Former lawmaker Eddie Chu is latest opposition camp member to quit Hong Kong politics

Chu has been a strong advocate for conservation and better management of rural affairs

But facing at least six criminal cases, including one tied to the national security law, he is stepping away from politics

Reading Time:3 minutes

Eddie Chu rose to public attention fighting against the demolition of Queen’s Pier in Central in 2006. Photo: AFP

Published: 12:32am, 21 May 2021Updated: 2:15am, 21 May 2021

Former opposition lawmaker Eddie Chu Hoi-dick is quitting Hong Kong politics as he prepares to fight a raft of criminal charges which he expects will land him in jail for “a considerable period”.

Chu said on Thursday he was also disbanding his political organisation serving the New Territories West constituency and whose members won several seats in the district council elections.

His departure further shrinks an opposition camp sapped of influence over the city’s affairs after scores of its members were arrested and its lawmakers resigned from the legislature in a protest tactic aimed at Beijing.

In a brief Facebook message issued on his behalf by his team, Chu, 43, said he was prepared to face a long time behind bars over at least six criminal cases he faced, including one related to the national security law.

Eddie Chu at a protest in the Legislative Council in May last year. Photo: Dickson Lee

“Eddie is plagued by six court cases, including subverting state power under the national security law,” the post read. “It is believed that he will lose freedom for a considerable period of time. [He] will not take part in politics afterwards.”