Dennis Kwok

Dennis Kwok Wing-hang (born 15 April 1978) is a former member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council from 2012 to 2020 and founding member of Civic Party.
Once the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee, Kwok was accused of delaying the legislature proceedings. He was disqualified from the Legislative Council on 11 November 2020, along with three other lawmakers of the pan-democratic camp, by the Chinese Government on request of the Hong Kong government. A mass resignation of pan-democrats the same day left the Legislative Council without a substantial opposition. Later that month, Kwok announced his resignation from politics and left Hong Kong. In April 2021, it was reported that he had moved to Canada and later settled in the United States.
Kwok was charged with collusion and an arrest warrant with a HK$1 million bounty bounty was issued by the Hong Kong Police in July 2023.
Early career
Kwok was educated at King's College London (LLB, 1999) and the University of Hong Kong (PCLL). He was admitted as a solicitor in the High Court of Hong Kong in 2002 and to the Roll of Solicitors of England and Wales in 2003.
He subsequently left his practice as a solicitor to join the Bar in 2006 with a focus in civil and public administrative law. In 2008, he served on the Bar Council.
Political career
In 2006, Kwok was elected as an Election Committee Member for the Legal Functional Constituency, and was re-elected in 2011.
In 2007, he co-founded The Professional Commons, a public policy think-tank, and in 2008, he joined the Citizens Commission for Constitutional Development headed by the former Chief Secretary, Mrs. Anson Chan.
He took part in the 2011 District Council Election (South Horizons East constituency) but he was defeated.
In 2012, he succeeded Margaret Ng and won the seat of Legal functional constituency in Legislative Council. He later served as Deputy Chairman of the House Committee and the Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services.
Political strategy
On assuming office as the legal-sector lawmaker, Kwok expressed support for the use of filibustering tactics by the pro-democracy camp, arguing that "the existing rules of procedure already make it sufficiently difficult for members to continue to filibuster without limitation". He said he would challenge any effort by the pro-government camp to inhibit the practice.
From October 2019 to May 2020, while Kwok was Deputy Chairman of Legco's House Committee, no election for the vacant post of its Chairman took place, for which Kwok was accused by the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office and other pro-government voices of misconduct by paralysing Legco through filibustering tactics. In April 2020, pro-establishment lawmakers argued that Dennis Kwok was "no longer fit" to preside over sessions as his continued filibustering tactics had left multiple pieces of legislation in limbo.
On 15 May 2020, Legco president Andrew Leung removed Kwok from the post of committee Deputy Chairman and imposed Finance Committee chair Chan Kin-por in his place.
The move was vociferously opposed by democratic members, and led to shouting and scuffles in the chamber, during which eleven opposition lawmakers were ejected. The following week, Starry Lee was re-elected Chair, and the committee proceeded with addressing a backlog of bills for review.
Disqualification and dismissal
Five weeks ahead of the (subsequently postponed) 2020 Hong Kong Legislative Council Election, on 30 July 2020, as Kwok prepared to defend his seat, the government stated that he was among a dozen pro-democracy candidates whose nominations were 'invalid', under an opaque process in which, nominally, civil servants – returning officers – assess whether, for instance, a candidate had objected to the enactment of the national security law, or was sincere in statements made disavowing separatism. On 11 November 2020, following a decision by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Kwok was disqualified from Legislative Council along with Alvin Yeung, Kwok Ka-ki and Kenneth Leung. Hours later, 15 of their pro-democracy colleagues resigned from office in protest.
Kwok announced on 21 November that he was resigning from politics after being disqualified. As reasons for his step, he cited his perception of being unable to advance his career in politics, as well as family reasons. He was reported in April 2021 to have moved to Canada. That same month, he announced that he had quit the Civic Party.
Legal and academic career
Following his departure from Hong Kong, in August 2021 Kwok was named as a Distinguished Scholar in the Asian Studies Program of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. He also became a Senior Research Fellow at Harvard University's Kennedy School.
Kwok joined with three other lawyers in May 2022 to form a legal practice in the United States. The firm, Elliott Kwok Levine & Jaroslaw LLP, focuses on commercial litigation and international arbitration, white-collar criminal defense, regulatory counseling, China-related corporate advisory work, international human rights, and antitrust.
Awards
Award for Distinction in International Law and Affairs from the New York State Bar Association’s International Section.
Rule of Law Award from the U.K.’s Commonwealth Law Association.
Publications
See also
References
1978 births
Living people
Alumni of King's College London
Alumni of the University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong Christians
Civic Party politicians
Canadian people of Hong Kong descent
Hong Kong people of Canadian descent
Barristers of Hong Kong
HK LegCo Members 2012–2016
HK LegCo Members 2016–2021
Expelled members of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong
Fugitives wanted under the Hong Kong national security law