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Martin Lee is quitting politics before 2017, when Hong Kong can "possibly" elect its own Chief Executive. A long-time advocate of democracy and, since the beginning of his political career in the 1980s, direct elections for the Chief Executive and Legislative Council, Martin Lee has done it all. He was the founding chairman of Hong Kong's Democratic Party from 1994-2002. So why is he quitting now, when Hong Kong is ever so close, yet ever so far, to achieving universal suffrage?
Lee said in a press briefing: he will be 70 in June and older than a lost of Chinese leaders. It's time for new blood...and no one is indispensable. Right on. The fragile balance of the Legislative Council means keeping political stars like Lee to keep the pro-democratic movement going. Apparently that limit has been reached: new stars will have to be born.
Interestingly, Lee is the most recognized face of Chinese democracy in Western media, yet he is barred from ever returning to mainland China. The veteran lawmaker has lobbied abroad in Washington to gather support and status quo for civil liberties in Hong Kong, such as the freedom of speech and assembly. Moreover, his support for the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests outraged China and prompted Beijing to label him as a "traitor." After his retirement, he will still be the greatest asset to Hong Kong's pro-democratic movement. He said that he will continue to lobby abroad if necessary, participate in protests and rallies, and resume his legal career. His regrets? "I have two regrets: One is that democracy in Hong Kong is still a faraway goal, the second is that my goal of returning to the mainland is still far away," said Lee.
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