# Cheng Chung-tai

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Hong Kong academic and politician (born 1983)

Cheng Chung-tai 鄭松泰 Cheng in 2021 Member of the Legislative Council In office 1 October 2016 – 26 August 2021 Preceded by Albert Chan Succeeded by Constituency abolished Constituency New Territories West Chairman of Civic Passion In office 5 September 2016 – 3 September 2021 Preceded by Wong Yeung-tat Succeeded by Party dissolved Personal details Born (1983-11-05) 5 November 1983 (age 42) Hong Kong Party Civic Passion Alma mater Hong Kong Polytechnic University (BA) Peking University (PhD) Occupation Academic Signature

Cheng Chung-tai Traditional Chinese 鄭松泰 Simplified Chinese 郑松泰 Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Zhèng Sōngtài Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Jehng Chùhng taai Jyutping Zeng6 Cung4-taai3

**Cheng Chung-tai** ([Chinese](/source/Traditional_Chinese_characters): 鄭松泰; born 5 November 1983) is a Hong Kong academic, social activist, and politician. After winning a seat in the [New Territories West](/source/New_Territories_West_(constituency)) constituency in the [2016 legislative election](/source/2016_Hong_Kong_legislative_election), he took over from [Wong Yeung-tat](/source/Wong_Yeung-tat) as chairman of [Civic Passion](/source/Civic_Passion) until the dissolution in 2021.

Before his disqualification in August 2021,[1] he was the sole remaining opposition member in the [Legislative Council](/source/Legislative_Council_of_Hong_Kong) after the mass resignation of pro-democracy legislators.[2]

## Biography

Cheng was born in 1983 in Hong Kong. He obtained his bachelor's degree from [Hong Kong Polytechnic University](/source/Hong_Kong_Polytechnic_University) and doctoral degree from [Peking University](/source/Peking_University).

He was a member of the [localist](/source/Localist_camp) party [Civic Passion](/source/Civic_Passion) and participated in the [anti-parallel trading protests](/source/Anti-parallel_trading_protests) in 2015. In the [2015 local election](/source/2015_Hong_Kong_local_elections), Cheng represented Civic Passion to run against [pro-democratic](/source/Pro-democracy_camp) [Democratic Party](/source/Democratic_Party_(Hong_Kong)) incumbent [Albert Ho](/source/Albert_Ho) in [Lok Tsui](/source/Lok_Tsui_(constituency)), where he secured 391 votes, while Ho lost his seat to [pro-Beijing](/source/Pro-Beijing_camp) candidate [Junius Ho](/source/Junius_Ho) by a margin of 277 votes.[3]

In the [2016 Hong Kong Legislative Council election](/source/2016_Hong_Kong_Legislative_Council_election), Cheng represented Civic Passion to run in the [New Territories West](/source/New_Territories_West_(constituency)). He took over [Wong Yeung-tat](/source/Wong_Yeung-tat)'s position as the leader of Civic Passion after his electoral victory.[4]

On 5 January 2017, Cheng declared that Civic Passion would no longer participate in street protests and instead reorient itself to focusing on community work, and to restructure as a political party. As reasons for this step, he cited the risks – several Civic Passion members had been arrested for their involvement in the [2016 Mong Kok civil unrest](/source/2016_Mong_Kok_civil_unrest) almost a year earlier –, as well as his view that current public opinion was not supportive enough of street protests.[5]

In September 2017, Cheng was convicted and fined for the offence of [flag desecration](/source/Flag_desecration). In October 2016, he had flipped upside down some miniature Chinese and Hong Kong flags, which legislator [Edward Lau](/source/Lau_Kwok-fan) had handed out to legislators of the Legislative Council. Lau stated in his testimony that his intention had been to remind legislators that the country should be respected.[6] Cheng regarded the flags as "cheap patriotic acts" and alleged that the pro-Beijing bloc was ignoring issues of actual importance to Hong Kong people.[7] Lau subsequently called the police to report Cheng for flag desecration.[6] On 29 September 2017, the [Eastern Magistrates' Court](/source/Magistrates'_Court_(Hong_Kong)) found Cheng guilty and fined him [HK$](/source/Hong_Kong_dollar)5,000.[8] Lau subsequently stated that the punishment was light, and referred to previous sentences of imprisonment for burning and scrawling on the flag.[6]

On 31 August 2019, Cheng was one of several prominent democrats targeted in sweeping arrests made by police that day.[9]

In November 2020, pro-democracy Legislative Council members [resigned en masse](/source/2020_Hong_Kong_Legislative_Council_mass_resignations) to protest against the latest action by the Chinese Government, leaving Cheng the sole opposition legislator; and along with nonpartisan [Pierre Chan](/source/Pierre_Chan), one of the two non-pro-Beijing members.

Cheng lost his Legislative Council seat on 26 August 2021 after he was disqualified of his ex-officio membership in the [Election Committee](/source/Election_Committee), which would be mandated to elect new Chief Executive, as the authorities deemed Cheng "unpatriotic".[1]

## Academic career

From 2012 to 2018, Cheng has served as a teaching fellow at the Department of Applied Social Sciences at the [Hong Kong Polytechnic University](/source/Hong_Kong_Polytechnic_University).[10] He teaches classes on Hong Kong society, Chinese society, and popular culture.[11]

In 2016, he was criticised by [Kaizer Lau](/source/Kaizer_Lau), a member of the governing council of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University for supporting and organising violent protests and advocating for Hong Kong independence. Lau also called for the non-renewal of the employment contract of Cheng.[12]

Cheng lost this position on 30 June 2018 as his teaching contract had not been renewed by the university. He quoted a disciplinary letter from the university as stating: "Your conduct and convictions are inconsistent with the university's commitment to quality education and aspiration to embrace internationalisation".[13] He alleged that the university's actions were "political persecution" and were unrelated to his teaching performance.[11]

## See also

- [Hong Kong Autonomy Movement](/source/Hong_Kong_Autonomy_Movement)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-hkfp_20210826_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-hkfp_20210826_1-1) Ho, Kelly (26 August 2021). ["Hong Kong lawmaker Cheng Chung-tai unseated after failing patriotism test"](https://hongkongfp.com/2021/08/26/hong-kong-lawmaker-cheng-chung-tai-unseated-after-failing-patriotism-test). *[Hong Kong Free Press](/source/Hong_Kong_Free_Press)*. Retrieved 26 August 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmakers resign after China ruling"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-54899171). *British Broadcasting Corporation*. 11 November 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Election Results"](http://www.elections.gov.hk/dc2015/eng/results_tuen_mun.html?1473032336277). *Electoral Affairs Commission*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** "黃洋達辭任熱血領導 黃毓民：樹敵多累選情". *AM730*. 6 September 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Tong, Elson (6 January 2017). ["Localist group Civic Passion to 'withdraw from all social movements', citing increased risks"](https://hongkongfp.com/2017/01/06/localist-group-to-withdraw-from-all-social-movements-citing-increased-risks/). *[Hong Kong Free Press](/source/Hong_Kong_Free_Press)*. Retrieved 3 January 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-warning_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-warning_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-warning_6-2) Cheung, Karen (29 September 2017). ["HK$5,000 fine for lawmaker who flipped flags 'not a sufficient warning', says pro-Beijing legislator"](https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/09/29/hk5000-fine-lawmaker-flipped-flags-not-sufficient-warning-says-pro-beijing-legislator/). *[Hong Kong Free Press](/source/Hong_Kong_Free_Press)*. Retrieved 3 January 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-flippingflags_7-0)** Cheng, Kris (12 April 2017). ["Hong Kong lawmaker arrested and charged after flipping flags at legislative meeting"](https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/04/12/hong-kong-lawmaker-arrested-charged-flipping-flags-legislative-meeting/). *[Hong Kong Free Press](/source/Hong_Kong_Free_Press)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-guilty_8-0)** Cheung, Karen (29 September 2017). ["Civic Passion lawmaker Cheng Chung-tai found guilty of 'desecrating' flags during legislative session"](https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/09/29/breaking-civic-passion-lawmaker-cheng-chung-tai-found-guilty-desecrating-flags-legislative-session/). *Hong Kong Free Press*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Grundy, Tom (30 August 2019). ["Hong Kong lawmaker Cheng Chung-tai arrested in round-up of pro-democracy figures"](https://www.hongkongfp.com/2019/08/30/just-hong-kong-lawmaker-cheng-chung-tai-arrested-round-pro-democracy-figures/). *Hong Kong Free Press*. Retrieved 30 August 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Dr.CHENG Chung Tai 鄭松泰博士"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160906085143/http://www.apssweb.polyu.edu.hk/staff/dr-cheng-chung-tai-zheng-song-tai-bo-shi). *The Hong Kong Polytechnic University*. Archived from [the original](http://www.apssweb.polyu.edu.hk/staff/dr-cheng-chung-tai-zheng-song-tai-bo-shi) on 2016-09-06. Retrieved 2016-09-04.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-decries_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-decries_11-1) Ng, Naomi (12 January 2018). ["Hong Kong lecturer decries 'political persecution' after Polytechnic University lets him go over Chinese flag desecration"](https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2128047/hong-kong-lecturer-decries-political-persecution-after). *South China Morning Post*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26point_12-0)** Cheng, Kris (21 April 2016). ["CY Leung ally posts 26-point criticism of localist academic on PolyU's 'democracy wall'"](https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/04/21/cy-leung-ally-posts-26-point-criticism-of-localist-academic-on-polyus-democracy-wall/). *Hong Kong Free Press*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-notrenewed_13-0)** Tong, Elson (13 January 2018). ["Lawmaker Cheng Chung-tai's Poly U teaching contract not renewed after flag-turning conviction"](https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/01/13/lawmaker-cheng-chung-tais-poly-u-teaching-contract-not-renewed-flag-turning-conviction/). *Hong Kong Free Press*.

Legislative Council of Hong Kong Preceded by Lee Cheuk-yan Member of Legislative Council Representative for New Territories West 2016–2021 Constituency abolished Party political offices Preceded by Wong Yeung-tat as Leader of Civic Passion Chairman of Civic Passion 2016–2021 Party dissolved Order of precedence Preceded by Lau Kwok-fan Member of the Legislative Council Hong Kong order of precedence Member of the Legislative Council Succeeded by Roy Kwong Member of the Legislative Council

v t e Current members of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong President: Starry Lee (DAB) DAB (19) Chan Hak-kan Chan Han-pan Chan Hok-fung Chan Wing-kwong Chan Yung Rock Chen Vincent Cheng Holden Chow Steven Ho Lillian Kwok Nixie Lam Lau Kwok-fan Starry Lee Leung Hei Stanley Li Ngan Man-yu Elizabeth Quat Edmund Wong Kennedy Wong BPA (8) Jeffrey Lam Kenneth Lau Andrew Leung Lo Wai-kwok Priscilla Leung Benson Luk Jimmy Ng Sunny Tan FTU (6) Joephy Chan Kwok Wai-keung Dennis Leung Luk Chung-hung Ng Chau-pei Kingsley Wong NPP (6) Judy Chan Adrian Ho Regina Ip Lai Tung-kwok Dominic Lee Yung Hoi-yan Liberal (4) Tommy Cheung Lee Chun-keung Shiu Ka-fai Frankie Yick FEW (2) Chu Kwok-keung Tang Fei FLU (2) Chau Siu-chung Lam Chun-sing Roundtable (1) Michael Tien PP (1) Connie Lam KWND (1) Scott Leung NPHK (1) Gary Zhang NCF (1) Ma Fung-kwok TS (1) Tik Chi-yuen Pro-Beijing independents (35) Chan Chun-ying Chan Hoi-yan Chan Kin-por Maggie Chan Chan Pui-leung Chan Siu-hung Chan Yuet-ming Duncan Chiu Chow Man-kong Kenneth Fok Junius Ho Wendy Hong Carmen Kan Peter Douglas Koon Kong Yuk-foon Ambrose Lam David Lam Dennis Lam Kenneth Leung Andrew Lo Lau Chi-pang Hoey Simon Lee Robert Lee Martin Liao Louis Loong Johnny Ng Shang Hailong So Cheung-wing Tan Yueheng Paul Tse Tony Tse William Wong Stephen Wong Kitson Yang Erik Yim Yiu Pak-leung 7th Legislative Council of Hong Kong

Authority control databases International VIAF WorldCat National United States

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Cheng Chung-tai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheng_Chung-tai) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheng_Chung-tai?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.