Matthew Cheung Kin-chung | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chief Secretary of Hong Kong | |
| 16 January 2017 Acting: 13 January 2017 - 16 January 2017 | |
| Chief Executive | Carrie Lam |
| Carrie Lam | |
| Secretary for Labour and Welfare | |
1 July 2007 - 16 January 2017 | |
| York Chow (Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food) Stephen Ip (Secretary for Economic Development and Labour) | |
| Stephen Sui | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 20, 1950 British Hong Kong |
| Nationality | Chinese |
| Alma mater | University of Hong Kong |
| Signature |  |
Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, GBM, GBS, JP (Chinese: ; born 20 November 1950) is a Hong Kong government official serving as Chief Secretary for Administration since 2017. Cheung previously served as the Secretary for Labour and Welfare for ten years. He was awarded the Grand Bauhinia Medal (GBM) by the Hong Kong SAR Government in 2017.[1]
Biography
Cheung was born in Hong Kong in 1950. He graduated from the University of Hong Kong in 1972, then became an Information Officer for British colonial government. During the Vietnamese refugee crisis of the 1970s, he was responsible for arranging visits for foreign media to the refugee camps.[2] He was transferred to the Administrative Service in September 1979 and has served in various bureaus and departments in the government.
During his earlier years of service, he served in the Finance Branch, Home Affairs Department, City and New Territories Administration, Government House and the Industry Department. As a directorate officer since 1986, Cheung served as District Officer of North District, Assistant Director-General of Trade, Administrative Assistant to the Financial Secretary, Deputy Judiciary Administrator, and Deputy Head of Central Policy Unit.[3]
He was promoted to Deputy Secretary for Education and Manpower (1996-1999), Commissioner for Labour (1999-2000), Director of Education (2000-2002), and Permanent Secretary for Economic Development and Labour (later known as Permanent Secretary for Economic Development/Commissioner for Labour; 2002-2007). He was promoted to Administrative Officer Staff Grade A1 in September 2004.[3] Cheung was known for his hardworking style, having taken less than three weeks off in the five years leading up to his retirement in March 2007 as Permanent Secretary for Economic Development and Labour.[2]
In July 2007, he was appointed Secretary for Labour and Welfare, one of the principal officials. During his tenure, he oversaw the minimum wage legislation and Work Incentive Transport Subsidy Scheme introduced in 2011. He also tackled issues such as the Old Age Living Allowance, standard working hours and paternity leave, all of which are still fiercely debated over by unionists and employers with opposing views.[2] He was criticised for his low profile during the 2013 Hong Kong dock strike.[4] He was also criticised for only taking orders from his superiors and not taking responsibility for decisions.[2]
In January 2017, he became the Chief Secretary for Administration, replacing Carrie Lam.[3]
On September 1, 2019 in the midst of protests against the government of Hong Kong he wrote that "Schools are places for learning, and are absolutely not places for expressing political views or demands." [5][6]
In October 2020, Cheung stated that the government will not allow schools to become "breeding grounds" for Hong Kong independence, and that the Education Bureau must protect students from those "twisted and illegal" ideas.[7] In addition, Cheung said that teachers should train students to become "responsible and good citizens and nationals, who contribute to the long-term stability of the country and the community."[7]
In November 2020, following the expulsion of 4 pro-democracy lawmakers from the Legislative Council, Cheung said that the decision was "constitutional, legal and reasonable."[8]
Also in November 2020, after multiple lawmakers were caught sleeping or distracted during Carrie Lam's annual Policy Address,[9] Cheung downplayed the situation and said it was only "one or two out of 40 or 50 people there."[10]
On 17 January 2021, Cheung wrote a blog post justifying the requirement that civil servants sign an oath to pledge loyalty to the government, stating that it would make the civil servants demonstrate their loyalties and commitments.[11]
References
- ^ "Appendix to the 2017 Honours List" (PDF). Hong Kong SAR Government. 1 July 2017. Retrieved 2020.
- ^ a b c d "New Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung's 45-year climb from information officer to minister". South China Morning Post. 16 January 2017.
- ^ a b c "Appointment of Principal Officials announced (with photos)". Information Services Department.
- ^ " ". Apple Daily. 16 January 2017.
- ^ Ramzy, Austin; Qin, Amy (2019-09-01). "Hong Kong Protesters Squeeze Access to the Airport". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved .
- ^ " - ? - ? ? ? ?". www.cso.gov.hk. Retrieved .
- ^ a b "Schools won't be independence breeding grounds: CS - RTHK". news.rthk.hk. Retrieved .
- ^ "Ousting of 4 lawmakers 'legal and reasonable' says Hong Kong no.2, as gov't condemns 'groundless' foreign criticism". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. 2020-11-16. Retrieved .
- ^ "Naps, hairy crabs, inject drama into 2½-hour Hong Kong policy address". South China Morning Post. 2020-11-25. Retrieved .
- ^ "CS critical of dozy minister, distracted lawmakers - RTHK". news.rthk.hk. Retrieved .
- ^ Kong, Dimsumdaily Hong (2021-01-17). "Chief Secretary for Administration says oath by civil servants is a collective demonstration of loyalty and commitment". Dimsum Daily. Retrieved .
External links
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jacqueline Willis |
Commissioner of Labour 1999-2000 |
Succeeded by Pamela Tan |
| Preceded by Fanny Law |
Director of Education 2000-2002 |
Succeeded by Arthur Li as Secretary for Education and Manpower |
| Preceded by Pamela Tan |
Commissioner of Labour 2002-2007 |
Succeeded by Paul Tang |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by York Chow as Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food |
Secretary for Labour and Welfare 2007-2017 |
Succeeded by Stephen Sui |
| Preceded by Stephen Ip as Secretary for Economic Development and Labour | ||
| Preceded by Carrie Lam |
Chief Secretary for Administration 2017-present |
Incumbent |
| Order of precedence | ||
| Previous: Leung Chun-ying Former Chief Executive |
Hong Kong order of precedence Chief Secretary for Administration |
Succeeded by Paul Chan Mo-po Financial Secretary |
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