Nathan Law Steps Down As Demosisto Chairman

Former pro-democracy lawmaker Nathan Law has quit his position as chairman of the Demosisto party, saying he needs a break to think about the way forward.

Law, Joshua Wong and a group of young activists founded the party two years ago after initiating the 2014 Occupy movement.

But the authorities have refused to register the party, and member Agnes Chow was recently barred from standing in a Legco by-election because Demosisto advocates self-determination for the Hong Kong people.

Law was elected as the youngest-ever lawmaker in 2016 at the age of 23. But he was stripped of his seat last year after a court ruled that he did not take his oath of office properly.

He was then jailed with Wong and another student leader, Alex Chow, for their roles in the storming of Civic Square just before the Occupy protests began. Their prison terms were quashed by the Court of Final Appeal in February this year.

In a Facebook post, Law said he has been living in the “vortex of political storms” since the Occupy movement, and he has been feeling inadequate at times, both physically and mentally.

But he said taking a step back from the limelight doesn’t mean he will give up his beliefs and aspirations. He added that he will now try something different and take part in new projects within civil society.

Law said he will remain a standing committee member of Demosisto, while Ivan Lam will take over as chairman.

Meanwhile, the vice-chairwoman of Demosisto, Tiffany Yuen, has quit the party, citing differences between the party’s future development and her aspirations. Yuen, who is now working for pro-democracy lawmaker Au Nok-hin, said she wants to focus on community work.