View source for Jeremy Tam

{{EngvarB|date=June 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{short description|Hong Kong politician and airline pilot}}
{{family name hatnote|[[Tan (surname)|Tam]]|Jeremy Jansen Tam|Tam Man-ho|lang=Hong Kong}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Jeremy Tam Man-ho
| honorific-prefix = 
| native_name = {{nobold|譚文豪}}
| native_name_lang = zh-hk
| image = Jeremytam01.jpg
| party = [[Civic Party]] <small>(quit in 2021)</small>
| constituency1=[[Kowloon East (constituency)|Kowloon East]]
| office1=Member of the [[Legislative Council of Hong Kong|Legislative Council]]
| predecessor1= [[Alan Leong]]
| successor1= ''Constituency abolished''
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1975|6|13}}
| birth_place = [[British Hong Kong|Hong Kong]]
| alma_mater = [[Pentecostal Lam Hon Kwong School]]<br />[[University of Queensland]]<br />[[University of New South Wales]]
| profession = [[Pilot (aeronautics)|Pilot]]
| term_start1=1 October 2016
| term_end1 = 1 December 2020
|signature = Jeremy Tam signature.svg
}}

'''Jeremy Jansen Tam Man-ho''' ({{zh|first=t |t=譚文豪 |s=谭文豪}}; born 13 June 1975) is a Hong Kong politician, airline pilot, and former Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong [[Civic Party]]'s [[Kowloon East (constituency)|Kowloon East]] Branch.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.civicparty.hk/?q=en/node/5004|title=Jeremy Tam Man Ho {{!}} 公民黨 – 公道自在民心 Civic Party – The Civic Way, The Fairer Way|website=www.civicparty.hk|access-date=4 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702151149/http://civicparty.hk/?q=en%2Fnode%2F5004|archive-date=2 July 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/news/art/20100210/13716713|script-title=zh:指種族歧視 同工不同酬國泰300華人機師杯葛花車巡遊 |website=Apple Daily |language=zh-hant |access-date=4 July 2016}}</ref> He was a former member of the [[Legislative Council of Hong Kong|Legislative Council]] representing [[Kowloon East (constituency)|Kowloon East]], having been elected in the [[2016 Hong Kong Legislative Council election]]. Tam resigned along with 14 other remaining pro-democracy legislators from the Legislative Council on 11 November 2020, after the central government had unseated four of pro-democracy legislators the same day.

== Background ==
Tam grew up in [[British Hong Kong|Hong Kong]]. According to Tam, his great-grandparents and grandfather had moved to Hong Kong to escape from political prosecution in [[Mainland China]].<ref>RTHK programme: Politics and Legislative Council: 27 October 2016 Chi.</ref> He graduated with honours from the [[University of Queensland]], where he earned a bachelor's degree in Mechanical and Space Engineering.  He then attended the [[University of New South Wales]] in Australia, where he graduated with a master's degree in Transport Engineering.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://harbourtimes.com/2016/08/18/cleared-for-takeoff-first-officer-jeremy-tam/|title=Political Risers: Cleared for takeoff: First Officer Jeremy Tam|first=Benny|last=Kwok|work=harbourtimes.com|date=18 August 2016|access-date=13 February 2021}}</ref> He became the first Chinese person to serve on the executive committee of the Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association, the Cathay Pacific pilots' union and an organisation committed to fighting for the equal pay and fair treatment of Chinese and foreign pilots, aircraft parking regulations, [[energy conservation]], and [[environmental protection]] initiatives in the airline industry.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hkctu.org.hk/cms/article.jsp?article_id=1060&cat_id=38|title="Cry out against injustice" is the entry requirement for pilots|publisher=hkctu.org.hk|access-date=8 July 2016}}</ref>

In 2013, Tam created a Facebook page for sharing aviation knowledge and communicating with the media about issues in the airline industry.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/news/art/20130722/18343766 |script-title=zh:隔牆有耳：數《衝2》錯處 譚文豪勁呃Like|website=Apple Daily |language=zh|access-date=4 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cablenews.i-cable.com/ci/videopage/news/454278/%25E5%258D%25B3%25E6%2599%2582%25E6%2596%25B0%25E8%2581%259E/%25E6%25A9%259F%25E5%25B8%25AB%25E8%25B3%25AA%25E7%2596%2591%25E4%25B8%25AD%25E6%25B8%25AF%25E8%2583%25BD%25E5%2590%25A6%25E5%2581%259A%25E5%2588%25B0%25E5%2585%25B1%25E4%25BA%25AB%25E7%25A9%25BA%25E5%259F%259F |script-title=zh:有線寬頻 i-CABLE：機師質疑中港能否做到共享空域 |website=cablenews.i-cable.com|access-date=4 July 2016}}</ref> In 2014, Tam released his first book, an introduction to the airline industry and a guide to becoming a pilot.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.etpress.com.hk/etpress/bookdetail.do?id=9789626788325|script-title=zh:《逆風飛揚──民航機師手記》|publisher=etpress.com.hk|access-date=4 July 2016}}</ref> He donated the royalty income from the book to the Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps to establish a scholarship to allow young people to attend flight school. Over that year, Tam also co-produced a 13-episode series titled "Uncovering the Aviation Accident Mysteries," which aired on [[RTHK|Radio Television Hong Kong]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://programme.rthk.hk/channel/radio/programme.php?name=dab31/p0039_aviation_mysteries&p=6335 |script-title=zh:香港電台網站: 社區參與廣播時段：拆解航空奇案 |trans-title=Community Involvement Broadcast: Uncover the Aviation Accident Mysteries |publisher=RTHK|access-date=4 July 2016}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Tam is married with two children, a son and a daughter.

== Airport baggage incident ==
In the early hours of 28 March 2016, Leung Chung-yan, the daughter of Hong Kong [[Chief Executive of Hong Kong|Chief Executive]] [[Leung Chun-ying]], became embroiled in a controversy at [[Hong Kong International Airport]]. Leung Chung-yan had reportedly left her hand baggage in the departure hall after she had passed through the security checkpoint to board a flight for San Francisco. According to Apple Daily, witnesses alleged that his wife [[Regina Leung|Regina Tong]], who accompanied her daughter to the airport, engaged in a lengthy argument with airport staff to have staff reunite her daughter with her missing bag. Staff insisted on upholding procedure, which required that the passenger exit the secured zone to recover the missing item and pass through security again. Leung Chung-yan reportedly telephoned her father to seek help in resolving the impasse. The phone was given to airline staff, who brought Leung her bag, making clear that they had made an exception to procedure. Leung boarded her flight minutes later.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ejinsight.com/20160407-leung-accused-of-misusing-power-to-help-daughter-at-airport/|title=Leung accused of misusing power to help daughter at airport|date=7 April 2016|language=en-US|access-date=4 July 2016}}</ref> Leung Chun-ying denied that he had abused his power by ordering airline staff to retrieve Chung-yan's bag in violation of security guidelines. Following the news of the incident, the [[Airport Authority Hong Kong]] issued a statement stating that it was not against existing procedure for someone other than the passenger to retrieve any missing baggage from airport security and bring it into the restricted area after a security check.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/04/08/lawmaker-calls-for-bag-gate-investigation-as-airport-authority-and-cys-family-deny-wrongdoing/|title=Lawmaker calls for 'bag-gate' investigation as Airport Authority and CY's family deny wrongdoing|date=8 April 2016|website=Hong Kong Free Press|access-date=4 July 2016}}</ref>

In response, Tam launched an online petition, calling the incident a serious violation of airport security guidelines and claiming that Leung Chun-Ying had abused his power as Chief Executive, thereby setting a dangerous precedent for future incidents. The petition accrued over 36,000 signatures. Tam then submitted the jointly signed petition to three international aviation organisations: the [[International Civil Aviation Organization|International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)]] and the [[Airports Council International|Airports Council International (ACI)]], of which Hong Kong International Airport is a member, and the [[International Air Transport Association|International Air Transport Association (IATA)]], with which a number of airlines have business.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ejinsight.com/20160411-pilot-s-petition-probe-into-bag-gate-gets-29000-signatures/|title=Pilot's petition for probe into Bag-gate gets 29,000 signatures|date=11 April 2016|language=en-US|access-date=4 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.memehk.com/posts/15499|title=譚文豪促聯署3國際組織查機管局有否違規|website=news.memehk.com|access-date=4 July 2016|archive-date=19 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160719230844/http://news.memehk.com/posts/15499|url-status=dead}}</ref> Tam also submitted the petition to two United States aviation agencies, the [[Transportation Security Administration|Transportation Security Administration (TSA)]] and the [[Federal Aviation Administration|US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)]], because Leung Chun-yan's flight landed in San Francisco.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160415/s00001/1460727477629|title=【特首特辦？】譚文豪發起聯署獲3.6萬簽名 再交予兩間美國航空機構 (22:20) – 20160415 – 港聞|website=即時新聞 instant news|access-date=4 July 2016}}</ref>

Two months after the petition had been submitted, the ICAO had not given Tam a response. Tam travelled to ICAO's Asia-Pacific headquarters in Thailand to personally resubmit the petition to an ICAO officer to be delivered to the ICAO Secretary-General.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}<!-- WP:RS needed; removed link to WP:SPS (Twitter, FB, WP)-->

== Political career ==
Tam became involved in politics when he joined the historic [[Hong Kong 1 July marches#2003|2003 1 July protests]], which drew more than 500,000 people against the legislation of the [[Hong Kong Basic Law Article 23]]. He followed his role model, legislator [[Margaret Ng]] to join the [[Civic Party]], which derived from the [[Article 45 Concern Group]] emerged from the 2003 protests.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1992941/high-flying-hong-kong-pilot-looks-stay-down-earth-kowloon|title=High-flying Hong Kong pilot looks to stay down to earth with Kowloon East poll bid for Civic Party|date=21 July 2016 |access-date=29 July 2016}}</ref>

In 2007, Tam ran as an independent candidate to represent [[Tung Chung North (constituency)|Tung Chung North]] in that year's [[District Councils of Hong Kong|District Council]] elections.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200711/19/P200711190047.htm|title=District Council Election results (0430)|publisher=Government of Hong Kong|access-date=4 July 2016}}</ref> In subsequent elections, he ran as a Civic Party candidate, first in 2011 to represent Tung Chung North in its District Council,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elections.gov.hk/dc2011/eng/results_islands.html|title=2011 District Councils Election – Election Results (Islands)|publisher=Government of Hong Kong|access-date=4 July 2016}}</ref> then in 2012 to represent Kowloon East in the [[Legislative Council of Hong Kong|Legislative Council]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elections.gov.hk/legco2012/eng/rs_gc_GC.html|title=2012 LegCo Election – Election Results|publisher=Government of Hong Kong|access-date=4 July 2016}}</ref> In 2015, Tam ran in the Laguna City District Council election, also being the only candidate failing to get a seat with over 3,000 votes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elections.gov.hk/dc2015/eng/results_hk.html?1469787962642|title=2015 District Councils Election – Election Results|publisher=Government of Hong Kong|access-date=29 July 2016}}</ref> 
Tam stood in the [[2012 Hong Kong legislative election|2012 Legislative Council election]] to represent [[Kowloon East (constituency)|Kowloon East]] on the second place of the Civic Party's list after party leader [[Alan Leong]] and helped secure Leong's re-election. In the [[2016 Hong Kong legislative election|2016 Legislative Council Election]], Leong stepped down to the second place on the list to stand behind Tam.<ref name=":0" />

In 2014, Tam became the Vice-Chairman of the Civic Party's Kowloon East Branch. Tam has expressed concerns about [[Transport in Hong Kong|transportation]], [[environmental protection]], [[Spatial planning|land planning]], and [[animal rights]] issues.

In the [[2016 Hong Kong Legislative Council election]], he was elected through [[Kowloon East (constituency)|Kowloon East]].

On 11 November 2020, Tam resigned together with 14 remaining pro-democratic legislators in protest over the unseating of four pro-democratic legislators through a ruling by the central government on the same day.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/world/four-prodemocracy-hong-kong-mps-stripped-of-their-seats/news-story/565a2e0b5503e194718c28afc7539f09|title=HK pro-democracy MPs quit in protest|work=[[The Australian]] / [[Agence France-Presse|AFP]]|date=11 November 2020|access-date=27 November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/11/an-own-goal-experts-question-resignation-of-hong-kong-lawmakers|title='An own goal': experts question resignation of Hong Kong lawmakers|first1=Lily|last1=Kuo|first2=Helen|last2=Davidson|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=11 November 2020|access-date=27 November 2020}}</ref>

On 6 January 2021, Tam was among 53 members of the pro-democratic camp who were [[January 2021 arrests of Hong Kong pro-democracy activists|arrested]] under the [[2020 Hong Kong national security law|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-55555299|title=National security law: Hong Kong rounds up 53 pro-democracy activists|publisher=[[BBC News]]|date=6 January 2021|access-date=13 February 2021}}</ref> Tam was released on bail on 7 January,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hongkongfp.com/2021/01/08/hong-kong-has-entered-a-bitter-winter-says-primaries-organiser-as-52-democrats-in-mass-arrest-bailed-out/|title='Hong Kong has entered a bitter winter,' says primaries organiser as 52 democrats in mass arrest bailed out|first=Candice|last=Chau|work=[[Hong Kong Free Press]]|date=8 January 2021|access-date=4 February 2021}}</ref> a decision that was overturned by a higher court on 13 March.<ref>{{cite news|title=Court releases three Hong Kong activists on bail in case involving 47|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-security-idUSKBN2B5097|work=Reuters|date=13 March 2021}}</ref> During the bail hearings, Tam resigned from the Civic Party and later announced his decision to leave politics, also penning an open letter together with [[Alvin Yeung]], [[Kwok Ka-ki]] and Lee Yue-shun, publicized on 15 April, which called for the party to disband.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hongkongfp.com/2021/04/16/ex-hong-kong-civic-party-members-charged-under-national-security-law-call-for-the-party-to-disband/|title=Ex-Hong Kong Civic Party members charged under national security law call for the party to disband|first=Candice|last=Chau|work=[[Hong Kong Free Press]]|date=16 April 2021|access-date=4 May 2021}}</ref> On 22 April 2021, High Court Esther Toh again denied him bail after accusing him of signing a letter in September 2019 supporting the [[Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wong |first1=Brian |title=Hong Kong judge denied bail to ex-lawmaker charged under national security law after learning he was invited by US consulate 'for coffee', judiciary reveals |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3130710/hong-kong-judge-denied-bail-ex-lawmaker-charged-under |access-date=7 May 2021 |work=[[South China Morning Post]] |date=22 April 2021}}</ref>

On 19 August 2022, Tam pleaded guilty to violating the national security law with his sentencing date yet to be determined.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wang |first1=Wallis |title=29 activists plead guilty to subversion charge |url=https://www.thestandard.com.hk/section-news/section/11/244796/29-activists-plead-guilty-to-subversion-charge |access-date=14 September 2022 |work=The Standard (Hong Kong) |date=19 August 2022}}</ref> He is sentenced to four years and two months in prison.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sentences based both on NSL and common law, court says - RTHK |url=https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1779868-20241119.htm |access-date=2025-01-25 |website=news.rthk.hk |language=en-gb}}</ref>

==Water cannon incident==
Jeremy Tam was one of the victims of the [[Kowloon Masjid and Islamic Centre#Water_cannon_incident|Water cannon incident]] on 20{{nbsp}}October 2019, which occurred during the [[2019–2020 Hong Kong protests]]. The Police's water cannon attacked [[Kowloon Mosque]] on that day and Jeremy Tam was one those sprayed. Other victims included [[Phillip Khan]], [[Mohan Chugani]], and the executive director of NGO Hong Kong Unison, [[Phyllis Cheung]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hongkongfp.com/2019/10/22/victims-water-cannon-outside-kowloon-mosque-file-complaints-hong-kong-police/|title=Victims of water cannon outside Kowloon Mosque file complaints against Hong Kong police|first=Kris|last=Cheng|work=[[Hong Kong Free Press]]|date=22 October 2019|access-date=13 February 2021}}</ref>

== Works ==
* {{cite book |script-title=zh:逆風飛揚─民航機師手記 |trans-title=Flying Against the Wind─A Civil Aircraft Officer's Notes |year=2014 |publisher=Economic Daily Press |isbn=9789626788325}}

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160920221654/https://www.jeremytam.hk/ Official Website]
* [https://www.facebook.com/jeremytammanho/ Official Facebook Page]
* [http://www.legco.gov.hk/general/english/members/yr16-20/tmh.htm Members' Biographies] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002173145/http://www.legco.gov.hk/general/english/members/yr16-20/tmh.htm |date=2 October 2016 }}, Legislative Council of Hong Kong

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|hk}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Alan Leong]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of Legislative Council
|district=[[Kowloon East (constituency)|Kowloon East]]
|years=2016–2020}}
{{s-non|reason=Constituency abolished}}
{{end}}

{{Hong Kong 47}}
{{Civic Party}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tam, Jeremy}}
[[Category:1975 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:University of Queensland alumni]]
[[Category:University of New South Wales alumni]]
[[Category:Hong Kong aviators]]
[[Category:Civic Party politicians]]
[[Category:HK LegCo Members 2016–2021]]
[[Category:Commercial aviators]]
[[Category:Prisoners and detainees of Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Political prisoners held by Hong Kong]]
[[Category:People convicted under the Hong Kong national security law]]