The East Asian Speaker Series presents
"Democracy in the Hong Kong SAR:the First Year"
A presentation by
Martin C.M. Lee
Monday, November 23, 1998, 4 p.m.
The California Room, Faculty Center, UCLA
Associated Press photo
The event is co-sponsored by the Amnesty International, the Hong Kong Schools Alumni Federation, the UCLA Hong Kong Student Union, the Visual Artists Guild, and the Wah Yan Alumni Association of Southern California, and is underwritten by Mr. Peter Fan.
Mr. Lee is Chairman of the Democratic Party, Hong Kong's most popular political party, which gained 13 of the 20 Legislative Council seats in the popularly contested May 1998 elections. Mr. Lee has been credited with rallying a record 53% voter turnout during one of the worst rainstorms and flooding in history.
As one of the most eloquent champions in the world for constitutional democracy, private property and the rule of law, Mr. Lee has received prominent coverage in prestigious media world wide. He is a recipient of the 1997 National Endowment for Democracy Award, the International Human Rights Award from the American Bar Association, the Prize for Freedom from the World Council of Liberals in the Netherlands, and honorary Doctor of Law Degrees from Amherst and Holy Cross Colleges.
An attorney by profession, Mr. Lee was appointed the Queen's Counsel in 1979, served as Chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association in 1981-83. He was first elected to the Legislative Council in 1985 and has been re-elected in every subsequent election. In 1985-89 he served as a member of the Basic Law Drafting Committee appointed by the Chinese government, until he was expelled for speaking out against the Tiananmen massacre.
Born in Hong Kong in 1938, Mr. Lee received his B.A. from the University of Hong Kong, and studied law at the Inns of Court in London. He is married and has a 16 year-old son.
To attend the talk:
To access the Faculty Center of UCLA, take the Wilshire-Westwood exit on 405, go east, left turn on Westwood, right turn on Le Conte, then left on Hilgard, and left on Westholme to enter the campus. Approach the parking kiosk and get your parking permit ($5 per car) for Parking Lot 2. The Faculty Center is the first building (one floor) to the north of the parking kiosk and Parking Lot 2 on your right.
For further information please call 310-825-0007.
Additional websites:
Martin Lee's own website (updated 10/30/98)
includes press releases, links to articles citing Mr. Lee, biographical information and more
Asiaweek included Martin Lee in its 1995 list of "Twenty Great Asians"
South China Morning Post December 22, 1996 report on the Martin Lee-led Democratic Party response to the appointment of a provisional legislature for Hong Kong: "darkest hour for democracy"
Democratic Party of Hong Kong 1997 biography of Martin Lee
Transcript of a PBS Newshour with Jim Lehrer April 10, 1997 interview with Martin Lee
San Jose Mercury News June 29, 1997 article on Martin Lee, "China's Paul Revere"
Fox News July 1, 1997 report on pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong
Toronto Sun columnist Matthew Fisher describes Martin Lee
Earth Times July 2, 1997 article on how Mr. Lee's views differ from those of his sister-in-law's, suggesting the range of Hong Kong opinion regarding the return of Hong Kong to Chinese control
Indian Express January 22, 1998 article quotes Martin Lee on the relationship between democracy and financial stability in Asia
South China Morning Post reports on the results of the 1998 election
China Daily Sept. 16, 1998 report cites Martin Lee as having mistakenly stated that Beijing ordered the Hong Kong government to interfer in Hong Kong's financial market
The USC-UCLA Joint Center for East Asian Studies
11266 Bunche Hall
UCLA
Los Angeles, California 90095-1487
e-mail: jeasc@isop.ucla.edu
website: http://www.isop.ucla.edu/eas/
