Junius Ho facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Honourable Dr. Junius Ho Kwan-yiu JP BBS
何君堯
Ho in April 2018
Member of the Legislative Council
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 January 2022
Preceded by	Constituency created
Constituency	Election Committee
In office 1 October 2016 – 31 December 2021
Preceded by	Albert Chan
Succeeded by	Constituency abolished
Constituency	New Territories West
Member of the Tuen Mun District Council
In office 1 January 2016 – 31 December 2019
Preceded by	Albert Ho
Succeeded by	Lo Chun-yu
Constituency	Lok Tsui
Personal details
Born	(1962-06-04) 4 June 1962 (age 63) Tuen Mun, Hong Kong
Nationality	Chinese
Spouse	Cecilia Chan
Children	3
Residences	Ngau Tam Mei, New Territories
Education	Chelmer Institute of Higher Education (LLB) University of Hong Kong
Occupation	Solicitor politician

Junius Ho Kwan-yiu (born 4 June 1962) is a well-known Hong Kong lawyer and politician. He is currently a member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council. He is known for his strong pro-Beijing views and his stance on various social issues. Before his current role, he was the president of the Law Society of Hong Kong and a member of the Tuen Mun District Council.

Early Life and Education

Junius Ho grew up in Leung Tin Village in Tuen Mun, Hong Kong. His family has a long history as village leaders. He is part of a Hakka family that can be traced back many centuries.

He attended Queen's College Hong Kong from 1975 to 1979. After that, he moved to the United Kingdom. He studied at the Chelmer Institute of Higher Education and earned his law degree in 1984. He then returned to Hong Kong and completed his postgraduate studies at the University of Hong Kong in 1986, which allowed him to practice law.

Legal Career

After finishing his studies, Junius Ho became a qualified lawyer in Hong Kong in 1988. He also gained qualifications to practice law in Singapore and England and Wales in the mid-1990s. He is a senior partner at a law firm in Hong Kong and represents a law firm in Guangzhou, China. His main work involves civil cases, especially disagreements between shareholders and family disputes.

He became the vice-president of the Law Society of Hong Kong in 2005. In 2011, he was elected president for one year and continued to serve as a council member afterward.

In 2017, there was a discussion about his legal qualifications in England and Wales and Singapore. It was later confirmed that his name, "Kwan Yiu Ho," was indeed on the records of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

Honorary Awards and Recognition

Anglia Ruskin University Award

In 2011, Anglia Ruskin University gave Junius Ho an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. They called him an "outstanding ambassador." However, after the 2019 Yuen Long attack, many people signed an online petition asking the university to take back the award. In October 2019, the university officially withdrew his honorary degree after an investigation. They stated that his actions since receiving the award had caused "increasing concern."

China University of Political Science and Law Award

On 6 December 2019, Junius Ho received another honorary law doctorate. This one was from the China University of Political Science and Law in China. He was recognized for his "outstanding contribution and achievements in the legal sector."

Political Career

Junius Ho first tried to become a member of the Legislative Council in 2008 but was not elected.

In 2011, he was elected Chairman of the Tuen Mun Rural Committee. This role also made him a member of the Tuen Mun District Council. He served as chairman until 2015. He ran for the Legislative Council again in 2012 but did not win a seat.

In 2015, he was appointed to the council of Lingnan University. Some students protested this appointment, worrying about political influence on the university.

In the 2015 District Council elections, Junius Ho won a seat in the Lok Tsui area. He defeated a long-time member, Albert Ho. He then ran for the Legislative Council again in 2016 and was elected, winning one of the last available seats.

In 2019, during the 2019 District Council elections, Junius Ho lost his seat to his opponent, Lo Chun-yu.

In 2021, it was reported that Junius Ho had a very strong voting influence in the 2021 Hong Kong legislative election. This was because he held several different voting roles, including being a member of the Election Committee.

Victim of Tuen Mun Knife Attack

On 6 November 2019, while campaigning for the local elections in Tuen Mun, Junius Ho was attacked. A man approached him, pretending to be a supporter, and then used a knife to injure him in the chest. The attacker was quickly stopped. Ho was taken to the hospital but was released shortly after.

Political Views and Stances

Junius Ho is known for his strong opinions on various social and political issues in Hong Kong.

Views on Social Issues

Ho has made several statements about social issues and traditional values. In 2017, he spoke against a court decision that granted benefits to a gay civil servant, saying it could cause "chaos in society." In 2018, he was the only legislator to vote against the appointment of two foreign judges to Hong Kong's highest court, because he felt they did not support traditional family values.

In 2021, when Hong Kong was preparing to host the Gay Games, Ho called the event "disgraceful" and said any money earned from it would be "dirty money." He also stated that private actions should not be made public. In 2023, he protested against the Gay Games again, saying it could threaten Hong Kong's security.

Tiananmen Square Memorialization

In June 2017, Junius Ho was the only pro-establishment lawmaker to vote in favor of a motion to remember the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. He expressed sympathy for the students involved before the military action. However, he also criticized other lawmakers for calling the mainland Chinese government "cold-blooded."

Opposition to Occupy Central

Junius Ho was a strong opponent of the "Occupy Central with Love and Peace" movement. This movement suggested a large protest to pressure the Beijing government for changes in Hong Kong's election system. Ho created a group called "Protect Central" to oppose the movement.

In 2017, Ho called for a legal scholar, Benny Tai, to be removed from his position at the University of Hong Kong. Ho organized a rally and submitted a petition to support his demand. During this time, Ho made some very strong and controversial statements about supporters of Hong Kong independence, which were widely criticized by many people across the political spectrum. He later clarified that he was expressing his strong disapproval of the independence movement.

Views on Sanctions

In February 2021, Ho asked the Hong Kong government to help people whose bank accounts were closed due to sanctions from the United States. He wanted banks to reopen these accounts, even though it could cause problems for the banks.

COVID-19 Comments

In January 2022, Junius Ho claimed that people who suggested a "living with Covid" strategy could be breaking the National Security Law. The government quickly responded, stating that his claim was not true.

"Glory to Hong Kong" Song

In November 2022, after the song "Glory to Hong Kong" was played at a rugby match, Ho said that the Hong Kong Rugby team had "let their country be insulted" and suggested the team should be disbanded.

Current Positions

• Advisory board member of Yan Oi Tong (since 1997)
• Indigenous Inhabitant Representative of Leung Tin Tsuen

Honours and Awards

• Justice of the Peace (1 July 2016)
• Honorary LLD from the China University of Political Science and Law (2019)

Personal Life

Junius Ho owns two racehorses named Alex Flyer and Hong Kong Bet, which race at The Hong Kong Jockey Club. During the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests, the graves of his parents were damaged.

On 31 August 2022, Junius Ho tested positive for COVID-19.

See also

• Chinese nationalism
• Hong Kong Liaison Office