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The HonourableJunius Ho Kwan-yiu
何君堯
Member of the Legislative Council
In office 1 October 2016 – 1st October 2020
Preceded by	Albert Chan
Constituency	New Territories West
Member of the Tuen Mun District Council
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 January 2016
Preceded by	Albert Ho
Constituency	Lok Tsui
Personal details
Born	(1962-06-04) 4 June 1962 (age 62) Tuen Mun, Hong Kong
Nationality	Hong Kong Chinese
Spouse	Cecilia Chan
Children	3
Residence(s)	Ngau Tam Mei, New Territories
Alma mater	Queen's College, Hong Kong Anglia Ruskin University
Occupation	Solicitor politician
Website	www.juniusho.com

Junius Kwan-yiu Ho (Chinese: 何君堯; born 4 June 1962) is a Hong Kong lawyer and politician. He is a former president of the Law Society of Hong Kong and chairman of the Tuen Mun Rural Committee, and has been an elected member of the Tuen Mun District Council since 2015. He is a member of the Pro-Beijing camp.

Early life

Ho came from a family of village leaders. He grew up in the old site of Leung Tin Village (Chinese: 良田村) in Tuen Mun. He is a 32nd-generation descendant of his Hakka clan, which can be traced back to the 10th century.

Ho attended Queen's College Hong Kong from 1975 to 1979, after which he went to the United Kingdom, where he enrolled at Chelmer Institute of Higher Education (now Anglia Ruskin University) and obtained his bachelor of laws degree in 1984. Ho joined a post-graduate programme at the University of Hong Kong in 1984 and obtained his mandatory practising qualification, the postgraduate certificate in laws (PCLL) in 1986.

Career

After gaining his qualifications he was admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong in 1988 and claimed to be similarly admitted in Singapore and England and Wales in 1995 and 1997. His qualifications caused controversy in 2017 when it was reported that Ho is not admitted in England and Wales, where he claimed to be admitted, according to the Solicitors Regulation Authority. He is the senior partner of a law firm in Hong Kong and a principal representative of a law firm in Guangzhou. His major practice field is civil litigation, specialising in shareholders' disputes and family disputes. He was appointed a China-Appointed Attesting Officer in 2003.

He became the vice-president of the Law Society of Hong Kong in June 2005 and was elected president for a one-year term in May 2011, after which he has served as a council member.

Honorary award at Anglia Ruskin University

In 2011, Junius Ho was bestowed with an Honorary Doctor of Laws by Anglia Ruskin University, with the university describing him as an "outstanding ambassador". After the 2019 Yuen Long Attack, a petition was launched urging Anglia Ruskin University to reconsider the honorary award, and the university was notified after the petition reached 500 signatures on 25th July 2019. On 26 October, the British life peer and former MP Lord Alton published a letter addressed to the vice-chancellor of Anglia Ruskin University, asking the university to consider removing Ho's honorary doctorate, citing examples of "misogyny", "extremism" and "racism".

On 28 October 2019, Anglia Ruskin University withdrew Ho's honorary degree following an investigation, with a statement from the university noting, "Mr Ho's conduct since he was honoured has caused increasing concern".

Political career

Ho first contested a Legislative Council election in 2008, running against Civic Party's Margaret Ng in the Legal functional constituency. He was defeated, receiving 1,286 votes, about 34 per cent of the vote.

Ho was elected as Chairman of Tuen Mun Rural Committee in 2011, ousting the long-time chairman and most powerful rural leader Lau Wong-fat, chairman of the Heung Yee Kuk. In that capacity, he became an ex officio member of the Tuen Mun District Council. He served as the rural committee chairman until 2015. He was a candidate in the Legislative Council election in New Territories West in September 2012, where he received 10,805 votes, about two per cent of total vote share and was not elected.

Ho was appointed to Lingnan University council by Chief Executive of Hong Kong Leung Chun-ying in October 2015. Students staged a protest against the appointment over fears of political interference in university governance.

In the 2015 District Council elections, Junius Ho defeated Albert Ho of the Democratic Party in the latter's long-held Lok Tsui seat in a six-way contest by a narrow margin of 277 votes, as the pro-democracy votes were split between Albert Ho and Cheng Chung-tai of Civic Passion. Ho ran again in the 2016 Legislative Council election, in New Territories West, where he was reportedly backed by the Central People's Government's Liaison Office in Hong Kong. During the election, Ho and his supporters were allegedly involved in the withdrawal of candidacy of Liberal Party candidate Ken Chow Wing-kan. Chow claimed he had been intimidated. Ho was elected with 35,657 votes, winning the last of nine seats in the constituency.

In May 2017, pro-democracy lawyer Kevin Yam published an article urging solicitors not to vote for Junius Ho in the election for the governing council of the Law Society of Hong Kong. Ho sued for defamation but failed to be re-elected, securing only 572 of 8,148 votes, coming last.

Views

Same-sex marriage

Ho has made several controversial statements regarding issues related to homosexuality. In late April 2017, following a lawsuit on government benefits for civil workers who are in a same-sex relationship, Ho said that legalisation of same-sex marriage in Hong Kong would lead to acceptance of bestiality and incest.

Fellow LegCo member Raymond Chan Chi-chuen, who is openly gay, condemned Ho's comments, and said those who sincerely hold such thoughts should seek professional help. Holden Chow, also a member of LegCo, also criticised Ho's remarks, stating that he did not need to be so extreme in his comments. Prominent lawyer, Kevin Yam, criticised Ho's linking of bestiality with homosexuality as "a vile form of homophobia", while Ho riposted that his remarks were taken out of context and that criticism was a personal attack on him because of his political views.

In May 2017, Ho said that a ruling granting marriage benefits to a gay civil servant could lead to "chaos in society" and co-signed a petition asking the government to appeal the decision.

In April 2018, Ho became the only legislator to vote against the appointments of foreign judges Brenda Hale and Beverley McLachlin to the Court of Final Appeal over their support of same-sex rights, claiming the two opposed traditional "family values".

Remembering 4 June 1989 massacre of Tiananmen Square protestors

On June 2017, Junius Ho became the only pro-Bejing lawmaker to vote in favour of a motion to "never forget" the June 4, 1989 massacre of Tiananmen Square protestors at the Legislative Council. He expressed sympathy for the Chinese students before the People’s Liberation Army crackdown.

Opposition to Occupy Central with Love and Peace

He was a leading critic of legal scholar Benny Tai's Occupy Central with Love and Peace which suggested a full-scale occupation protest in the form of civil disobedience to press the Beijing government to make concessions on electoral reform. He set up an anti-Occupy group called "Protect Central" which he said would resist the Occupy campaign.

In August 2017, Ho called for the removal of Tai, who was then facing charges of inciting others to incite public nuisance, from working at the University of Hong Kong (HKU). Vice-Chancellor Peter Mathieson and council chairman Arthur Li rejected the call. Ho submitted a petition, appearing to have the support of over 80,000, urging the university to investigate Tai and organised a rally on 17 September calling for his removal. Ho acknowledged that the number of people digitally signing the petition was unverifiable. As to the legality of the rally, Ronny Tong Ka-wah pointed out that the Public Order Ordinance may have been violated.

Hong Kong independence supporters

In September 2017, Ho said supporters of Hong Kong independence ought to be "killed mercilessly". He made the comment at a rally which he organised to demand that the University of Hong Kong fire Benny Tai. He stated that it was "not a big deal to kill pigs or dogs", and also appeared on a Commercial Radio programme, where he said of pro-independence activists, "Why shouldn’t these people be killed?" In response to criticism, Ho said "If we’re talking about Hong Kong independence, that means war. What’s wrong with killing enemies in a war?" Ho's remarks were condemned by figures on all sides of the political spectrum. Senior Counsel Ronny Tong said that Ho's comments may have violated the Public Order Ordinance. Chief executive Carrie Lam, who is anti-independence, alluded to Ho's comments after she stated on 19 September that "unacceptably cruel, insulting and intimidating comments" had no place in a civilised society. Executive Council member Regina Ip called Ho's remarks "stupid", and continued, "It will do our country no good to have stupid 'patriots', including possibly quite a few hired to become 'patriots'." The 22 lawmakers from the pro-democracy camp issued a joint statement condemning Ho’s remarks, which read in part: "Ho, as a legislator and lawyer, expressed hate speech involving murder at a public event, crossing the bottom lines of free speech and morality and severely breaching professional conduct."

Ho maintained that he was expressing his contempt towards the evil of the pro-independence movement, and said that the journalists should not take his words out of context.

Remarks made against Claudia Mo

During a Legislative Council meeting, Ho made a remark directed toward fellow Legislative Council member Claudia Mo, stating that she is used to "eating foreign sausage". Mo, who is married to British journalist Philip Bowring, later told the council that the comment was "blatantly sexist, racist and it amounts to sexual harassment." Ho refused to apologise and was expelled from the meeting.

Alleged Involvement in Yuen Long attack

On 21 July 2019, against the backdrop of protests against the China extradition bill on Hong Kong Island, hundreds of men dressed in white t-shirts stormed through Yuen Long. Allegedly triad gangs, they entered Yuen Long station and attacked railway passengers with sticks and other weapons. On the same night, Ho was filmed reportedly supporting and congratulating members of these gangs, commenting, "all of you are my heroes" and giving a thumbs-up gesture. Ho claimed that he was simply greeting one of his supporters, and said it was "normal". He also praised the gangs for "safeguarding" their district who should be "pardoned for defending their homes". On 22 July 2019 Ho's constituency shopfront in Tsuen Fung Centre, Tsuen Wan was turned into a Lennon Wall before being ransacked later in the day. The following day his Tuen Mun office also attracted protests.

On 23 July 2019, Ho appeared on an RTHK televised forum alongside fellow New Territories West constituency representative Eddie Chu. Ho said he did not regret shaking hands with those dressed in white. He called the victims of the Yuen Long attacks "rioters" and claimed they had instigated the violence. He said the mobs were merely "Yuen Long residents" seeking to "protect their homeland". After Chu stated that protesters could not remain calm if the government continued to ignore their requests (e.g. to formally withdraw the extradition bill), Ho called Chu "scum" who "did not deserve to be a lawmaker" while storming offstage, ending the interview. Later when Ho's parents graves were vandalized, Ho blamed Chu and his supporters for the damage and warned Chu has the option of being on "a path of being alive, one is a path of not being alive." Chu dismissed the 'death threat' and stated that Ho is "trying to mislead his supporters into believing that I am behind the damage to his parents' tomb to incite further political hatred and violence."

Over 2,300 teachers, alumni and students from Ho's alma mater Queen's College participated in a signature campaign condemning Ho's alleged involvement in the attack. They urged LegCo members to impeach Ho, and requested Queen's College Old Boys' Association to suspend his membership. Similarly, Lingnan University students have started a petition calling for Ho to be removed from the institution's governing council. An online petition requesting that the United States bar Ho from entering the U.S. or acquiring U.S. citizenship achieved over 100,000 signatures.

Current positions

• Advisory board member of Yan Oi Tong (1997 to present)
• Chairman of Product Eco-responsibility Appeal Board Panel
• Indigenous Village Representative of Leung Tin Tsuen
• Chairman of Tuen Mun Rural Committee

Personal life

Ho is married with three children and has three dogs.

References

1. ^ Ng, Kang-chung (19 October 2015). "University of strife: Lingnan's new council member Junius Ho Kwan-yiu never far from controversy". South China Morning Post.
2. Law List – The Law Society of Hong Kong
3. "Pro-Beijing lawmaker Junius Ho rebuts claims he is not 'solicitor in England and Wales'". Hong Kong Free Press. 22 September 2017.
4. "Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region - Members' Biographies ::Dr Hon Junius HO Kwan-yiu, JP". www.legco.gov.hk. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
5. Council Members – The Law Society of Hong Kong
6. "K. C. HO & FONG, Solicitors & Notaries". www.kcho-fong.com. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
7. "Junius Ho - ARU". aru.ac.uk. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
8. "Anglia Ruskin University strips Junius Ho of his honorary degree". Coffee House. 28 October 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
9. Rogers, Benedict (26 October 2019). "Lord Alton has written to @AngliaRuskin University, to urge them to withdraw honorary doctorate of Hong Kong legislator Junius Ho, who has long record of shocking racist,bigoted,violent language with genocidal tones. I hope local MP @vickyford supports his call @lukedepulfordpic.twitter.com/eaLwVDr2zo". @benedictrogers. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
10. "【抗暴之戰】英議員去信大學 促褫奪何君堯名譽博士學位". Apple Daily 蘋果日報. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
11. "Anglia Ruskin University strips Junius Ho of his honorary degree". Coffee House. 28 October 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
12. https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1488721-20191029.htm
13. "Appendix X" (PDF). Report on the 2008 Legislative Council Election. Electoral Affairs Commission. 4 December 2008.
14. "LegCo Election results: New Territories West". Government of Hong Kong. 9 September 2012.
15. Cheng, Kris (9 October 2015). "Chief Executive appoints pro-Beijing figures as Lingnan University Council members". Hong Kong Free Press.
16. Cheng, Kris (11 November 2015). "LingnanU Council member storms out of forum, says students swore, insulted his wife". Hong Kong Free Press.
17. "'Umbrella soldiers' win eight seats as veteran politicians suffer surprise defeat". Hong Kong Free Press.
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19. "Lawmaker Junius Ho loses Law Society election, comes last in the race". Hong Kong Free Press. 26 May 2017.
20. ^ 何君堯：准同性婚姻 恐演變容許人獸交 [Junius Ho: Legalize same-sex marriage would lead to Zoophilia]. Oriental Daily (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 29 April 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
21. Yam, Kevin (14 May 2017). "Law Society Council election: Why lawmaker Junius Ho should be voted out". Hong Kong Free Press.
22. Ho, Junius (14 May 2017). "Law Society Council election: Vicious characters and hypocrites only earn my spite". Hong Kong Free Press.
23. Ng, Ellie (24 May 2017). "'Protect family values': Hong Kong gov't urged to appeal ruling on marriage benefits for gay couple". Hong Kong Free Press.
24. "Pro-Beijing lawmakers voice concerns over foreign judges' support for gay rights". South China Morning Post. 28 April 2018.
25. Tong, Elson (8 June 2017). "Video: In surprise move, pro-Beijing lawmaker Junius Ho votes to 'never forget June 4' Tiananmen massacre". Hong Kong Free Press.
26. "Newly founded group vows to 'protect' Central". China Daily. 24 September 2014.
27. "Junius Ho seeks to block Benny Tai from HKU". The Standard.
28. Cheng, Kris (7 September 2017). "Lawmaker threatens protests and legal action unless HKU investigates pro-democracy professor Benny Tai".
29. Cheung, Karen (18 September 2017). "Hundreds attend protest against Hong Kong independence, urge sacking of pro-democracy HKU scholar Benny Tai".
30. "何君堯認8萬人聯署或篤數". Apple Daily 蘋果日報.
31. https://Www.post852.com, 852郵報 (18 September 2017). "何君堯斥追問殺無赦論「多餘，講細微嘢」 戴耀廷指違《公安條例》促警執法｜852郵報". 852郵報. {{cite web}}: External link in |last= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
32. ^ Cheung, Karen (18 September 2017). "Pro-Beijing legislator Junius Ho's call for death of independence activists may have broken law, says ExCo member". Hong Kong Free Press.
33. "Carrie Lam deplores 'cruel, insulting, intimidating' remarks on kill threat". The Standard. 19 September 2017.
34. Kao, Ernest (19 September 2017). "'Unhealthy and stupid' calls to kill advocates of Hong Kong independence criticised by city's leader". South China Morning Post.
35. "Pan-democrats blast Junius Ho for saying activists should be 'killed'". Retrieved 22 October 2017.
36. Kitching, Chris (17 October 2019). "Hong Kong politician says rival lawmaker married to Brit 'eats foreign sausage'". The Mirror.
37. "Legco panel kicks out Junius Ho over crude remark". RTHK. 15 October 2019.
38. Cheng, Kris (22 July 2019). "Chaos and bloodshed in Hong Kong district as hundreds of masked men assault protesters, journalists, residents". Hong Kong Free Press.
39. "At least 45 injured as rod-wielding mob dressed in white rampages through Yuen Long MTR station, beating screaming protesters". South China Morning Post. 22 July 2019.
40. "【無警時份】何君堯向元朗白衣人鼓掌豎拇指：你哋係我嘅英雄". Apple Daily. 22 July 2019.
41. "Junius Ho accused of supporting Yuen Long mob". The Standard. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
42. "Yuen Long attackers were defending their home, says lawmaker". South China Morning Post. 22 July 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
43. Cheng, Kris (22 July 2019). "Chaos and bloodshed in Hong Kong district as hundreds of masked men assault protesters, journalists, residents". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
44. Creery, Jennifer (22 July 2019). "Video: Office of Hong Kong pro-Beijing lawmaker Junius Ho trashed as dozens protest response to Yuen Long attacks". Hong Kong Free Press.
45. ^ Chan, Holmes (23 July 2019). "Pro-Beijing lawmaker Junius Ho calls for protest ban, blames democrats for violence, storms out of TV show". Hong Kong Free Press.
46. "Under fire Junius Ho loses it in debate over Yuen Long brutality". The Standard. 23 July 2019.
47. https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/pro-china-legislator-threatens-colleague-backing-other-side
48. http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news.php?id=131865
49. "Junius Ho accused of supporting Yuen Long mob". The Standard. 22 July 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
50. 仁愛堂 :: 諮議局. yot.org.hk.
51. "Product Eco-responsibility Appeal Board Panel". Government of Hong Kong.
52. "List of Village Representatives, Home Affairs Department".

• 1962 births
• Living people
• Hong Kong legal professionals
• District councillors of Tuen Mun District
• Indigenous inhabitants of the New Territories in Hong Kong
• Hong Kong people of Hakka descent
• Members of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong
• HK LegCo Members 2016–2020
• Hong Kong pro-Beijing politicians
• Alumni of Anglia Ruskin University
• Queen's College, Hong Kong alumni
• Hong Kong racehorse owners and breeders