The 2018 Hong Kong Island by-election candidacy of Agnes Chow was nullified by electoral authorities citing her party's platform on self-determination. A former student activist who rose to prominence through the Scholarism movement, Chow shifted from protesting educational reforms to challenging the political structure of Hong Kong, leading to multiple arrests and her eventual departure for Canada.
Early Activism and Scholarism
Born in 1996 in British Hong Kong, Chow became involved in social movements at age fifteen. Her initial public role was as spokesperson for Scholarism, a student-led organization that mobilized mass demonstrations against the proposed Moral and National Education scheme in 2012. She later participated in the 2014 Umbrella Revolution, advocating for electoral reform while balancing her studies at Hong Kong Baptist University.
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In 2016, Chow joined Joshua Wong and Nathan Law to co-found the political party Demosistō. As deputy secretary-general, she supported the party's legislative efforts. Following the disqualification of Nathan Law, she sought a seat in the 2018 Legislative Council by-election. Authorities barred her from running, claiming her advocacy for self-determination conflicted with electoral law. Although she eventually won a legal appeal against her disqualification in 2019, the ruling nullified the seat of the pro-democracy candidate who had replaced her, a result she termed a pyrrhic victory.
Legal Challenges and Exile
During the 2019–2020 protests, Chow faced significant legal pressure. She was arrested in August 2019 for her role in an unauthorized assembly at police headquarters and subsequently pleaded guilty. In December 2020, she received a ten-month prison sentence, serving until June 2021. She was also arrested in 2020 under national security charges related to foreign collusion. In September 2023, she skipped bail and moved to Canada to attend OCAD University, completing her studies in 2025.
Public Communication and Media
Chow leveraged digital platforms to communicate her political views and personal narrative. She launched a YouTube channel in 2020, gaining over 300,000 subscribers by the end of that year. Her content included vlogs in Cantonese and Japanese, the latter of which she taught herself. Her proficiency in Japanese facilitated frequent appearances in international media interviews and news programs.
Fast facts
- Born: 1996
- Education: Hong Kong Baptist University, OCAD University
- Party: Demosistō
- Religion: Catholicism
- Languages: Cantonese, English, Japanese
- Awards: BBC 100 Women (2020)
Questions readers ask
What political group did Agnes Chow co-found?
She co-founded the political party Demosistō in 2016 alongside Joshua Wong and Nathan Law.
Why was she unable to run in the 2018 election?
The Electoral Affairs Commission disqualified her on the grounds that her support for self-determination violated the required declarations for candidates.
Achievements
- Educated at Hong Kong Baptist University and Holy Family Canossian School
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