Henry Chau, a Hong Kong native who supported the fight for democracy in China from his adopted home in Vancouver, has died. He was 69.

Chau was the chair of the Vancouver Society in Support of Democratic Movement (VSSDM).

Chau passed away on August 3, according to a VSSDM media release.

For many years, Chau led vigils to commemorate the death of pro-democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square in the Chinese capital of Beijing in June 1989.

In an interview with the Straight in 2011, Chau said that China hasn’t made a lot of progress since the peaceful pro-democracy demonstrations.

“What people were fighting for 22 years ago is still an ongoing struggle,” he said at the time.

Chau joined the VSSDM in the spring of 1989, when the pro-democracy protests started in China.

He was elected chair of the association in 1995. “In the past 22 years under his leadership, VSSDM has become a vital force in promoting and defending the universal values of human rights, freedom, justice and democracy in China and beyond,” according to the VSSDM release issued by Mabel Tung.

The media release recalled that Chau was born on November 15, 1947, and that he finished high school in Hong Kong.

“He came to Canada to study and graduated from the University of Manitoba. After a stint working in Hong Kong, he and his family emigrated in 1982 and have since made Canada their permanent home,” according to the media release.

A celebration of Chau’s life will be held Saturday (August 26) from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the gymnasium of the St. Francis Xavier School (428 Great Northern Way). For details, email vssdm2009@gmail.com.