Martin Lee, HK’s "Father of Democracy”, nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

Hong Kong’s veteran pro-democracy leader Martin Lee Chu-ming has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize this year.

Known as Hong Kong’s “Father of Democracy”, Lee, 82, has been championing greater freedoms in Hong Kong for years.

He is the founding chairman of the city’s first pro-democracy party the United Democrats of Hong Kong in 1990 during the British colonial era, and also led its successor the Democratic Party. He served in the city’s legislature for over two decades.

In a statement, two Norwegian parliamentarians Mathilde Tybring-Gjedde and Peter Frolich, who nominated Lee, said Lee was “a source of inspiration for the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong and advocates for freedom around the world.”

“Martin Lee Chu-ming has pursued every avenue for over 40 years that has been at his disposal for the aim of securing freedom and safety for the people of Hong Kong,” said Tybring-Gjedde.

Frolich added that Lee has worked peacefully for democratic institutions, free elections by universal suffrage, and political and civil rights, even in the face of mounting pressure from mainland China.

“He had devoted his life to the cause,” he added.

Lee is currently on bail awaiting trial following his arrest last year with 14 others for unauthorized assembly in the wake of massive pro-democracy marches in August and October 2019.