First Person: Andrew Cheng
One of the founding members of the Democratic Party, independent legislator Andrew Cheng left the party after 16 years in 2010 following the controversial electoral reforms, which he believed would obstruct Hong Kong’s path to universal suffrage. Now back in the spotlight with a book about his political career, he recounts his bittersweet memories with Grace Tsoi.
I was a naughty kid. I studied in Salesian School, whre the students are known for their love of soccer. I was a keen soccer player but I hated studying.
I always say that I am thankful for Salesian School, which always teaches children who feel lost. I didn’t join a triad society largely because of this school. Some people did try to make me join the triads. The school was in Chai Wan, which was a rough neighborhood back in 1970s.
But when someone bullied the weaker schoolmates, I would always help them fight the bullies. My friends are not surprised that I became a politician—they say it’s consistent with my personality.
In 1993, I had just returned to Hong Kong from Australia. I saw on TV that some politicians had abruptly changed political orientation. Especially Allen Lee [the former leader of the Liberal Party]. He was the first person to change from pro-British to pleasing Beijing. If such figures could be politicians, so could I. I didn’t want the future of the next generation to be controlled by such people.
Political life is very draining and sometimes what your political enemies say can be upsetting. In the early years, I cared a lot about what others said. As time goes by, you realize that your life will be cut short if you care that much.
The most antagonizing incident? Now that you ask me, I have no recollections at all.
But I have been in heated debates with Lau Kong-wah [Vice-chairman of the pro-government party DAB] countless times. We are around the same age, entered Legco in the same year and ran for elections in the same district [New Territories East]. We are rivals, obviously. He was one of the people whose comments would always get on my nerves in the early years.