Gary Fan Kwok-wai

Political prisoner

Gary Fan Kwok-wai 范國威

Age at Arrest: 54

Former leading member, Democratic Party (Reformist faction)

*Currently in jail.

Gary Fan Kwok-wai is a former leading member of the Democratic Party (Reformist faction) and former convenor for the Neo Democrats. After graduating from San Francisco State University, Fan started his political career after returning to Hong Kong.

Fan was first elected as a member of the Sai Kung District Council in 1999. He was then elected as a member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council in 2012. In 2013, Fan and Claudia Mo formed ‘HK First’ to raise concerns and challenge the Hong Kong government’s immigration policies which involved allowing 150 Mainland Chinese immigrants to enter Hong Kong daily.

In January 2021, Fan was arrested for participating in the “35+” unofficial primary elections in July 2020. He resigned from his position as a District Councillor in March 2021. (Photo: Stand News)

Charge, incident & sentence:

Charge: Conspiracy to commit subversion under the National Security Law
Incident: Organising and participating in unofficial primary elections for the Hong Kong Legislative Council in July 2020
Sentencing: 4 years, 2 months’ imprisonment (HK F P)