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Erick Tsang

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Not to be confused with Eric Tsang.
In this Hong Kong name, the surname is Tsang. In accordance with Hong Kong custom, the Western-style name is Erick Tsang and the Chinese-style name is Tsang Kwok-wai.

Erick Tsang Kwok-wai
IDSM
曾國衞
Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs
Incumbent
Assumed office
22 April 2020
Chief ExecutiveCarrie Lam
Preceded byPatrick Nip
Director of Immigration
In office
5 April 2016 – 22 April 2020
Preceded byEric Chan
Succeeded byAu Ka-wang
Personal details
Born (1963-09-01) 1 September 1963 (age 61)
Hong Kong
Alma materNew Asia College, CUHK (BSS)
Erick Tsang Kwok-wai
Traditional Chinese曾國衞
Simplified Chinese曾国衞
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinZēng Guówèi
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutpingzang1 gwok3 wai6

Erick Tsang Kwok-wai IDSM (Chinese: 曾國衞; born 1 September 1963) is a Hong Kong government official. Since 2020, he has been Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, one of the principal officials of Hong Kong. Prior to that, he was Director of Immigration.

Biography

Tsang joined the Immigration Department in 1987 and rose through the ranks to Principal Immigration Officer in 2009. He was Assistant Secretary for Security from 2003 to 2006. In 2012, he became Assistant Director of Immigration and then in 2014, Deputy Director of Immigration. In April 2016, he was appointed Director of Immigration.[1]

In April 2020, State Council of the People's Republic of China appointed Tsang Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs,[2] replacing Patrick Nip, days after the department had failed to reflect Beijing's controversially changed position on the status of the Liaison Office under Hong Kong's Basic Law.[3][4] He also drew criticism for a prominently positioned photograph of Chinese Communist Party general secretary Xi Jinping in his office.[5]

In August 2020, Tsang and ten other officials were sanctioned by the United States Department of the Treasury under Executive Order 13936 by President Trump for undermining Hong Kong's autonomy.[6][7][8]

On October 14, 2020, the United States Department of State released a report on 10 individuals who materially contributed to the failure of the China to meet its obligations under the Sino–British Joint Declaration and Hong Kong's Basic Law. Tsang was on the list.[9]

In September 2020, when pro-democracy organizers planned to hold primaries for the 2020 Legislative Council, Tsang said that candidates could be in breach of the National Security Law.[10]

On 25 November 2020, Tsang was spotted sleeping during Chief Executive Carrie Lam's annual Policy Address. At a press conference two days later, Tsang claimed that medication he took caused the drowsiness.[11]

In January 2021, Tsang commented on forcing district councillors to take an oath to pledge loyalty to the government, and said that under the National Security Law, this would be required.[12] After the arrest of 53 pro-democracy figures in January 2021, Tsang said that they had to pay the price for "crossing the red line" by organizing primaries for the Legislative Council.[13]

In February 2021, Tsang announced that under the government's plan to mandate district councillors take an oath of loyalty to the government,[14] four pro-democracy district councillors (Lester Shum, Tiffany Yuen, Fergus Leung and Tat Cheng) would lose their seats.[15] In response, Shum said that the government was crushing dissent.[15] Also in February 2021, Tsang said "You cannot say that you are patriotic but you do not love the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party or you do not respect it - this does not make sense."[16] In addition, on the potential changes to the electoral system from Beijing, Tsang said that "When the central government reaches a concrete decision, we will fully cooperate."[17] In March 2021, Tsang officially introduced the bill that would force district councillors to take an oath, stating that he would like it "passed as soon as possible."[18]

In March 2021, Tsang announced a publicity drive for the legislation that would only allow "patriots" to serve in the government, stating that "The Hong Kong government welcomes and supports the reforms," and that "We have planned for a full-scale programme of explanation, and the entire team of principal officials will participate in promoting this."[19] In less than two weeks, approximately HK $2.5 million was spent on creating some promotional videos.[20]

In April 2021, Tsang, along with Teresa Cheng, announced that the government would be looking into the possibility of banning blank ballots; in response, HKU Professor Johannes Chan Man-mun said that "You can't force people to vote for a particular person, or prevent people from voting for that person, or bar them from performing certain voting acts."[21] Also in April 2021, Tsang defended a proposal that would give the Secretary of Justice the power to suspend lawmakers.[22]

Personal life

In October 2021, Tsang's wife Louise Ho Pui-shan, born 1968, became Commissioner of Customs and Excise of Hong Kong, after a three-decade career in the service,[23][24][25] while her younger sister Doris Ho Pui-ling - Tsang's sister-in-law - has since January 2021 headed up the government's Policy Innovation and Co-ordination Office, before which she was was a deputy secretary at the Development Bureau.[26]

References

  1. ^ "Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, IDSM, Director of Immigration".
  2. ^ "Government announces appointment and removal of Principal Officials (with photos)". Hong Kong Government. 20 April 2020.
  3. ^ Ho, Kelly (21 April 2020). "Mainland affairs minister Patrick Nip replaced following apology over Beijing office row". Hong Kong Free Press. HKFP. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  4. ^ Cheung, Gary (21 April 2020). "Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam to announce major cabinet reshuffle with four ministers leaving and another transferred, sources reveal". SCMP. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  5. ^ Lung, Natalie (22 April 2020). "Hong Kong Leader Carrie Lam Replaces Five Ministers in Cabinet Reshuffle". Hong Kong Free Press. HKFP. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  6. ^ "US sanctions Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam, police chief and 9 other top officials for 'undermining autonomy'". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  7. ^ Macias, Amanda (7 August 2020). "U.S. sanctions Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam for carrying out Chinese 'policies of suppression'". CNBC. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Treasury Sanctions Individuals for Undermining Hong Kong's Autonomy". United States Department of the Treasury. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  9. ^ U.S. Department of State. "Identification of Foreign Persons Involved in the Erosion of the Obligations of China Under the Joint Declaration or the Basic Law". Archived from the original on 14 October 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 15 October 2020 suggested (help)
  10. ^ "Hong Kong national security law: 53 held for subversion in biggest crackdown yet". South China Morning Post. 6 January 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  11. ^ Kong, Dimsumdaily Hong (27 November 2020). "Erick Tsang elaborates on electronic and overseas voting". Dimsum Daily. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  12. ^ Kong, Dimsumdaily Hong (5 January 2021). "District councillors may be required to take oath to uphold the Basic Law of HK". Dimsum Daily. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  13. ^ "'Pan-dems have to pay for crossing red line' - RTHK". news.rthk.hk. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  14. ^ "Councillors face five-year bans for oath 'breaches' - RTHK". news.rthk.hk. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  15. ^ a b "Govt move will see off at least four councillors - RTHK". news.rthk.hk. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  16. ^ Analysis by James Griffiths. "Analysis: Hong Kong's new loyalty oath requires all lawmakers to love China -- and the Communist Party". CNN. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  17. ^ "Legco polls date is up to Beijing: Erick Tsang - RTHK". news.rthk.hk. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  18. ^ "Hong Kong gov't puts district councillors' new oath-taking requirement to legislature". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. 17 March 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  19. ^ "Hong Kong to launch 'full-scale' promotional campaign for electoral overhaul". South China Morning Post. 26 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  20. ^ Candice Chau (26 March 2021). "Hong Kong racks up HK$2.5 million spend on election overhaul promos". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  21. ^ "Why debate is raging on making it illegal to cast blank ballots in Hong Kong". South China Morning Post. 6 April 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  22. ^ "Proposed bill would give Hong Kong justice chief 'overly wide' powers to suspend lawmakers: critics ｜ Apple Daily". Apple Daily 蘋果日報 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  23. ^ "Congratulations to our alumna Ms HO Pui Shan Louise, C.M.S.M, for becoming the Deputy Commissioner of Customs and Excise. | 英華女校校友會YWGSAA". www.ywgsaa.org.hk.
  24. ^ "New customs chief appointed". Hong Kong's Information Services Department (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  25. ^ Louise Ho becomes HK's first female customs chief, The Standard, 21 October, 2021
  26. ^ Hong Kong’s new customs chief to focus on national security threats, SCMP, 21 Oct. 2021
Government offices
Preceded by Director of Immigration
2016–2020 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs
2020–present 		Incumbent
Order of precedence
Previous:
Alfred Sit
Member of the Executive Council 		Hong Kong order of precedence
Member of the Executive Council 		Next:
Caspar Tsui
Member of the Executive Council
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