Joseph Lee Kok Long

Political Prisoner

Joseph Lee Kok-long 李國麟 (64)

Former chairman, Association of Hong Kong Nursing Staff

*Currently on bail.

Dr. Joseph Lee Kok-long was a member of the Legislative Council, representing the Health Services functional constituency from 2004 to 2020. Lee was the Founding Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Studies of the Open University of Hong Kong. He led the Department for 23 years before resigning in 2019. Each year, 800 students graduated from the Department under his leadership. Lee was appointed Justice of the Peace in 2006 and awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star in 2009 by the Hong Kong government.

Lee was also the former chairman of the Association of Hong Kong Nursing Staff (AHKNS) – the largest nurses union in the city with 20,000 members. Lee fought for the rights of nurses in Hong Kong, advocating for a revamp of the government’s health policy. In 2019, the AHKNS staged a protest at the government’s headquarters to urge the government to address nurses and hospital staff working extra shifts, skipping meals, and reaching a breaking point during peak flu season every year.

Lee ran in the “35+” unofficial primary elections in July 2020. Lee was arrested in January 2021 for participating in the election but was released on bail. In an interview with Apple Daily in March 2021, Lee said he will not participate in any political events or elections. (Photo: Stand News)

Charge, incident & sentence:

Charge: Inciting subversion of state power
Incident: Organising and participating in unofficial primary elections for the Hong Kong Legislative Council in July 2020
Trials ： 19/11/2024