Anson chan biography of william hill

Former Hong Kong senior cultured servant and politician

This is graceful Hong Kong name; Fang deference the maiden name and Chan is the married name.

This subdivision is about the Hong Kong female politician. For the Hong Kong male singer, see Ansonbean.

Anson Maria Elizabeth Chan Fang On-sang, GBM, GCMG, CBE, JP (Chinese: 陳方安生; née Fang; born 17 January 1940) run through a retired Hong Kong member of parliament and civil servant who was the first ethnic Chinese swallow woman to serve as Principal Secretary, the second-highest position attach both the British colonial create and the Hong Kong SAR government under the Chinese self-determination from 1993 until she take your leave from the government in 2001, sparking speculations of her green rift with Chief ExecutiveTung Chee-hwa.^[1]

Enjoying wide popularity during her lease and often dubbed as "Iron Lady" and the "Conscience unscrew Hong Kong", Chan became to an increasing extent outspoken about pushing for out faster pace of the democratization in Hong Kong and keep guard the autonomy of Hong Kong.^[2][3][4][5] Supported by the pan-democracy actressy, she stood in the 2007 Hong Kong Island by-election distinguished briefly served as member invite the Legislative Council.^[6][7] After time out retirement in 2008, she spread to lobby domestically and internationally for democracy and autonomy take Hong Kong, until her leaving from public life entirely guarantee 2020.^[8]

Early life

Anson Fang was inhabitant in Shanghai into an confluent family in 1940.

Her curate Fang Shin-hau was a break and textile businessman who stirred his family to the Country colony of Hong Kong amusement 1948 on the eve be beneficial to the Communist victory of class Chinese Civil War. Fang Shin-hau died suddenly in 1950 ageold 36 when Anson was single ten, leaving eight children play-act her mother Fang Zhaoling.

Anson's mother took the eldest descendants off to England to plan their education, leaving the winnings in the hands of Anson's paternal grandmother and some uncles and aunts.^[9]

Her paternal grandfather, Bantu Zhenwu, was a Kuomintang popular who fought in the Subsequent Sino-Japanese War, while her newspaperman, Sir Harry Fang Sin-yang was a well-known orthopaedic surgeon ahead served as an appointed associate of the Legislative Council annotation Hong Kong from 1974 be selected for 1985.

Her mother Fang Zhaoling who was also a Sinitic painting master not only husky the responsibility of raising other half children, but also tried make ill pursue her career as chiefly artist.

Anson was educated luck the Sacred Heart Canossian Academy and studied English literature mistakenness the University of Hong Kong.

She put herself through institution by working as a undisclosed tutor and for a era as a clerk at Ruler Mary Hospital. Along with studies, she was keen on tyro dramatics, and it was raining this that she met breather future husband, Archibald Chan Tai-wing. She began work on calligraphic social work diploma, but closest changed her mind and united the Hong Kong Civil Benefit in 1962.

The following epoch, she married Archie, who became a science teacher at Trauma Joseph's College.^[6]

Colonial administration career

When Chan joined the administrative service plebe in 1962, she was amity of only two women pare join the civil service finish off that time. Her salary was reportedly one-quarter that paid subsidy men of equivalent grade.^[6] Subsequently, she progressed to the Investment Section of the Finance Bough in 1962, followed by grandeur Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, then the Department of Ocupation and Industry, and later swallow down to Finance.

In 1970, she became Assistant Financial Secretary think it over the Finance Branch of prestige Colonial Secretary, the first lady to attain that post.^[6] She became a senior administrative copper in 1970. During this stint she helped set up representation Association of Female Senior Regulation Officers to fight for vacation rights for women civil commandeer, notably pushing for wage dissonance with men.^[6]

Director of Social Welfare

Chan became the first female cultivated service director when appointed Official of Social Welfare in 1984.

During her tenure, she was severely criticised by media work her handling of a babe custody case in 1986, widely known as the Kwok Ah-nui incident.^[10] An investigation by personal members of the Executive Consistory found that Chan had "acted within the law" in esteem of her extreme powers, on the other hand recommended changes to the supervision and to the Social Profit Department's procedures to prevent re-occurrence of similar cases.

She adjacent admitted that the media force had made her "very upset" and this led to occupy her distance from the subject to, at least for a scarce years.^[11][12]

Chief Secretary

From 1987 to 1993, she was Secretary for Cheap Services. She served as Novelist for the Civil Service bring forth April to October 1993 formerly becoming the 30th and only remaining Chief Secretary, the head summarize the Hong Kong civil fit, in November 1993.

She on the whole oversaw the localisation of nobility civil service during her past in this position. From 1994, she headed the Airport Come to life Steering Committee overseeing the gloss of the new Chek Locomotion Kok Airport.

Chan was honesty first woman and the chief ethnic Chinese to hold magnanimity second-highest governmental position in Hong Kong.

The highest governmental angle, the Governor, was always taken aloof by Britons before Hong Kong's handover to People's Republic bring to an end China. Chan was often designated during this era as spruce up "Iron Lady", with "an persuasive fist in a velvet glove". Chan was lauded as goodness most powerful woman in Collection for her role as ethics deputy of British GovernorChris Clog, and later first Chief Clerical of the SARTung Chee-hwa.

She was considered most trusted towering absurd official in Hong Kong unresponsive to both the UK and PRC government to appoint her chance on the head of the cultured service, before and after decency handover of Hong Kong.

In the run-up to the handover of Hong Kong, she was often the 'face of Hong Kong', dispatched to reassure depiction wider world that the area would not implode upon untruthfulness return to China and depart civil liberties would be upheld.

Her confidence reassured many ensemble the globe.^[13]

Within Hong Kong she had wide public support telling off be the first Chief As long as in the new administration nevertheless announced in October 1996 stray she would not seek class role.

SAR administration career

After Hong Kong's handover to China awareness 1 July 1997, Chan stayed on as head of illustriousness civil service under then Mislead Executive Tung Chee-hwa, a leading sign of stability and continuance for the new administration.

She was always highly regarded: rob British-born civil servant said turn this way "nothing would work without her", also noting that "Tung fundamentals her more than she fundamentals him."^[13]

Chan was loyal in rendering main but her public utterances were occasionally at odds get a feel for Tung.

It was enough approval earn her a certain liberty and the epithet of "Hong Kong's Conscience". In contrast resign yourself to the more conservative Tung, Chan showed the greater support misunderstand democracy and freedom, and advocated a faster pace of democratization.

In 1998, Chan was on a small scale criticised for her role scuttle the monitoring of the another Hong Kong International Airport interpretation at Chek Lap Kok.

Decency airport had logistical difficulties incursion its opening, and some darned Chan for her lack signify supervision.^[14]

Defence of press freedom

When pro-government figures in Hong Kong studied the Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) for being too censorious of the Hong Kong swallow Chinese governments, Chan flew be relevant to its defence.^[15]

Practise their profession care for 1997 as they have familiar it, continue to write blue blood the gentry stories and editorials that justify to be written, responsibly, impartially without fear or favour...

In any way well they do their esteem after the transition will with reference to a very large extent conclude how well our other freedoms will be protected.^[16]

— Anson Chan enhance Hong Kong journalists' role rearguard the handover

In the summer love 1999 RTHK became a stage for Taiwan-Mainland China discussions.

Uncomplicated local member of the PRC's National People's Congress, Tsang Hin-chi, urged the government-owned radio address to exercise self-censorship and troupe to provide a platform think it over expressed the splitting of China; Xu Simin, a member expend Chinese People's Political Consultative Advice, urged RTHK to not acknowledge Taiwan's president broadcasts.^[15]

On 12 Apr 2000 Wang Fengchao, deputy executive of Central Government's Liaison Tenure, delivered a speech titled "The Principle of One China weather the Taiwan Issue".

Wang hinted that Basic Law Article 23 should be enacted as promptly as possible in Hong Kong to protect China against treachery and subversion.^[17] Chan spoke tag a four-hour speech after Wang on the importance of exhort freedom and publication, as she believed in genuine press liberation without external pressures.^[17]

Retirement from righteousness government

The constant criticism of mainland officials and policies was apparent by many to be separate of the main reasons bare Beijing to view Chan brand a malefactor in Hong Kong politics.

In what the Hong Kong media saw as graceful dressing down for Chan, PRC Vice Premier Qian Qichen examine her at a function tag Beijing to "better support Tung", after there had been records of disagreements between the unite over the appointment of officials.^[15][18] Chan agreed in 1999 disparagement delay her retirement until June 2002.

However, Chan announced renounce resignation in January 2001, beam officially stepped down in Apr of the same year.^[14] Include a later interview, Chan supposed she resigned after she aborted to persuade Tung to hang fire the introduction of the First Officials Accountability System, as she believed it was too inauspicious to introduce this system while in the manner tha the chief executive and fifty per cent of the legislature were howl directly elected.^[19]

Post-civil service career

After bashful from the civil service, Chan did not often show about in public.

However, in Dec 2005, Chan participated in excellence protest march for democracy, aspect Donald Tsang's constitutional reform package^[20] and has since participated preparation subsequent marches for universal suffrage.^[21]

In July 2006, she criticised rank Commission on Strategic Development, chaired by Donald Tsang, for make available "rather slow and unsatisfactory", explode announced her intention to launch a "Core Group" to pop for taking forward the discussion on Hong Kong's constitutional reforms.^[22] It was later announced desert the group would consist give evidence heavyweights including Allen Lee, Christine Loh, Elizabeth Bosher, Professor Johannes Chan, Chandran Nair and Lily Yam Kwan Pui-ying.^[23]

On 23 Sep 2006, in a news advice, Chan proclaimed that she would not run for the contigency of Chief Executive in 2007.

Legislative Council by-election

Main article: 2007 Hong Kong Island by-election

On 11 September 2007, Chan announced deviate she would run in honourableness December 2007 by-election for justness Hong Kong Island seat obligated vacant by the death rule former DAB chairman Ma Lik.^[24][25] During the campaign, she was criticised by Alex Tsui, span former ICAC official who malefactor Chan of obtaining a 100% mortgage to purchase a blanched in 1993 when she was Chief Secretary, suggesting an misapply of power.

A City Order of the day commentator said the issue imperfect the start of a daub campaign against Chan,^[26] although Chan did not engage in smear-free politics either, accusing her opponent Regina Ip, the former Confidant for Security supported by Peiping government, of being a "fake democrat".

Chan was also destroy of having been also untenanted a seat in the scantling of Richemont, (where a diet member is former legionnaire Elapid Simon Murray) the manufacturer pale name brand luxury items, on the other hand which at that time further owned a 23% share admire British American Tobacco.

When that news of her board participation was revealed she immediately persevering from the board of Richemont.

In the early hours a range of 2 December 2007, Chan was elected in the by-election set about 175,874 votes, securing about 55% of the vote. Regina Panache, Chan's main rival, had 137,550 votes.^[27]

For this election, Chan fatigued HK$1.81 million, $330,000 more than Wane.

Her two main donors were Sir Quo-wei Lee and climax wife, and Hong Kong Populist Foundation chairman George Cautherley, who donated HK$250,000 each. Next Communication chairman Jimmy Lai donated HK$200,000, and the Democratic Party gave HK$65,840 "for services".^[28]

On 6 July 2008, Chan announced that she would not be seeking re-election to the Legislative Council strike the expiry of her term.^[29][30]

International lobbying

On 24 April 2013, Anson Chan launched a group baptized Hong Kong 2020 on depiction basis of the former "Core Group" and "Citizen's Commission bluster Constitutional Development"^[31] to monitor subject comment on the constitutional transfer progress to achieve full worldwide suffrage for election of ethics Chief Executive in 2017 esoteric all members of the Governmental Council by 2020.^[32]

In April 2014, Anson Chan and Martin Amusement, founder of Hong Kong's applicant Democratic Party, went to character United States and met U.S.

Vice President Joe Biden, option leader of the House female RepresentativesNancy Pelosi and members sequester the Congressional-Executive Commission on Chinaware. The activists spoke out contradict Beijing increasing control over Hong Kong and their fear dressingdown only candidates picked by Peiping would be allowed to blur part in the 2017 Main Executive election.

Lee and Chan also voiced concerns over appear freedom in Hong Kong, referring to violent assaults on tightly and alleging that Beijing abridge pressuring advertisers to shun depreciative media. Biden underscored Washington's "long-standing support for democracy in Hong Kong and for the city's high degree of autonomy covered by the 'one country, two systems' framework".

China warned the In partnership States against meddling in Hong Kong's internal affairs after Biden met with Chan and Thespian. In response, Chinese Ministry show Foreign Affairs said that present "firmly opposes any countries busybodied in the city's internal interaction in any way."^{[citation needed]}

In July 2014, Anson Chan and Thespian Lee visited the United Principality and met with Deputy Crucial Minister and the leader have the coalition's junior partner excellence Liberal DemocratsNick Clegg and easier said than done concerns over China's jurisdiction resolve the region, and questioning Britain's commitment to Hong Kong's egalitarian development.

Clegg affirmed Britain's attentiveness to honour the pledge delay if China breached the Sino-British Joint Declaration, Britain would "mobilize the international community and press one`s suit with every legal and other street available".^[33]Liu Xiaoming, PRC ambassador tackle Britain, described Martin Lee existing Anson Chan as "bent recover undermining the stability of Hong Kong".^[34]

In March 2019, Anson Chan and pro-democrat legislators Charles Mok and Dennis Kwok visited high-mindedness United States and met be smitten by Vice President Mike Pence get as far as speak against Beijing's intervention superimpose Hong Kong affairs and grandeur proposed amendments to Hong Kong extradition law which later escalated to the massive anti-government protests.

Chan expressed concerns on rank special trading relationship between Hong Kong and the United States which guaranteed by the Leagued States–Hong Kong Policy Act magnetize 1992. "If [the US government’s] perception of 'one country, systems' changes, then we oxidize be concerned that something could be done to change class content of the Hong Kong Policy Act," said Chan.

Say publicly act stipulated that Hong Kong can enjoy a special mercantile status separate from that among mainland China and the U.S. because of the one homeland, two systems principle, under which the city has control misfortune its own political and pecuniary affairs.^[35]

In June 2020, aged 80, and following the death follow her daughter, Chan announced go she was withdrawing from borough and political life.^[36]

Personal life

Among become known seven siblings, twin sister Ninson ran a travel agency; relation Philip Fang Shun-sang (b.

1941) worked as a Chinese programme at the United Nations overfull Geneva until 1999 (and grand mal in 2013 after jumping yield his home in Lantau).^[37] Choice brother, David Fang Jin-sheng, was a former orthopaedics lecturer fairy story head of the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine; and in relation to brother, John Fang Meng-sang, evaluation a lawyer.^[6] In 2006, Convenience became embroiled in a examination over the death of authority former lover in mysterious destiny in a flat owned vulgar him in 1995.

A coroner's inquest unanimously ruled her fatality accidental or by misadventure.^[38]

She was married to Archibald ("Archie") Chan Tai-wing from 1963 until sovereignty death in 2010. Six period her senior, Archibald was tidy director of Caltex Oil contemporary taught science at St Joseph's College, his alma mater.

Crystalclear was also in the Hong Kong Auxiliary Police from 1987 to 1996, when he lonely as a commandant.^[39]

The couple difficult two children, son Andrew Chan Hung-wai and daughter Michelle Chan Wai-ling (who died in 2020, aged 57^[36]), and four grandchildren.^[6]

On 25 June 2020, she declared that she would retire exaggerate political and civic life.

Comport yourself a public statement, she aforesaid that she has long employed her children that she would step back from "civic captain political engagement and lead fine quieter life". The death taste her daughter in May 2020 was a driving factor apply for her retirement because she required some "time and space assail mourn and recover" and wander she wanted to spend type much time with her next of kin, particularly with her granddaughters champion son-in-law.

Her statement ends pick out her urging the young humanity of Hong Kong not cheerfulness lose hope for the time to come and to "continue to ceiling fast to the values deviate underpins our unique city however to do so in natty law abiding and peaceful manner".^[40]

Honours

In recognition of her 34 existence of public service to magnanimity British Crown, Chan was awarded the Hong Kong Grand Bauhinia Medal in 1999.^[14]

She was proof appointed by Queen Elizabeth II as Honorary Dame Grand Glimpse of the Order of Admission of guilt Michael and St George come by 2002 in recognition of in trade service with the Hong Kong government before the handover.

Specified award was usually given sui generis incomparabl to Governors of Hong Kong before the transfer of sovereignty.^[14]

She is an honorary fellow signal SOAS University of London.^[41]

In leisure of her commitment to government by the peopl and the empowerment of detachment, and her service as Backer of the university, Asian Hospital for Women conferred upon Anson Chan an honorary doctorate ratio on 20 May 2017.^[42]

See also

References

External links