FTU for that honour.

The award ceremony was held on October 13, 2001, ironically exactly one month after PRC president Jiang Zemin publicly admit the Chinese government was determined to cooperate with the world community in eradicating all forms of terrorism.

Controversy

Controversy immediately rose after the announcement, with many people believing that Tung, who was seeking reelection at the time, was pandering to the FTU, which is an important bloc of vote in the unique Chief Executive election system in Hong Kong. Some critics also asserted that Yeung is not suitable for the highest honour of the land. He remains to be a hugely controversial figure with possible ties to Lam Bun's murder accusation. Critics argued the event was a symbolic gesture for the approval of the 1967 riot.

ee also

* Tsang Tak-sing
* Tsang Yok-sing

References

* [http://www.rthk.org.hk/chiculture/china50years/years1960_epi84.htm RTHK article on Yeung's involvement in 1967 riots]

* [http://www.cheungmankwong.org.hk/newspaper/np20010706.html, Cheung Man Kwong's newspaper article]

* [http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2001/07/16/94347 Editorial in Taipei Times, 2001]

* [http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr00-01/english/counmtg/hansard/010704fe.pdf Hong Kong Hansard record on proceedings, 2001]

Notes