Albert Ho is a lawyer, Legislative Councilor and chairman of the Democratic Party. In August 2006, he was attacked inside a McDonald’s restaurant in Central, sparking controversy, and making him a household name. He talks to Jan Leung about the attack, his family and democracy

I was born in 1951, in Hong Kong, in a big, loving family with six children.

If I were to run for Chief Executive, my slogan would be, “I speak for those whose right to vote are deprived.”

My father worked in a shipping company by day and as a translator by night, along with two other jobs that he had. He worked from 8am to 10pm everyday. He also insisted on going through our homework each night after work. His sense of responsibility was astounding.

Showing that you care matters a lot. No amount of time or money can make up for that.

Many young people today are self-centered. They lack the group experience - which is crucial to developing empathy.

A person who doesn’t care about his family probably doesn’t care much about his friends.

Politics is for everybody. You don’t need to be a politician to be interested or involved in it.

The assault was a professional hazard. Being attacked and beaten is one of the risks I bear for being a politician, a lawyer and a social activist.

During the Cultural Revolution in the late 60s, I read from the news that corpses were flowing down to Hong Kong along the Pearl River. I become concerned that something was seriously wrong in China.

Friends today, foes tomorrow. Be realistic when it comes to politics.

The Chinese government never really likes or dislikes anyone. A friend is whoever is useful at the moment.

I never changed my political convictions. It is only the political climate in mainland China that has been changing.

I am against any kind of autocracy - be it colonialism or communism.

Colonialism grants no dignity. The British brought prosperity and stability to Hong Kong, but we never could stand up as masters of our own place.

The danger of having an autocratic government is that when they dislike you, they can strip everything away from you.

I’ve been on hunger strike every Wednesday to protest against the persecution of human rights lawyers in China. It has been more than a year. People ask why I am still fasting when nobody is aware I am. Even my wife tempts me to cheat..

Many mainland government officials are utterly corrupt.

A blind law worker named Chen Guangcheng exposed a violent campaign of forced abortions, and was sentenced to jail with trumped-up charges of organizing a mob to disrupt traffic. C’mon, this guy is blind!

I don’t fast because I want to lose weight. I know China won’t fix the law just because a guy among the billions they have fasts. The fasting reminds me of what has not been achieved.

Nothing rules like self-discipline... You got to trust me that I didn’t cheat.

Hong Kong is well known as a sanctuary. Dr. Sun Yatsen, Premier Zhou Enlai, Vietnamese refugees... they all sought refuge in Hong Kong believing colonial Hong Kong was civilized enough to not tie them up and drill holes in their bodies.

For now, Hong Kongers should be concerned about not being killed for speaking their minds. The direct election for Chief Executive can wait.

It is so sad that what we are striving for is the same thing we have been striving for since the June 4 incident.

Fast economic development brews money politics and corruption. It is the major reason for over 70,000 protests, demonstrations and riots in mainland China in the past year.

Justice is partially done. The people who attacked me in front of McDonald’s last year were sentenced to four years though the mastermind behind the assault has not been found yet. I wonder if he will ever be found.

I feel sad for the assailants. The discomfort of jail, the dignity lost when they face their children... The cost is oo high when they are paid so little. To do this is plain
stupid.

Sometimes the law sheilds evildoers. But remember the words of Saint Thomas Moore: "You can cut a road through the law to get to the devil. But what happens when the last law is cut down, and the devil turns on you? Where do you hide, all the laws being flat?"

Yes, our current system has loopholes but it does more good than harm. I think it is a price worth paying - and we should respect it.

Rationally, I’ve overcome the fear caused by the attack. But occasionally my heart starts to beat fast if someone suddenly pats me on the back.

I still go to McDonald’s. The same McDonald’s.