Martin Lee is a long-time advocate of democracy in Hong Kong, and now at age 70, he has announced that he will quit politics.
The Wall Street Journal has a nice little piece about him. You can also go directly to Lee's website.
Lee has been banned from travel to China, and because of his endless support for HK democracy (i.e., direct elections), Beijing has called him all sorts of nasty names such as "Chinese traitor" and "running dog of colonialists."
I am inclined to rather like Lee, and I give you a little quote from his announcement. He may be stepping down from public office, but he vows to "continue pushing for democracy for Hong Kong until we have democracy."
Indeed. Lee's successors have large shoes to fill.
Meanwhile, I can't resist adding, part of a real democracy is a free and open press. Just as Lee the democrat announced his retirement, the latest news from Chinais about civil rights advocate Hu Jia, whose "crimes" included talking to foreign journalists. He has been sentenced to 3+ years in prison; his wife and child are under house arrest. Reporters Without Borders estimates that last year China jailed over 100 journalists and dissidents.
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