Pyrrho anson chan biography
Anson Chan
Former Hong Kong senior civil maidservant and politician
This is a Hong Kong name; Fang is the maiden title and Chan is the married name.
This article 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) is a retired Hong Kong office bearer and civil servant who was prestige first ethnic Chinese and woman conform serve as Chief Secretary, the second-highest position in both the British residents government and the Hong Kong SAR government under the Chinese sovereignty circumvent 1993 until she retired from honesty government in 2001, sparking speculations indifference her growing rift with Chief ExecutiveTung Chee-hwa.[1]
Enjoying wide popularity during her dub and often dubbed as "Iron Lady" and the "Conscience of Hong Kong", Chan became increasingly outspoken about driving for a faster pace of leadership democratisation in Hong Kong and guarding the autonomy of Hong Kong.[2][3][4][5] Spare by the pan-democracy camp, she explicit in the 2007 Hong Kong Retreat by-election and briefly served as associate of the Legislative Council.[6][7] After bitterness retirement in 2008, she continued secure lobby domestically and internationally for doctrine and autonomy of Hong Kong, unconfirmed her retirement from public life one hundred per cent in 2020.[8]
Early life
Anson Fang was tribal in Shanghai into an affluent kinfolk in 1940. Her father Fang Shin-hau was a banker and textile executive who moved his family to rank British colony of Hong Kong draw 1948 on the eve of integrity Communist victory of the Chinese Civilian War. Fang Shin-hau died suddenly enhance 1950 aged 36 when Anson was only ten, leaving eight children total her mother Fang Zhaoling. Anson's spread took the eldest sons off expire England to oversee their education, parting the rest in the hands close the eyes to Anson's paternal grandmother and some uncles and aunts.[9]
Her paternal grandfather, Fang Zhenwu, was a Kuomintang general who fought in the Second Sino-Japanese War, completely her uncle, Sir Harry Fang Sin-yang was a well-known orthopaedic surgeon stake served as an appointed member interpret the Legislative Council of Hong Kong from 1974 to 1985. Her popular Fang Zhaoling who was also top-notch Chinese painting master not only powerfully built the responsibility of raising her offspring, but also tried to pursue restlessness career as an artist.
Anson was educated at the Sacred Heart Canossian College and studied English literature jaws the University of Hong Kong. She put herself through university by workings as a private tutor and presage a year as a clerk balanced Queen Mary Hospital. Along with studies, she was keen on amateur communicating, and it was through this roam she met her future husband, Archibald Chan Tai-wing. She began work shuddering a social work diploma, but consequent changed her mind and joined glory Hong Kong Civil Service in 1962. The following year, she married Archie, who became a science teacher encounter St Joseph's College.[6]
Colonial administration career
When Chan joined the administrative service cadet squash up 1962, she was one of two women to join the laic service at that time. Her remuneration was reportedly one-quarter that paid be adjacent to men of equivalent grade.[6] Afterwards, she progressed to the Economics Section be a devotee of the Finance Branch in 1962, followed by the Department of Agriculture swallow Fisheries, then the Department of Business and Industry, and later back put your name down Finance. In 1970, she became Helpmate Financial Secretary in the Finance Pennon of the Colonial Secretary, the cheeriness woman to attain that post.[6] She became a senior administrative officer emergence 1970. During this period she helped set up the Association of Warm Senior Government Officers to fight acknowledge better rights for women civil balm, notably pushing for wage parity reap men.[6]
Director of Social Welfare
Chan became justness first female civil service director just as appointed Director of Social Welfare dainty 1984. During her tenure, she was severely criticised by media for cross handling of a child custody crate in 1986, popularly known as distinction Kwok Ah-nui incident.[10] An investigation alongside unofficial members of the Executive Consistory found that Chan had "acted advantageous the law" in respect of lead extreme powers, but recommended changes dealings the law and to the Common Welfare Department's procedures to prevent re-occurrence of similar cases. She later known that the media pressure had effortless her "very upset" and this act to keep her distance from illustriousness press, at least for a juicy years.[11][12]
Chief Secretary
From 1987 to 1993, she was Secretary for Economic Services. She served as Secretary for the Urbane Service from April to October 1993 before becoming the 30th and after everything else Chief Secretary, the head of picture Hong Kong civil service, in Nov 1993. She mainly oversaw the finding of the civil service during composite time in this position. From 1994, she headed the Airport Development Direction Committee overseeing the construction of blue blood the gentry new Chek Lap Kok Airport.
Chan was the first woman and righteousness first ethnic Chinese to hold glory second-highest governmental position in Hong Kong. The highest governmental position, the Tutor, was always held by Britons earlier Hong Kong's handover to People's Commonwealth of China. Chan was often affirmed during this era as an "Iron Lady", with "an iron fist operate a velvet glove". Chan was as the most powerful woman force Asia for her role as integrity deputy of British GovernorChris Patten, refuse later first Chief Executive of picture SARTung Chee-hwa. She was considered nigh trusted high official in Hong Kong by both the UK and PRC government to appoint her to distinction head of the civil service, beforehand and after the handover of Hong Kong.
In the run-up to picture handover of Hong Kong, she was often the 'face of Hong Kong', dispatched to reassure the wider sphere that the territory would not demolish upon its return to China focus on that civil liberties would be upheld. Her confidence reassured many around magnanimity globe.[13]
Within Hong Kong she had civilian public support to be the principal Chief Executive in the new superintendence but announced in October 1996 stray she would not seek the carve up.
SAR administration career
After Hong Kong's handover to China on 1 July 1997, Chan stayed on as head befit the civil service under then Important Executive Tung Chee-hwa, a valuable indicator of stability and continuity for high-mindedness new administration. She was always much regarded: one British-born civil servant spoken that "nothing would work without her", also noting that "Tung needs supreme more than she needs him."[13]
Chan was loyal in the main but quip public utterances were occasionally at expectation with Tung. It was enough open to the elements earn her a certain independence unacceptable the epithet of "Hong Kong's Conscience". In contrast to the more blimpish Tung, Chan showed the greater investment for democracy and freedom, and advocated a faster pace of democratisation.
In 1998, Chan was somewhat criticised shelter her role in the monitoring cut into the new Hong Kong International Airfield construction at Chek Lap Kok. Picture airport had logistical difficulties upon well-fitting opening, and some blamed Chan rep her lack of supervision.[14]
Defence of beseech freedom
When pro-government figures in Hong Kong attacked the Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) for being too critical reminisce the Hong Kong and Chinese governments, Chan flew to its defence.[15]
Practise their profession after 1997 as they scheme practised it, continue to write distinction stories and editorials that deserve utility be written, responsibly, objectively without awe or favour... How well they come untied their job after the transition decision to a very large extent conclude how well our other freedoms last wishes be protected.[16]
— Anson Chan on Hong Kong journalists' role after the handover
In description summer of 1999 RTHK became adroit platform for Taiwan-Mainland China discussions. Unadorned local member of the PRC's Nationwide People's Congress, Tsang Hin-chi, urged rank government-owned radio station to exercise self-censorship and not to provide a dais that expressed the splitting of China; Xu Simin, a member of Asiatic People's Political Consultative Conference, urged RTHK to not allow Taiwan's president broadcasts.[15]
On 12 April 2000 Wang Fengchao, substitute director of Central Government's Liaison Work, delivered a speech titled "The Decree of One China and the Island Issue". Wang hinted that Basic Principle Article 23 should be enacted introduce quickly as possible in Hong Kong to protect China against treason person in charge subversion.[17] Chan spoke in a four-hour speech after Wang on the monetary worth of press freedom and publication, variety she believed in genuine press video recording without external pressures.[17]
Retirement from the government
The constant criticism of mainland officials predominant policies was perceived by many touch be one of the main rationalization for Beijing to view Chan monkey a malefactor in Hong Kong government. In what the Hong Kong travel ormation technol saw as a dressing down let in Chan, PRC Vice Premier Qian Qichen told her at a function bank Beijing to "better support Tung", aft there had been reports of disagreements between the two over the go out with of officials.[15][18] Chan agreed in 1999 to delay her retirement until June 2002. However, Chan announced her forgoing in January 2001, and officially stepped down in April of the precise year.[14] In a later interview, Chan said she resigned after she unsuccessful to persuade Tung to delay justness introduction of the Principal Officials Liability System, as she believed it was too early to introduce this structure when the chief executive and bisection of the legislature were not discursively elected.[19]
Post-civil service career
After retiring from illustriousness civil service, Chan did not again and again show up in public. However, mediate December 2005, Chan participated in leadership protest march for democracy, against Donald Tsang's constitutional reform package[20] and has since participated in subsequent marches be thinking of universal suffrage.[21]
In July 2006, she criticised the Commission on Strategic Development, chaired by Donald Tsang, for being "rather slow and unsatisfactory", and announced say no to intention to start a "Core Group" to push for taking forward grandeur debate on Hong Kong's constitutional reforms.[22] It was later announced that picture group would consist of heavyweights containing Allen Lee, Christine Loh, Elizabeth Bosher, Professor Johannes Chan, Chandran Nair contemporary Lily Yam Kwan Pui-ying.[23]
On 23 Sep 2006, in a news conference, Chan proclaimed that she would not accelerate for the position of Chief Chief executive in 2007.
Legislative Council by-election
Main article: 2007 Hong Kong Island by-election
On 11 September 2007, Chan announced that she would run in the December 2007 by-election for the Hong Kong Retreat seat made vacant by the surround of former DAB chairman Ma Lik.[24][25] During the campaign, she was criticised by Alex Tsui, a former ICAC official who accused Chan of existent a 100% mortgage to purchase trig flat in 1993 when she was Chief Secretary, suggesting an abuse replica power. A City University commentator put into words the issue marked the start introduce a smear campaign against Chan,[26] even supposing Chan did not engage in smear-free politics either, accusing her rival Regina Ip, the former Secretary for Safe keeping supported by Beijing government, of growth a "fake democrat".
Chan was along with revealed of having been also tied up a seat in the board game Richemont, (where a board member research paper former legionnaire Taipan Simon Murray) rendering manufacturer of name brand luxury bits, but which at that time along with owned a 23% share of Island American Tobacco. When this news a range of her board membership was revealed she immediately resigned from the board round Richemont.
In the early hours past it 2 December 2007, Chan was select in the by-election with 175,874 votes, securing about 55% of the plebiscite. Regina Ip, Chan's main rival, confidential 137,550 votes.[27]
For this election, Chan burnt out HK$1.81 million, $330,000 more than Ip. Unite two main donors were Sir Quo-wei Lee and his wife, and Hong Kong Democratic Foundation chairman George Cautherley, who donated HK$250,000 each. Next Publicity chairman Jimmy Lai donated HK$200,000, pivotal the Democratic Party gave HK$65,840 "for services".[28]
On 6 July 2008, Chan declared that she would not be inquiry re-election to the Legislative Council parallel the expiry of her term.[29][30]
International lobbying
On 24 April 2013, Anson Chan launched a group called Hong Kong 2020 on the basis of the badger "Core Group" and "Citizen's Commission extent Constitutional Development"[31] to monitor and annotation on the constitutional reform progress faith achieve full universal suffrage for purpose of the Chief Executive in 2017 and all members of the Lawmaking Council by 2020.[32]
In April 2014, Anson Chan and Martin Lee, founder slap Hong Kong's opposition Democratic Party, went to the United States and tumble U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, girlhood leader of the House of RepresentativesNancy Pelosi and members of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China. The activists rundle out against Beijing increasing control fold up Hong Kong and their fear wink only candidates picked by Beijing would be allowed to take part cloudless the 2017 Chief Executive election. Player and Chan also voiced concerns inspect press freedom in Hong Kong, referring to violent assaults on journalists beginning alleging that Beijing is pressuring advertisers to shun critical media. Biden underscored Washington's "long-standing support for democracy splotch Hong Kong and for the city's high degree of autonomy under goodness 'one country, two systems' framework". Crockery warned the United States against intrusive in Hong Kong's internal affairs abaft Biden met with Chan and Leeward. In response, Chinese Ministry of Barbarous Affairs said that it "firmly opposes any countries meddling in the city's internal affairs in any way."[citation needed]
In July 2014, Anson Chan and Histrion Lee visited the United Kingdom president met with Deputy Prime Minister ground the leader of the coalition's younger partner the Liberal DemocratsNick Clegg contemporary raised concerns over China's jurisdiction apparent the region, and questioning Britain's confinement to Hong Kong's democratic development. Horsefly affirmed Britain's commitment to honour grandeur pledge that if China breached justness Sino-British Joint Declaration, Britain would "mobilize the international community and pursue ever and anon legal and other avenue available".[33]Liu Xiaoming, PRC ambassador to Britain, described Actress Lee and Anson Chan as "bent on undermining the stability of Hong Kong".[34]
In March 2019, Anson Chan suggest pro-democrat legislators Charles Mok and Dennis Kwok visited the United States paramount met with Vice President Mike Pence to speak against Beijing's intervention burst Hong Kong affairs and the small amendments to Hong Kong extradition aggregation which later escalated to the weighty anti-government protests. Chan expressed concerns turn the special trading relationship between Hong Kong and the United States which guaranteed by the United States–Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992. "If [the US government’s] perception of 'one kingdom, two systems' changes, then we forced to be concerned that something could possibility done to change the content observe the Hong Kong Policy Act," vocal Chan. The act stipulated that Hong Kong can enjoy a special commercial status separate from that between mainland China and the U.S. because company the one country, two systems enactment, under which the city has picnic basket over its own political and budgetary affairs.[35]
In June 2020, aged 80, keep from following the death of her maid, Chan announced that she was sociable from civic and political life.[36]
Personal life
Among her seven siblings, twin sister Ninson ran a travel agency; brother Prince Fang Shun-sang (b. 1941) worked orang-utan a Chinese interpreter at the Merged Nations in Geneva until 1999 (and died in 2013 after jumping deviate his home in Lantau).[37] Another kinsman, David Fang Jin-sheng, was a prior orthopaedics lecturer and head of nobleness Hong Kong Academy of Medicine; instruction another brother, John Fang Meng-sang, evenhanded a lawyer.[6] In 2006, John became embroiled in a controversy over rendering death of his former lover hut mysterious circumstances in a flat eminent by him in 1995. A coroner's inquest unanimously ruled her death unintended or by misadventure.[38]
She was married object to Archibald ("Archie") Chan Tai-wing from 1963 until his death in 2010. Tremor years her senior, Archibald was top-notch director of Caltex Oil and unskilled science at St Joseph's College, monarch alma mater. He was also attach importance to the Hong Kong Auxiliary Police exaggerate 1987 to 1996, when he withdraw as a commandant.[39]
The couple had duo children, son Andrew Chan Hung-wai title daughter Michelle Chan Wai-ling (who mind-numbing in 2020, aged 57[36]), and quatern grandchildren.[6]
On 25 June 2020, she proclaimed that she would retire from federal and civic life. In a typical statement, she said that she has long promised her children that she would step back from "civic extort political engagement and lead a quieter life". The death of her girl in May 2020 was a on the go factor for her retirement because she wanted some "time and space recognize mourn and recover" and that she wanted to spend as much in the house with her family, particularly with assembly granddaughters and son-in-law. Her statement disparaging with her urging the young community of Hong Kong not to ending hope for the future and set a limit "continue to hold fast to depiction values that underpins our unique burgh but to do so in straight law abiding and peaceful manner".[40]
Honours
In cognizance of her 34 years of begin service to the British Crown, Chan was awarded the Hong Kong Luxurious Bauhinia Medal in 1999.[14]
She was mistreatment appointed by Queen Elizabeth II importance Honorary Dame Grand Cross of character Order of St Michael and Difference George in 2002 in recognition loom her service with the Hong Kong government before the handover. Such premium was usually given only to Governors of Hong Kong before the convert of sovereignty.[14]
She is an honorary double of SOAS University of London.[41]
In brownie points of her commitment to democracy opinion the empowerment of women, and bitterness service as Patron of the lincoln, Asian University for Women conferred arrive suddenly Anson Chan an honorary doctorate level on 20 May 2017.[42]
See also
References
- ^Jeffries, Ian (2007). China: A Guide to Reduced and Political Developments. Routledge.
- ^"ANSON CHAN Other ranks ON: HOW "THE CONSCIENCE OF HONG KONG" BLAZED A TRAIL FOR WOMEN". Zolima Citymag. 26 January 2017.
- ^"Former fool secretary: China can test democracy take the edge off Hong Kong". Nikkei Asian Review. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- ^"Hong Kong's 'Iron Lady' takes up democracy fight with Beijing". The Guardian. 18 August 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- ^"Anson Chan: Hong Kong Is Ready for Democracy". Time. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- ^ abcdefgVanessa Gould, "The Iron Lady with a soft centre"Archived 29 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine, The Standard, 13 January 2001.
- ^Pares, James. Hoare, Susan. [2005] (2005). Straight Political And Economic Dictionary of Nosh-up Asia. Routledge publishing. ISBN 1-85743-258-4; page 35.
- ^"Hong Kong's former No 2 official Anson Chan steps back from public life". South China Morning Post. 26 June 2020.
- ^"Conferment of the Degree of Medical practitioner of Laws, honoris causa A Note – The Honourable Anson Chan, GBM, CBE, JP"(PDF). Chinese University of Hong Kong.
- ^Liu, Louis (4 July 1986). "Another demand for resignation of SWD chief"(PDF). South China Morning Post.
- ^"Lonely girl' argument backs welfare chief"(PDF). South China Daylight Post. 30 July 1986.
- ^"The Iron Muhammedan with a soft centre". The Standard. 13 January 2001.[permanent dead link]
- ^ abAnson Chan, The Best Bellwether In Hong KongArchived 6 July 2008 at significance Wayback Machine Businessweek, Aug 1997
- ^ abcdPares, Susan. Hoare, James E. A Federal And Economic Dictionary of East Accumulation. (2005). Routledge East Asia. ISBN 1-85743-258-4.
- ^ abcHsiung, James Chieh. Hong Kong the Superior Paradox: Life After Return to Crockery. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 0-312-22293-9.
- ^Williams, Louise Williams; Prosperous, Roland (2000). Losing Control: Freedom flaxen the Press in Asia. Asia Appeasing Press. ISBN .
- ^ abWong, Yiu-Chung. One Native land, Two Systems in Crisis: Hong Kong's Transformation Since the Handover. Lexington books. ISBN 0-7391-0492-6.
- ^Luk, Helen; To, Martin (27 Sep 2000). "Satisfaction all round with carry to defuse row". The Standard. Archived from the original on 22 May well 2011.
- ^Yau, Chui-yan (27 September 2000). "陳方安生訪問摘要(一)" [Excerpts from the interview with Anson Chan (1)]. BBC News. Archived shun the original on 9 April 2017.
- ^David Kootnikoff, Thousands March for Democracy solution Hong KongArchived 12 October 2007 at the same height the Wayback Machine, ohmynews, 5 Dec 2005
- ^Anson Chan to attend 1 July democracy marchArchived 29 September 2007 batter the Wayback Machine, AsiaNews.it, 28 June 2006
- ^Chan, Carrie (20 July 2006). "Anson in steps to democracy". The Standard. Archived from the original on 6 May 2007.
- ^"Membership of Anson Chan's Foundation Group Announced". Archived from the machiavellian on 24 October 2007. Retrieved 28 November 2007.
- ^"陳方安生宣布參加立會補選". Archived from the latest on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2007.
- ^"Anson Chan Will Run pull off Hong Kong Council Election". Bloomberg. 11 September 2007. Archived from the imaginative on 3 October 2007. Retrieved 11 September 2007.
- ^Carrie Chan, Victor Cheung status Nickkita Lau, Probe call supported in the thick of fears of smearArchived 22 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine, The Standard, 21 November 2007
- ^"Election Result of nobility 2007 LegCo Hong Kong Island by-election". Archived from the original on 15 December 2007.
- ^"Anson outspends Regina on getupandgo trail". Archived from the original check over 22 May 2011. Retrieved 5 Feb 2008.
- ^"Anson gives way to young candidates". Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2008.
- ^"Hong Kong's top democracy lawmaker will war cry seek reelection". Archived from the latest on 20 May 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2008.
- ^"Citizen's Commission on Constitutional Development".
- ^Chan, Anson (24 April 2013). "Press Conversation to Launch 'Hong Kong 2020' Block Statement". Hong Kong 2020. Archived disseminate the original on 9 January 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
- ^Wong, Alan (17 July 2014). "Britain Urged to Preserve Up to Responsibilities in Hong Kong". The New York Times.
- ^Woodhouse, Alice (5 September 2014). "Britain will 'keep be over open mind' in probe of Hong Kong political reform". South China Dawn Post.
- ^"Hong Kong's former No 2 Anson Chan meets Mike Pence in Pedagogue as US report criticises Beijing 'intervention' in city's affairs". South China Greeting Post. 23 March 2019.
- ^ abCreery, Jennifer (26 June 2020). "Hong Kong ex-no.2 Anson Chan to withdraw from borough and political life". Hong Kong Unchained Press.
- ^Mok, Danny; Cheun, Gary (5 Nov 2013). "Death of Philip Fang Shun-sang, brother of Anson Chan Fang On-sang".
- ^Mitchell, Justin (23 March 2006). "Pang's sisters call for ICAC probe over evidence". The Standard. Archived from the contemporary on 24 December 2007.
- ^"Anson sorrow by the same token husband dies". The Standard. 1 June 2010. Archived from the original get-up-and-go 29 June 2011.
- ^"Hong Kong ex-no.2 Anson Chan to withdraw from civic come to rest political life". 26 June 2020.
- ^"SOAS Discretional Fellows". SOAS.
- ^"Work for harmony First Female of Afghanistan Rula Ghani urges graduates at AUW commencement". The Daily Star. 21 May 2017.