Ray Chan resigns as People Power chairman

Former lawmaker and national security suspect Ray Chan has resigned as chairman of the pro-democracy party, People Power.

In a brief statement published on its social media page on Sunday, the party said it “respects and understands” Chan’s decision, and accepted his request to resign.

The party also thanked him for his years of service in LegCo, and for his “sacrifices and contributions to the development of democracy in Hong Kong”.

Chan was first elected to Legco in 2012 as a lawmaker for New Territories East, and was the city’s first openly-gay legislator.

He served two terms as lawmaker, and stepped down last year with a number of pro-democracy legislators, saying he would not serve in the extended Legco term after the election was postponed for a year.

Chan is one of 47 activists arrested and charged under the National Security Law for taking part in primary elections for the pro-democracy camp. He’s been remanded in custody since February.

His departure from People Power comes as a number of pro-democracy activists who took part in the primaries withdraw from their membership of their respective parties.

In April, four Civic Party members – former lawmakers Alvin Yeung, Kwok Ka-ki, Jeremy Tam and district councillor Lee Yue-shun – also announced that they have quit the pro-democracy party, and also made a public call for its dissolution.

In March, another of the suspects, Carol Ng, stepped down from her position as chairwoman of the Confederation of Trade Unions and also parted ways with the Labour Party.