Joseph Lee (Hong Kong politician)

Lee received his Bachelor of Nursing degree from the La Trobe University, Australia in 1992. His master's degree was in nursing/education from the University of Edinburgh. In 2002 he completed his PhD thesis, Ascertaining Patient Condition: a grounded theory study of diagnostic practice in nursing from Lingnan University in Hong Kong.

Lee became a member of the Legislative Council in 2004, representing the Health Services functional constituency.[3]

In June 2010, he voted in favour of the government's 2012 constitutional reform package, which included the late amendment by the Democratic Party – accepted by the Beijing government – to hold a popular vote for five new District Council functional constituencies.[4]

In March 2011, he abstained on legislation accepting reduced funding from Beijing for Hong Kong.[5]

Lee announced his intention to step down from LegCo and not participate in the 2020 Hong Kong legislative election, following his loss to Winnie Yu in the 2020 Hong Kong pro-democracy primaries.[3]

On 6 January 2021, Lee was among 53 members of the pro-democratic camp who were arrested under the national security law, specifically its provision regarding alleged subversion. The group stood accused of the organisation of and participation in unofficial primary elections held by the camp in July 2020.[6] Lee was released on bail on 7 January.[7]

Lee served on the following Legco committees:

• 2008–09 Panel Committees:

Panel on Health Services

Panel on Food Safety & Environmental Hygiene

Panel on Housing[8]

• 2008–09 Bill Committees:

Independent Police Complaints Council Bill

Prevention and Control of Disease Bill

Subcommittee on Harmful Substances in Food (Amendment) Regulation 2008[8]

He also serves as:

• the Chairman of Association of Hong Kong Nursing Staff;
• Vice-chairman of Independent Police Complaints Council.

He is a member of:

• the Hospital Authority and the Nursing Council of Hong Kong;
• the Hospital Governing Committee of Kwai Chung Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong;
• the Commission on Strategic Development;
• the Estate Agents Authority;
• the Operations Review Committee;
• the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

He is an honorary research fellow of the Asia-Pacific Institute of Ageing Studies at Lingnan University of Hong Kong.[9]