Inspired by the major
2003 July 1 march, Yeung joined a group called "
7.1 People Pile". He campaigned for
Alan Leong Kah-kit, a barrister-turned-politician, in the
2004 Legislative Council election. From the following year, he studied for a Master of Arts in legal studies at the
University of Bristol and became a certified barrister in 2008. Yeung is currently chairman of the New Territories East branch of the party and member of the Appeal Panel (Housing), and also co-host of the political talk-show "Teacup in a Storm" on
D100 radio station. In the
September 2016 general election, Yeung sought re-election in New Territories East. From his leading position in opinion polls, he cooperated with
Labour Party's
Fernando Cheung and later on with other pan-democrat candidates to split the votes evenly to maximise the block's chances of winning seven out of the nine seats. He was re-elected with 52,416 votes, along with six other anti-establishment candidates. Following the election, he succeeded Alan Leong as party leader, in an acting capacity from 1 October and formally, through a party election, in November.
Disqualification Five weeks ahead of the (subsequently postponed)
2020 Hong Kong Legislative Council Election, on 30 July 2020, as Yeung prepared to defend his seat, the government stated that he was among a dozen pro-democracy candidates whose nominations were 'invalid', under an opaque process in which, nominally, civil servants –
returning officers – assess whether, for instance, a candidate had objected to the enactment of the
national security law, or was sincere in statements made disavowing separatism. On 11 November 2020, following a decision of the
Standing Committee of the National People's Congress he was disqualified from Legislative Council along with three other lawmakers; this resulted in the resignation of a further 15 pro-democracy lawmakers.
National Security Law charges Arrest On 6 January 2021, Yeung was among 53 members of the pro-democratic camp who were
arrested under the
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. Yeung was released on bail on 7 January.
Bail hearings On 28 February 2021, Yeung was among 47 members of the pro-democratic camp who were officially charged with conspiracy to commit subversion under the national security law. He was denied bail and instead remain in detention before trial on 1 March. On the third day on 3 March, Alvin Yeung announced his resignations from the Civic party. Alvin Yeung said before addressing the court: "As a barrister, I would never have imagined that I would have to address the court in the docks. On March 2 five years ago, I was sworn in as a legislative councillor, fighting for Hongkongers, but five years later, I am fighting for my own freedom." Chief Magistrate Victor So adjourned the third day proceedings at 8:30 p.m. During the bail hearings, Yeung resigned from the Civic Party and later announced his decision to leave politics, also penning an open letter together with
Kwok Ka-ki,
Jeremy Tam and Lee Yue-shun, publicized on 15 April, which called for the party to disband.
Sentencing Yeung pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 5 years and 1 month in prison on 19 November 2024. He was released from
Stanley Prison on 28 March 2026. ==References==