John Clancey

John Joseph Clancey (Chinese: 關尚義; Jyutping: Gwaan1 Seong6 Ji6) is a Hong Kong-based American human rights lawyer, and the first foreigner arrested under the Hong Kong national security law for his role in the 2020 Hong Kong pro-democracy primaries.

John Clancey
關尚義
Clancey in 2021
Born1941 or 1942 (age 81–82)
Jersey City, New Jersey, United States
NationalityAmerican
Hong Konger
Alma mater
OccupationHuman rights lawyer
Known forFirst foreigner arrested under Hong Kong security law
Political partyPower for Democracy (until 2021)
Spouse
Edith To
​
(m. 1985)​

Clancey, a holder of a United States passport and a Hong Kong permanent resident,[1] is the chairman of the Asian Human Rights Commission, and formerly the treasurer of Power for Democracy, a Hong Kong pro-democracy platform.

Priest

Born in New Jersey, United States,[2] Clancey first moved to Hong Kong in 1968 as a Catholic missionary priest, at the time when churches retreated to Hong Kong from China after the victory of Mao Zedong in the Chinese Civil War in 1949.[3] Clancey, who then mainly helped with welfare and relief in the poverty-hit Hong Kong, left the priesthood to marry his wife Edith To in 1985. Clancey is, nevertheless, still a prominent member of Hong Kong's Catholic community.[4][5]

After years of living in Hong Kong, Clancey can speak fluent Cantonese.[6]

Clancey was admitted to practice as a solicitor in Hong Kong in 1997 after retraining, and has been working as a solicitor with Ho Tse Wai & Partners since his admission,[7] a firm known for taking on pro-bono cases and human rights work,[4] and also hired by numerous opposition figures.[1] He mainly handled medical negligence and personal injury cases, and appears as an advocate in coroner's inquests. He also acts for applicants in Basic Law related judicial review cases.[7] He was also admitted to England and Wales in 1998.[8]

Clancey has a long history of human rights campaigning, from opposing the Vietnam War to calling for democracy in Hong Kong. He said he has campaigned to uphold international democratic standards that Hongkongers have marched for.[4]

Between December 10, 2006 and August 26, 2021, Clancey was also a member of the Election Committee, responsible for electing the Chief Executive, in the legal constituency.[9]

Arrest

On January 6, 2021, Clancey was arrested by the national security police on suspicion of "subversion", during the raid of the law firm.[10] Power for Democracy, which he served as a treasurer, was involved in the pro-democracy primaries for the now-delayed legislative election.[11] This was the first time a foreign national was detained under the security law,[4] with analysts saying this signaled rising pressure on human-rights advocates.[12]

When asked if he had anything to say to Hongkongers as he is slowly led away by police, Clancey replied "continue to work for democracy and human rights in Hong Kong".[13] He was accused by the police for "organising" the primaries, along with Benny Tai, Au Nok-hin, Andrew Chiu, Ben Chung, and Gordon Ng.[14] He was released on police bail, and was the only organiser not charged with subversion when others were brought to court in late February.[15][16]

References
  1. "Hong Kong national security law: 53 held for subversion in biggest crackdown yet". South China Morning Post. January 6, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  2. "AP Interview: Arrested US lawyer says HK courts face choice". Associated Press. May 14, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  3. "79歲被捕，關尚義：我已活過不少事，有國安法也要繼續工作". Initium Media (in Traditional Chinese). February 2, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  4. "US-born lawyer John Clancey keeps faith after Hong Kong security law arrest". Hong Kong Free Press. AFP. January 13, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  5. Strumpf, Dan. "In Hong Kong, an American Priest Turned Lawyer Faces China's Wrath but Keeps the Faith". WSJ. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  6. "因《國安法》被捕美裔律師關尚義受警方傳喚". VOA. March 1, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  7. "Mr. John Clancey 關尚義律師". Ho Tse Wai & Partners. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  8. "Details of CLANCEY JOHN JOSEPH". Law Society of Hong Kong. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  9. "Webb-site Who's Who: positions of Clancey, John Joseph 關尚義". webb-site.com. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  10. Cheng, Selina (January 6, 2021). "American lawyer John Clancey among Hong Kong mass arrests as police raid law firm Ho Tse Wai & Partners". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  11. Staff (January 6, 2021). "American lawyer arrested by Hong Kong police in national security crackdown". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  12. Strumpf, Dan. "Veteran American Lawyer Detained in Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Crackdown". WSJ. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  13. "Hong Kong national security law: Activists say arrests confirm worst fears". BBC News. January 7, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  14. 凌逸德 (January 6, 2021). "戴耀廷、區諾軒、吳政亨、關尚義等6人 被指是組織及策劃角色". 香港01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  15. "【初選大搜捕】美籍人權律師關尚義報到 籲港人緊守新聞自由、爭取民主". Inmedia. May 4, 2021.
  16. "初選大搜捕︱專訪︱美籍人權律師關尚義：港人權跌至97後谷底 拒離港因「真的很愛香港人」". Collection News. Apple Daily. March 2, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
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