Ng Ming-yam 吳明欽 (born 1955 - died 22 June 1992) was one of the important founders of United Democrats of Hong Kong (later called Democratic Party (Hong Kong)), a district councillor in Tuen Mun District, an elected member of the Regional Council and the youngest member of the Legislative Council to die in office.
He is best-remembered for leading a pro-democracy crowd with a flag during the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989.
A Christian writer for Breakthrough Magazine (突破, a Christian magazine published in Hong Kong during 1973-1999), Lee Wing Tat was Ng's ally inside the party and the one who carried his portrait during his funeral, who won the office as the Democratic Party chairman later in 2004.
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Ng Ming-yam was a teacher in a secondary school. He became a district councillor in Tuen Mun since 1985. He united many students and teachers to support the Tiananmen Square protesters.
On 11 October 1985, he was assaulted by about 10 villagers in Tuen Mun while he was greeting them, he was seriously injured. 4 people was arrested and two of them were jailed. As it was the first time a pro-democracy district councillor was assaulted, it caused widespread concern in Hong Kong. It is also a direct reason that Ng gained 70% of the votes in his district against the pro-Beijings in the Regional Council Election in 1986.[1]
Ng was elected to the be a councillor of the Legislative Council in 1991. He was one of the hardworking members of the Legco, putting forward many suggestions to the government in his short term as a councillor. He strongly opposed the proposal of the government for reduction of number of classes in schools and the spending saving planson education.
Ng helped to unite the Education Constituency together for a candlelight vigil around the Legco to increase political pressure to the government. Although the pro-Beijing councillors and some of the pro-London councillors voted in favour of the proposal, this plan was finally cancelled in 1993.
Even though he was diagnosed with blood cancer in February 1992, he still worked for long hours. He suggested many useful ideas to benefit the public while he was in hospital. Even as his health deteriorated, on 4 June 1992 he attended a candlelight vigil in memory of the people who was killed during the massacre three years ago.
He died shortly after he fainted during a fund raising campaign on 22 June 1992. Councillors observed a brief moment of silence before the legislature sitting in his memory two days later. He was the only councillor ever to receive this honour. He was survived with his wife, son and daughter.
| Preceded by (new constituency) |
District Councillor of Tuen Mun Tai Hing Constituency 1985–1992 |
Succeeded by Albert Ho |