Ex-lawmaker And RTHK Host Allen Lee Dies Aged 80

The founding chairman of the Liberal Party and former RTHK presenter, Allen Lee, has died at the age of 80.

An obituary issued by his wife and family said the veteran politician passed away peacefully last Friday, and that his last wish was for his funeral to be held privately.

It added that a memorial will be held separately for those who wish to pay tribute to Lee.

As well as being a member of the Legislative Council from 1978 to 1997, Lee also sat on the Executive Council from 1986 to 1992.

He was made a deputy to the National People's Congress in 1997, but quit seven years later, saying he had faced pressure not to speak openly.

Following his retirement from politics, he became an active commentator and hosted various talk shows, including RTHK's "Legco Review" until two years ago.

Liberal Party leader Felix Chung said he was saddened by Lee's death.

"Allen Lee had been a very important person in Hong Kong politics since the 80s. He contributed a lot to Hong Kong society and Hong Kong politics, and we will miss him very much," Chung said.

Lee was born in Shandong in 1940 and spent most of his childhood in Shanghai. He became a leader of the Communist Youth League before his mother sent him to Hong Kong in 1954.

He later studied electronic engineering in the United States before returning to the SAR and founding two electronics companies.

He was appointed to Legco by Governor Sir Murray MacLehose in 1978 and to the Executive Council by Governor Sir Edward Youde in 1986.

Lee helped found the Liberal Party in 1993 and became its first chairman. He later left the party, saying this was because it changed its manifesto regarding universal suffrage and had no set date for when it wanted this to be implemented.