Tam ran in the
2008 legislative election in
Kowloon West constituency under the slogan "vote for a green Hong Kong". He supported
universal suffrage for both Chief Executive and Legislative Council elections, but claimed to be neither a democrat nor a conservative. Despite supported by
Civic Party and
Democratic Party's New Territories East branch chairman, he was defeated by a large margin. Tam announced his intention to join the
2012 election, but abandoned his election plan citing illness. A localism supporter to reduce quota of Chinese
One-way Permit, Tam in 2013, along with various pro-democracy legislator and activists, initiated the anti-
assimilation, anti-
communization, anti-
Leung movement, urging a stop to Chinese interference in Hong Kong and the resignation of Leung Chun-ying as Chief Executive. Tam also called on Taiwan to alert growing Chinese influence. Tam is also a supporter for
Taiwan independence to preserve democratic institutions and defend local culture after he described Hong Kong's One Country, Two Systems as a failure. He further protested against the influx of Chinese migrants which overburdened Hong Kong's medical system. After being elected to the
Tsuen Wan District Council in the new
Ma Wan constituency in
2015, Tam again intended to run in the
2016 legislative election for the pro-democracy
Neo Democrats, but withdrew to take care of his ill wife. In 2019 amidst the large scale protest, Tam was re-elected in the District Council election in a landslide victory. Neo Democrats put Tam's name forward in the
2020 pro-democracy primaries, but was defeated with the least votes amongst the candidates. Tam was arrested in February 2021 for "subversion of state power" for running in the primaries and detained since then after bail denied by court. The case of which would be known as "
Hong Kong 47". He quit Neo Democrats and resigned from the District Council on 20 April 2021. He remanded in custody after the judge considered he "persistently reiterated his stance against the Hong Kong government". == Electoral performances ==