Hong Kong’s new “Gang of Four” --------------------------------- China’s state media has launched scathing personal attacks on senior pro-democracy figures in Hong Kong, labelling them the new “Gang of Four” that “colludes” with Western forces to instigate unrest in the city ---------------------------------- 1 2 3 4 ---------------------------------- 1 Anson Chan, 79 Politician and civil servant who served as Chief Secretary in both British colonial government and Chinese sovereignty. Chan, who was also elected member of city’s Legislative Council between 2007 and 2008, remains one of most influential political figures in territory ---------------------------------- 2 Jimmy Lai, 71 Media tycoon who founded Next Media – Hong Kong-based media company which publishes Next Magazine and popular pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper. Lai, who launched fashion brand Giordano in 1981, says Tiananmen Square massacre spurred him to switch from garment business to newspapers ---------------------------------- 3 Martin Lee, 81 Commonly called “Father of Democracy”, Lee founded Hong Kong’s Democratic Party in 1990 and helped write Basic Law – Hong Kong’s mini-constitution under which city has been governed since handover from British rule in 1997 ---------------------------------- 4 Albert Ho, 68 Lawyer and former chairman of Democratic Party from 2006 to 2012. Chairs body that organises Hong Kong’s annual Tiananmen Square vigil and leads Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China ---------------------------------- Term “Gang of Four” refers to former Chinese leaders blamed for plunging country into disastrous Cultural Revolution ---------------------------------- Sources: SCMP, FT, Reuters Pictures: Newscom, Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS 237 words