Lam Bun
Encyclopedia
Lam Bun was a radio commentator at Commercial Radio Hong Kong
who was fiercely critical of leftists. He was assassinated during the Hong Kong 1967 riots
, and has become an icon for free speech in Hong Kong.
in the 1960s who was fiercely critical of leftists. During the 1967 riots, he criticised the leftist agitators on his own radio programmes. He created a programme called "Can't Stop Striking" (欲罷不能) to satirise the leftist agitators. Some leftist newspapers at the time labelled him an anti-China spy.
(楊光), then chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions and director of the All Circles Anti-Persecution Struggle Committee, ordered the murder. However, Pro-Beijing politicians said in 2010 that leftists should not be blamed for Lam's death.
The Lam Bun assassination angered the people of Hong Kong, eventually leading the government of Hong Kong
to suppress the riots. Lam became an icon of free speech. The police offered a reward of HK$50,000, on top of which his employers added $10,000, making it the highest reward ever posted in the colony. Commercial Radio created the program "18/F, Block C" in his memory.
With the help of Commercial Radio and some Hong Kong citizens, his wife and his 3 daughters fled to Taiwan.
by Tung Chee Hwa. Critics in Hong Kong felt that it was inappropriate to award a riot leader responsible for Lam's murder.
Two DAB lawmakers stepped into the row: Chan Kam-lam said: "During the '67 riots, it was not just Lam Bun who died. There were very many ordinary citizens who, we don't know for what reason, died ..." Wong Ting-kwong also said leftists should not be held responsible. Pro-democracy lawmaker Lee Cheuk-yan said the DAB were revisionists who "would rather people not talk about their inglorious past." Wong later clarified his comments, saying he had been misunderstood because the phrase 'leftist camp' had different definitions. He said that there was no evidence that Yeung Kwong or the FTU killed Lam Bun. He blamed the media for sensationalising his comments ahead of the 16 May by-election
.
Commercial Radio Hong Kong
Commercial Radio Hong Kong , aka Hong Kong Commercial Broadcasting Company Limited is one of only two commercial radio broadcasting companies in Hong Kong along with Metro Radio Hong Kong. It contains a balanced array of entertainment including informative, educational, arts and cultural programmes...
who was fiercely critical of leftists. He was assassinated during the Hong Kong 1967 riots
Hong Kong 1967 riots
The Hong Kong 1967 riots began in May 1967. They were caused by pro-communist leftists in Hong Kong, inspired by the Cultural Revolution in the People's Republic of China , who turned a labour dispute into large scale demonstrations against British colonial rule. Demonstrators clashed violently...
, and has become an icon for free speech in Hong Kong.
Biography
Lam was a radio commentator at Commercial Radio Hong KongCommercial Radio Hong Kong
Commercial Radio Hong Kong , aka Hong Kong Commercial Broadcasting Company Limited is one of only two commercial radio broadcasting companies in Hong Kong along with Metro Radio Hong Kong. It contains a balanced array of entertainment including informative, educational, arts and cultural programmes...
in the 1960s who was fiercely critical of leftists. During the 1967 riots, he criticised the leftist agitators on his own radio programmes. He created a programme called "Can't Stop Striking" (欲罷不能) to satirise the leftist agitators. Some leftist newspapers at the time labelled him an anti-China spy.
Death
On 24 August 1967, whilst on his way to work, men posing as road maintenance workers stopped his vehicle at the end of the street where he lived. They blocked his car doors and doused Lam and his cousin with petrol. They were both then set on fire and burned alive. Lam died later that day in a hospital; his cousin died several days later. A leftist group reportedly claimed responsibility for the assassination. No one was ever captured, although it was believed that 1967 riot leader, Yeung KwongYeung Kwong
Yeung Kwong, GBM is a Hong Kong Communist activist and murderer in the 1960s. He was awarded the Grand Bauhinia Medal in 2001, when the Hong Kong government was under chief executive Tung Chee-Hwa, who has close ties to the PRC government...
(楊光), then chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions and director of the All Circles Anti-Persecution Struggle Committee, ordered the murder. However, Pro-Beijing politicians said in 2010 that leftists should not be blamed for Lam's death.
The Lam Bun assassination angered the people of Hong Kong, eventually leading the government of Hong Kong
Government of Hong Kong
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, commonly the Hong Kong Government, is led by the Chief Executive as Head of the Government, who is also the head of the Hong Kong SAR...
to suppress the riots. Lam became an icon of free speech. The police offered a reward of HK$50,000, on top of which his employers added $10,000, making it the highest reward ever posted in the colony. Commercial Radio created the program "18/F, Block C" in his memory.
With the help of Commercial Radio and some Hong Kong citizens, his wife and his 3 daughters fled to Taiwan.
2001 GBM controversy
In 2001, Yeung Kwong was awarded the highest honour Grand Bauhinia MedalGrand Bauhinia Medal
The Grand Bauhinia Medal the highest award under the Hong Kong honours and awards system, is to recognise the selected person's lifelong and highly significant contribution to the well-being of Hong Kong. The awardee is entitled to the postnominal letters GBM and the style "The Honorable"...
by Tung Chee Hwa. Critics in Hong Kong felt that it was inappropriate to award a riot leader responsible for Lam's murder.
2010 Commercial Radio controversy
In May 2010, after the pro-Beijing Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong had sponsored a political radio programme on Commercial Radio in 2010, pro-democracy activists protested outside the station with images of Lam, complaining that the station had desecrated the memory of Lam, and all the station had stood for. Activists said they had requested an interview to talk about Lam's death. The station later said it respected freedom of speech; the DAB said the shows were about livelihood issues, and denied they promoted a political stance.Two DAB lawmakers stepped into the row: Chan Kam-lam said: "During the '67 riots, it was not just Lam Bun who died. There were very many ordinary citizens who, we don't know for what reason, died ..." Wong Ting-kwong also said leftists should not be held responsible. Pro-democracy lawmaker Lee Cheuk-yan said the DAB were revisionists who "would rather people not talk about their inglorious past." Wong later clarified his comments, saying he had been misunderstood because the phrase 'leftist camp' had different definitions. He said that there was no evidence that Yeung Kwong or the FTU killed Lam Bun. He blamed the media for sensationalising his comments ahead of the 16 May by-election
Hong Kong by-election, 2010
The 2010 Hong Kong by-election is an election held on 16 May 2010 in Hong Kong, triggered by the resignation of five pan-democrat Legislative Councillors in January of the same year....
.