43-758: Henry Tang Ying-yen GBM GBS JP ( Chinese : 唐英年 ; born 6 September 1952) is a Hong Kong politician who served as the Chief Secretary of Hong Kong between 2007 and 2011. He held the position of Financial Secretary from 2003 to 2007. In 2012, he lost the Hong Kong Chief Executive Election to Leung Chun-ying . Tang was born 6 September 1952 at early morning at Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital in Happy Valley, Wan Chai in British Hong Kong , His family operated in
86-641: A HK$ 1 billion program to revive the economy of Hong Kong SAR after the SARS . It was a government underwritten event organised by InvestHK , under the auspices of the Economic Relaunch Working Group, in collaboration with the American Chamber of Commerce . The event was billed as "a dazzling series of live shows catering to all tastes and ages, encompassing rock n' roll, family entertainment, blues and jazz, classical, theatrical performances and
129-427: A Vegas Night", to be staged outdoors at Admiralty 's Tamar site over four weekends, from 17 October to 9 November 2003. A large concert stage would be erected, with reserved seating for up to 13,000 people per show. In excess of 200,000 tickets would be made available for the entire event. The declared objective was to attract people from North America, Europe and other countries in the region back to Hong Kong, with
172-450: A Vegas Night," Its organisation, which resulted in massive cost overruns, was heavily criticised. In its efforts to rebuild Hong Kong's image after the SARS outbreak, the government asked Legco for and obtained approval for a HK$ 1 billion package to finance certain initiatives. However, the government was criticised for not revealing how the money would be spent. The event was agreed upon by
215-520: A fatal car crash. On 30 January 2011 eight youth groups including Hong Kong Federation of Students marched to New World Development , Li Ka Shing 's Cheung Kong Holdings in Central and accused the government of colluding with businesses in maximising profits while squeezing the poor. The students criticised Tang and the government for policies that benefit the upper class only like no real estate tax duty, reduction of wine and profit tax. The students said
258-399: A high tendency for allergic reactions to influenza vaccinations, and thus would not take a mainland Chinese COVID-19 vaccine . On 4 October 2011, in the midst of rumours about his extra-marital affair with Shirley Yuen, his administrative assistant when he was finance secretary of Hong Kong, Henry Tang issued a statement, in which he admitted that he had made a mistake in his romantic life in
301-524: A press conference that he was aware of the construction of an illegal basement at his family house and said that it was his wife's idea. His wife agreed that the responsibility was hers The admission followed several denials and provoked widespread criticism: "He has lost almost all his credibility, he lied every day," said Ma Ngok , a political sciences professor at the University of Hong Kong to AFP. The scandal prompted some of Tang's potential supporters in
344-506: Is commonly believed to have attended Graduate School at Yale University and to have obtained a master's degree in sociology . These were credentials submitted to then Hong Kong governor David Wilson in 1991–1992. So far there is no evidence that he did obtain that degree. Tang has extensive ties with PRC leaders as his father Tang Hsiang Chien was a standing committee member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference ,
387-577: Is the highest award under the Hong Kong honours and awards system ; it is to recognise the selected person's lifelong and highly significant contribution to the well-being of Hong Kong. The awardee is entitled to the postnominal letters GBM and the style The Honourable . The award was created in 1997 to replace the British honours system , following the transfer of sovereignty to the People's Republic of China and
430-475: The 2012 Hong Kong Chief Executive election to review their position. One former supporter said that it was 'unbearable' for Tang to throw the blame onto his wife. No charges were brought against Tang though his wife was convicted of a criminal offence and fined HK$ 110,000, the illegal basement having been filled in. On 28 September 2011, in a widely trailed move, Tang resigned from his post, and then in late November announced his candidacy for chief executive. He
473-673: The Walt Disney Company screening a one-hour highlights package of the concerts in the United States over Christmas 2003. Although Prince attracted 11,000 people, attendance at other shows was poor. On 7 November and 9 November 2003, The Rolling Stones played their first ever concerts in Hong Kong, as part of Harbour Fest. This cost was criticised by legislators and critics as too expensive. The underwriting cost soon went up to HK$ 100 million. The Democratic Party surveyed 900 members of
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#1732848852059516-669: The Authority would "definitely uphold the law and comply with the Basic Law, local laws and the national security law " in regards to art made by Ai Weiwei . Tang is married to Lisa Kuo Yu-chin and the couple have four children: three daughters and a son. Tang's father Tang Hsiang Chien was a standing committee member of the CPPCC . His brother, Tom Tang Chung-yen , is a member of the Trade Development Council, whose reappointment to
559-501: The Economic Relaunch Working Group ("ERWG"), which was led by the then financial secretary Antony Leung . Jim Thompson of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) proposed a three-week waterfront music extravaganza, and concerts by popular local and international acts. Harbour Fest would be organised by AmCham, who would retain future rights to the event name; the government underwrote the project. The organisers initially estimated
602-689: The Finance chief, only apologised without any punishment". Another one questioned the political motivation : "How come the timing of the decision against the appeal is so coincidental [with the election for the Chief Executive ]?". During an Economic Relaunch Working Group meeting on 31 October 2003 and during an independent inquiry in May 2004, then financial secretary Henry Tang is alleged to have said Michael Rowse , Director General of InvestHK, had not acted improperly and that there had been no irregularity in
645-479: The Grand Bauhinia Medal Awards established in 1997 Hidden categories: Articles with short description Short description is different from Wikidata Articles containing Chinese-language text Articles containing traditional Chinese-language text Harbour Fest The Hong Kong Harbour Fest ( Chinese : 維港巨星匯 ), held from 17 October to 11 November 2003, was part of
688-696: The Trade Development Council, Town Planning Board, University Grants Committee, and Council of the City University of Hong Kong . Tang took up his commerce post in July 2002 as part of a line-up of new secretaries aimed at improving the government's transparency. He was promoted from Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology to Financial Secretary on 4 August 2003 replacing Antony Leung . Leung resigned on 16 July 2003 due to allegations of tax evasion in regards to his new car. Tang briefly served (25 May to 21 June 2005) as acting chief executive after Tung Chee Hwa ,
731-875: The World . Retrieved 8 June 2011 . ^ Protocol Division Government Secretariat. "General Awards" . Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Archived from the original on 8 February 2012 . Retrieved 8 June 2011 . ^ "Removal of Honours" (PDF) . Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Gazette . 22 (9). 2 March 2018 . Retrieved 4 March 2018 . Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Grand_Bauhinia_Medal&oldid=1254689421 " Categories : Orders, decorations, and medals of Hong Kong Lists of Hong Kong people Recipients of
774-835: The advisory body to the National People's Congress . Tang was named Global Leader for Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum in 1993 and won the Young Industrialist of Hong Kong award in 1989. Between 1995 and 2001 he served as the Chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries . He was also a Committee Member of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and a Steward of the Hong Kong Jockey Club . He
817-451: The billings. The organisers then decided to give away tickets for the concert which was to have featured Atomic Kitten, which dropped out due to illness of singer Natasha Hamilton . The distribution of free tickets to see the remaining acts Twins and t.A.T.u. was marred by scuffles at outlets which saw tickets snapped up within 30 minutes. Many hundreds who had queued up for many hours were furious. The appearance of The Rolling Stones
860-3954: The establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region . The list was empty because no one was awarded from 2003 to 2004. Bauhinia, Bauhinia blakeana , is the floral emblem of Hong Kong. List of recipients [ edit ] 1997 [ edit ] Ann Tse-kai Lee Quo-wei Simon Li Elsie Tu Cha Chi Ming Tsui Sze-man Chuang Shih-ping Wong Ker-lee Tsang Hin-chi Henry Fok Chung Sze-yuen Lo Tak-shing 1998 [ edit ] Arnaldo de Oliveira Sales Ng Hong-mun Run Run Shaw Wong Po-yan 1999 [ edit ] Lee Chark-tim Anson Chan Yang Ti-liang Sidney Gordon William Purves 2000 [ edit ] Henry Litton Charles Ching Mo Kwan-nin Jin Yong Jao Tsung-I 2001 [ edit ] Harry Fang Li Ka-shing Yeung Kwong 2002 [ edit ] Donald Tsang Elsie Leung David Akers-Jones Chang-Lin Tien 2005 [ edit ] Lau Wong-fat Chiang Chen 2006 [ edit ] Charles Lee Leo Lee Tung-hai Tung Chee Hwa 2007 [ edit ] Rita Fan Rafael Hui (Revoked in 2018 ) David Li Lee Shau-kee 2008 [ edit ] Andrew Li Henry Hu Cheng Yu-tung Chan Sui-kau 2009 [ edit ] Henry Tang Hari Harilela Joseph Yam 2010 [ edit ] John Tsang Ronald Arculli Edward Leong Stanley Ho Victor Fung Tin Ka Ping Charles K. Kao 2011 [ edit ] Leung Chun-ying Allan Zeman 2012 [ edit ] Geoffrey Ma Stephen Lam Wong Yan-lung Kemal Bokhary Peter Woo Lui Che-woo 2013 [ edit ] Patrick Chan Anthony Mason Sik Kok Kwong Maria Tam 2014 [ edit ] Jose Yu Charles Ho 2015 [ edit ] Jasper Tsang Cheng Yiu-tong Ho Sai-chu Li Dak-sum 2016 [ edit ] Carrie Lam Tam Yiu-chung Chan Wing-kee Victor Lo Hu Fa-kuang Moses Cheng Lap-Chee Tsui 2017 [ edit ] Matthew Cheung Paul Chan Mo-po Rimsky Yuen Laura Cha Arthur Li Fanny Law Ip Kwok-him Vincent Lo Henry Cheng Tai Tak-fung Jack So Ronnie Chan 2018 [ edit ] Robert Tang Cheung Hok-ming Robin Chan Rosie Young Tse-tse 2019 [ edit ] Yu Kwok-chun Albert Hung Chao-hong 2020 [ edit ] Andrew Leung Bernard Charnwut Chan Chan Tung Xu Rongmao 2021 [ edit ] Andrew Cheung Teresa Cheng Chow Chung-kong Regina Ip Bunny Chan Jonathan Choi Koon-shum Lo Man-tuen 2022 [ edit ] John Lee Tommy Cheung Roberto Ribeiro Andrew Liao Wilfred Wong Ying-wai Peter Lam Ng Leung-ho 2023 [ edit ] Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung Poon Chung-kwong Timothy Fok Tsung-ting Lam Shuk-yee Sze Chi-ching 2024 [ edit ] Martin Liao Lau Siu-kai Lee Chack-fan Peter Lee Ka-kit Lam Shu Chit See also [ edit ] Orders, decorations, and medals of Hong Kong References [ edit ] ^ Megan C. Robertson (17 February 2003). "Hong Kong: Grand Bauhinia Medal" . Medals of
903-467: The festival would cost HK$ 130 million to stage. They said it will raise HK$ 50 million assuming half of the 200,000 tickets were sold. Any shortfall would be met by taxpayers. The ERWG agreed to a HK$ 80 million "sponsorship fee and money to underwrite losses of the festival". It was billed as "a dazzling series of live shows catering to all tastes and ages, encompassing rock n' roll, family entertainment, blues and jazz, classical, theatrical performances and
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#1732848852059946-683: The final vote by the Election Committee saw him lose to Leung Chun-ying . The Financial Times reported, on 23 October 2019, that Tang was being considered as a replacement for Carrie Lam as Chief Executive of Hong Kong. However, the Chinese government denied such deliberations. Tang serves as the chairperson of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, which oversees the M+ museum of contemporary art. In March 2021, Tang said that
989-502: The following year's chief executive election, though she did not in fact stand. In February 2012, several Chinese newspapers reported Henry Tang might have had a relationship with Esther Lam, the daughter of Heung Yee Kuk vice-chairman Daniel Lam Wai-keung . Emails supposedly exchanged by the two of them and a picture showing them shoulder against shoulder have been published. Tang denied the reports claiming "we are only casual acquaintances". Grand Bauhinia Medal From Misplaced Pages,
1032-617: The former chief executive who resigned citing health reasons. On 25 May 2005, Donald Tsang , the Chief Secretary for Administration, resigned to stand in the 'by-election' for Chief Executive. Tang served as Acting Chief Executive of HKSAR soon after Tsang's resignation was announced. Tang was involved in the Harbour Fest controversy as Chairman of the Economic Relaunch Strategy Group responsible for pushing ahead with
1075-914: The 💕 Hong Kong award Award Grand Bauhinia Medal 大紫荊勳章 [REDACTED] Grand Bauhinia Medal with ribbon Awarded for lifelong and highly significant contribution to the well-being of Hong Kong Presented by [REDACTED] Hong Kong Post-nominals GBM Established 1997 First awarded 1997 Precedence Next (lower) Gold Bauhinia Star Grand Bauhinia Medal Traditional Chinese 大紫荊勳章 Simplified Chinese 大紫荆勋章 Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Dà Zǐjīng Xūn Zhāng Yue: Cantonese Jyutping daai6 zi2 ging1 fan1 zoeng1 The Grand Bauhinia Medal ( Chinese : 大紫荊勳章 )
1118-492: The government made a ruling in October 2005. He appealed, but on 26 January 2007, Chief Secretary Rafael Hui confirmed the October 2005 ruling, and the consequential fine. A member of Legco criticised the fact that there have been more reports of the disciplinary hearings in the media than to Legco. Legislator Cheung Man Kwong criticised the government for making Rowse a scapegoat for ministerial failure: "...ministers, including
1161-483: The government ruling on 4 July 2008. Political commentator Frank Ching pointed to the huge credibility gap of the government. He noted that Tang's attempt to shift political responsibility from himself, as the minister responsible, to a senior civil servant, was a travesty of justice for Rowse, and went against the Accountability System . On 23 June 2007, it was announced that Tang would succeed Rafael Hui as
1204-482: The government's decision to fine him HK$ 156,000 for his role in organising Harbour Fest. The judge found there to have been a breach of the rule of fairness: as the threshold of the burden of proof was not sufficiently high, the committee's findings should not have been relied on by the Secretary for the civil service . He further ruled that Donald Tsang had acted outside his powers in deciding to delegate his decision under
1247-602: The implementation of the event. Tang had also said that all parties had underestimated the complexity of the event and may have been too ambitious in organising it in such a short timespan. He later withdrew the remark: just before a government inquiry opened in November 2004, Tang requested the ERWG minutes be deleted. Rowse's counsel argued for the appeal saying his client's case was prejudiced as he had been denied legal representation. In July 2008, Rowse has won his judicial review against
1290-426: The implementation of the event. Tang had also said that all parties had underestimated the complexity of the event and may have been too ambitious in organising it in such a short timespan. He later withdrew the remark: just before a government inquiry opened in November 2004, Tang requested the ERWG minutes be deleted. Internal governmental disciplinary process fined Rowse for misconduct, but a High Court judge quashed
1333-425: The need to compromise and simplify complicated issues. He further said young people should not close the door and act like emperors. That he doesn't want to see politics lead to a bloodshed, leading to a road of no return and end up like a fatal car crash. On 21 January 2011, Leung Kwok-hung led a group of protesters to a public forum with a toy model car. He then smashed the car in front of Henry Tang to represent
Henry Tang - Misplaced Pages Continue
1376-564: The new Chief Secretary for Administration of Hong Kong effective 1 July 2007. On 6 March 2010, Tang attended a Youth Summit in Chai Wan organised by the Home Affairs Bureau . A 31-year-old jobless man threw a shoe at Tang and it landed on the stage metres away from him. The man was dragged away by police. The man said he was unemployed after getting fired by a computer company, and the government policies were not helping him. He said he
1419-473: The organisation of Harbour Fest music festival, a post-SARS event held in an attempt to restore business confidence in Hong Kong. Rowse was charged with five offences: Rowse was held responsible only for the fifth charge of failing to ensure that InvestHK critically examine the HarbourFest budget, and fully and adequately advise the working group on the finances. Consequently, he was fined one month's salary when
1462-512: The past and he deeply regretted it. He said that his wife had forgiven him. His wife said in the statement that there had been difficult times in their relationship and that he has faults, but that she also appreciated his strengths. She acknowledged him as her 'best partner'. National People's Congress Standing Committee member Rita Fan said on 7 October 2011 that she didn't know about Tang's now widely publicised infidelity when she offered her support and she refused to rule herself out of standing in
1505-478: The plan to spend $ 100 million to revive the economy after SARS , and said that he should be held responsible. Tang had said that although Mike Rowse , a senior civil servant, had actually signed the contract, Rowse as such was not required to be held politically responsible. However, during a Working Group meeting on 31 October 2003 and during an independent inquiry in May 2004, Tang allegedly said Rowse had not acted improperly and that there had been no irregularity in
1548-547: The post by CY Leung, after he vanquished Tang to become chief executive in 2012, was seen as part of a reconciliation between the two camps. Apple Daily found in October 2020 that Tom Tang may have illegally violated land lease terms of an industrial site in Tai Po. His niece (by marriage), Stefani Kuo , a playwright and actress, spoke out against the Hong Kong government during the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests , views that Tang explicitly rejected. In February 2021, Tang said that he has
1591-548: The public, and established that more than 50% of the polled believe the government was wasting public money on the Harbour Fest, and Ma Lik said the government appeared to act as if it had received carte blanche . On 21 October, AmCham announced that previously billed Cantopop artists Andy Hui, Joey Yung and Nicholas Tse would no longer appear due to artists prior commitments. The artists' agent, Emperor Entertainment Group , however, alleges that AmCham had dropped them from
1634-655: The textile industry and came from Wuxi , Jiangsu to Hong Kong in 1949 to escape the communists who were taking over the Chinese mainland . Henry Tang himself was born in what was then British Hong Kong in 1952. Tang went to Culford School in Suffolk in Britain before attending and graduating from Cranbrook Schools in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan in 1975. Henry Tang
1677-486: The whole HK is at the mercy of real estate developers. From 13 February 2012, Hong Kong media reported unauthorised building works of Tang's two adjoined residences at York Road , Kowloon Tong . On 16 February 2012, an inspection by officials of the Buildings Department revealed a basement with an area of more than 2200 square feet (11 m by 19 m) that was not documented in the approved floor plan. Tang admitted at
1720-768: Was Chairman of the Provisional Construction Industry Co-ordination Board (PCICB) before joining the government. Tang was a member of the Executive Council from the transfer of sovereignty in 1997 to 2011. He served as a member of the Legislative Council for seven years from 1991 to 1998 as a member of the Liberal Party , a pro-business and pro-Beijing party, prior to joining the government. Tang has also served extensively on various government boards and public bodies, including
1763-572: Was not a "post-80s" teen, but supported the highspeed rail protest connecting HK to Guangdong . A protester said that the topics discussed in the summit are not those that any young person would be interested in. On 15 January 2011, Tang gave a speech at the Roundtable Institute that included controversial comments about the Hong Kong post-80s generation. He said the young generations need to take responsibilities, and he cautioned them for slamming others because of opposing views. Then he stressed
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1806-497: Was shrouded in confusion until 14 October, when their two nights at the festival were finally confirmed. They were reportedly paid US$ 5 million for the concerts. An Independent Panel of Inquiry headed by Moses Cheng was commissioned to review and investigate the handling of the Harbour Fest, and a report of the Harbour Fest was issued in May 2004. In June 2004, a legislative council Public Accounts Committee report criticised InvestHK for improper stewardship of taxpayers' money over
1849-417: Was widely believed to be preferred by Beijing , and hence quickly received support from many financial heavyweights, including Former Monetary Authority chief Joseph Yam Chi-kwong , HSBC Asia-Pacific chief executive Peter Wong Tung-shun , and 'Father of Lan Kwai Fong', Allan Zeman . However, in an unprecedented turn of events, including a series of scandals and dramatically reduced levels of public support,
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