New challenge for martial arts actor

Jane Cheung

Martial arts actor Donnie Yen Ji-dan has joined a political circle as a member of the National Committee of the CPPCC.

With him are former secretary for home affairs Lau Kong-wah and ex-deputy police commissioner Alan Lau Yip-shing.

The 59-year-old actor found fame in 1995 kung fu drama series Fist of Fury.

He gained international recognition for his role as Ip Man in the movie of the same title, portraying a master of a martial art known as wing chun.

Under the influence of his mother and martial master Mark Bow-sim, he took up martial arts at young age. Born in Guangzhou, Yen's family moved to Hong Kong when he was two but settled in Boston in the United States when he was 11.

Although he grew up in the United States, Yen has a strong sense of belonging to his motherland and canceled his US citizenship years ago, saying: "Now I'm 100 percent Chinese. I'm from Hong Kong, China."

He has also lived by a rule to only appear in foreign movies that respect Chinese people and culture.

Lau Kong-wah, 65, said a national position will allow him to convey Hongkongers' opinions to Beijing. And decades of service will be useful for his new role, Lau also told radio listeners.

A longstanding member of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, Lau was a legislator for more than 10 years but lost in an election in 2012. He was appointed under secretary for home affairs in December that year and secretary for home affairs in 2015.

But he stepped down and was replaced by DAB partymate Casper Tsui Ying-wai in 2020. Lau remains a DAB adviser and is in charge of nurturing next-generation politicians.

Former No 2 cop Alan Lau, 61, led police operations during Occupy Central in 2014 and Mong Kok rioting in 2016.

He retired in 2018 but was recalled temporarily as deputy commissioner during anti-extradition bill protests in 2019.

jane.cheung@singtaonewscorp.com