Mike Lam

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Not to be confused with Mike Lamb.
Mike Lam
林景楠
Lam in 2020
Born (1988-10-05) 5 October 1988 (age 36)
Hong Kong
Known forFounder of AbouThai
Hong Kong 47
Spouse
Bowie Kanokwon
​
(m. 2015)​
Children2 daughters 1 son
WebsiteMike Lam on Facebook
In this Hong Kong name, the surname is Lam. In accordance with Hong Kong custom, the Western-style name is Mike Lam and the Chinese-style name is Lam King-nam.

Mike Lam King-nam (Chinese: 林景楠; born 5 October 1988) is a Hong Kong businessman who founded the retail chain AbouThai. Previously known for a pro-democracy background, Lam was arrested for subversion in the case of Hong Kong 47, and testified for the prosecution against fellow defendants.

Business career

In February 2015, Lam, then a customs officer, spoke against the government's "multiple-entry" Individual Visit Endorsements that permits Shenzhen residents to enter Hong Kong easier during a protest. He was then doxed by radical supporters of the government, and subsequently sacked. Lam then rented a small unit in Kowloon City and started his Thai groceries business with his wife, which would then known as AbouThai (阿布泰國生活百貨, or 阿布泰 in short), meaning "About Thai".[1]

Because of Lam's pro-democracy stance, AbuThai was considered to be a part of yellow economic circle, a loose business coalition that was backed by opposition protestors, especially after the 2019 large scale protest.[2] The chain was targeted by law enforcement officers, criticised by supporters to be biased.[3]

Following the outbreak of COVID-19 and the spread to Hong Kong in January 2020, AbouThai imported medical masks from Thailand reserved for hospital staff and officers for border control, winning support from the medical workers but accused by pro-Beijing camp of bribery.[4] Amidst the worsening pandemic and widespread anxiety fighting for masks,[5] AbuThai sold masks at a low price which attracted long queues.[6]

On 23 August 2023, Lam sold his retail chain to TCC Group of Thailand, with branding changed to Big C.

Political career

In March 2020, Lam announced his intention to run in 2020 legislative election for the Import and Export constituency,[7][8][9] but in June decided to run in New Territories East constituency instead, and joined the pro-democracy primaries despite late sign-up.[10][11]

After losing in the primaries,[12] Lam decided to run in Import and Export constituency instead.[13]

Hong Kong 47

I have been comforting my family for several days. The most important thing is that I did nothing wrong and I did nothing illegal, so even if I will be prosecuted or imprisoned, in the end, my conscience is clear.

— Mike Lam, before anticipated indictment in February 2021[14]

On 6 January 2021, Mike Lam was arrested by the national security police for subversion over his participation in the primaries.[15][16] He was formally charged in late February along with others and was one of the four released on court bail after prosecution dropped appeal.[17][18]

Lam did not appear much in public after the release, but wrote on social media in August 2022 after Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the city, and quoted Xi to implement "One country, two systems" and "Patriots administering Hong Kong" principles, while avoiding Hong Kong independence sentiments. He further wrote in January 2023 that Hong Kong is a city with rule of law, along with a picture with Financial Secretary Paul Chan.[19]

Lam pleaded guilty to the charge in January 2023,[20] and was later revealed to be testifying for the prosecution.[21] The decision has angered some of the remanded democrats which called for boycotting AbouThai,[22] while some in the yellow economic circle decided to cut ties.[23] Five people, including two minors, were arrested after allegedly harassing customers and demanding to meet Mike Lam after news of his decision to be prosecution witness emerged.[24] Lam declared in March that his grocery chain has severed ties with the yellow economic circle, describing the movement as "wrong" while echoing the authorities.[25]

Personal life

Lam married his Thai wife Bowie Kanokwon in 2015. The couple has two daughters, Cantonese names of which are homophones of "freedom" and "conscience". [26][27]

References

  1. ^ "【立法會選舉】硬撼建制！阿布泰老闆林景楠考慮參選進出口界". Apple Daily 蘋果日報. Archived from the original on 2020-07-24. Retrieved 2020-03-04.
  2. ^ "法國報紙摘要 - 在香港，抵抗中國政權的行為依舊隱約可見". RFI (in Traditional Chinese). 2021-08-21. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  3. ^ "港人連日排長龍"爆買"黃店阿布泰 不滿海關懷疑選擇性執法". VOA. Archived from the original on 2021-05-11. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  4. ^ "【口罩難求】優先向醫護發售被舉報違例 阿布泰再有口罩返貨：改善購買流程繼續優先發售". Topick. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  5. ^ reporter, Guardian (2020-02-12). "'It's like a war': the fight for rice and toilet roll as coronavirus convulses Hong Kong". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  6. ^ "阿布泰店主冀開港人口罩生產線：盼李嘉誠基金會撥或借$1億". Citizen News (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2021-05-12. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  7. ^ "【抗逆是良知】遭海關「莫須有」解僱 阿布泰老闆以德報怨濟同袍照賣口罩". Apple Daily. 2020-01-29.
  8. ^ "【立會選舉】阿布泰創辦人林景楠：積極考慮參選進出口界別　希望同行、手足們支持我". Stand News. 2020-03-04.
  9. ^ 周, 禮希 (2020-03-11). "【立法會選舉】一文睇晒功能界別6大戰場　泛民搶灘成功不是夢？". 香港01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Archived from the original on 2020-06-16. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
  10. ^ 鄭榕笛 (2020-06-24). "立法會選舉2020｜35+初選52張名單一覽 社福界李芝融參選新東". HK01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  11. ^ "泛民初選52名單 11表明反國安法 阿布泰林景楠遲報名仍入閘 民主動力：酌情處理". Ming Pao. 2020-06-25. Archived from the original on 2020-07-13. Retrieved 2020-07-10.
  12. ^ "民主派初選終極結果出爐　出線隊伍一覽　鄺俊宇何桂藍膺票王票后". 香港01. Archived from the original on 2020-07-21. Retrieved 2020-07-15.
  13. ^ "【立會選戰】林景楠初選落敗 轉戰進出口界 批黃定光「冇做過嘢」". Inmedia. 2020-07-30.
  14. ^ "'Endure, everyone': final messages from Hong Kong democracy figures before detention". The Guardian. 2021-03-01. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  15. ^ "初選大搜捕｜阿布泰老闆林景楠被捕 5,000網民fb留言慰問：要平安回來". Apple Daily (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Archived from the original on 2021-01-11. Retrieved 2021-01-06.
  16. ^ "初選大搜捕●不斷更新︱53名民主派涉顛覆國家政權被捕 料通宵扣查". Apple Daily 蘋果日報 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Archived from the original on 2021-01-06. Retrieved 2021-01-06.
  17. ^ Ho, Kelly. "Four Hong Kong democrats in subversion case to be freed on bail after Justice Dept. drops challenge to decision". HKFP. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  18. ^ "Hong Kong prosecutors drop bail challenge against four in national security case". South China Morning Post. 2021-03-05. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  19. ^ "提供證人證供兼被指食兩家茶禮 林景楠：只可以選擇用留低的生活方式". Inmedia. 2023-01-29. Retrieved 2023-01-29.
  20. ^ Chau, Candice (2023-01-17). "Another defendant in Hong Kong's 47 democrats national security case to plead guilty, as trial delayed by a week". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  21. ^ Ho, Kelly. "Hong Kong 47: 4 activists to testify for prosecution in national security case, court hears". HKFP. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  22. ^ "還押被告籲罷買阿布泰 林景楠促體諒「資訊缺乏」". Ming Pao. 2023-01-29. Retrieved 2023-01-29.
  23. ^ "林景楠任控方證人後「黃店」連環將阿布泰下架". Inmedia. 2023-02-07.
  24. ^ Chau, Candice (2023-02-07). "5 arrested over alleged disorderly behaviour at Hong Kong chain store linked to 47 democrats case". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  25. ^ "Hong Kong 47: AbouThai founder cuts ties with 'yellow economic circle'". South China Morning Post. 2023-03-22. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  26. ^ "因網上言論被政府炒魷 遂零資本借10萬創業、4年開16分店 阿布泰CEO：成就可超出想像". Edigest. 2020-04-29. Archived from the original on 2020-09-28. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
  27. ^ "初選落敗新丁老將紛謝票". Ming Pao. 2020-07-15. Archived from the original on 2020-07-15. Retrieved 2020-07-20.