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10 of the Most Famous Politicians in Hong Kong
Hong Kong has had many politicians, so narrowing it down to only ten is somewhat challenging. The leaders in this listing have been involved in the political activities of Hong Kong directly or indirectly.
They have held various positions that affected the political scene of the city in one way or another. Check out this list of 10 of the most prominent Hong Kong politicians.
1. Ma Ying-jeou
Ma Ying-jeou Photo by Voice of America-Wikimedia
This Hong Kong politician was born in the Republic of China(ROC) in 1950 on July 13. His popularity saw him get into public office as a Justice Minister and served in that capacity between 1993 to 1996.
Ma sought an elective position and won as Mayor of Taipei in 1998. He served the people of Taipei until 2006. He became the chairman of Kuomintang (KMT), a leading political party at the time from 2005 up to 2007.
After 2007, he left the party leadership to others. But assumed his chairmanship position from 2009 to 2014. He led the country as President from 20 May 2008 when he was sworn in as President until 2016 following his re-election in 2012.
During his reign as President, he enhanced diplomatic relationships between the Republic of China and Mainland China. He also strengthened the diplomatic ties with other nations such as the United States among other countries.
The educational background of Ma Ying-jeou is impressive. He is a law major with a doctorate and a 1981 graduate of Harvard Law School. His wife is Christine Chow and they have two daughters.
Ma’s political popularity is shown in different forms. His score on the HPI (Historical Popularity Index) is good and to add to that, his biography exists in over 50 different language translations.
2. Alison Spencer Bell
Alison Bell in 1969, Photo by Hong Kong Reform Club-Wikimedia
Alison’s birthplace was Scotland. Bell pursued her medical career at the University of Edinburgh where she graduated in 1948. The medic moved to Hong Kong in 1949 and worked at the Kowloon Hospital. She started her private practice as a medical professional in 1951.
Alison Bell joined Hong Kong politics in 1956 when she vied to be elected to Urban Council. This role involved discharging municipal services in the area of Kowloon and Hong Kong Island.
She won the seat and became the first female to hold Hong Kong’s Urban Council office. She served in a Council capacity for more than eight years.
Bell was an active politician and engaged in other societies that were committed to enhancing the welfare of the Hong Kong community. She was part of the Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation which helped drug addicts reform.
She was a member of the Family Planning Association of Hong Kong medical committee and also took part in Christ Church Council. While still vice-chair of the Reform Club.
The politician got married in 1949 to Dr Peter Hin-tak Fok. They had five children and she met her death in Canada on April 8, 2021, when she was 96 years old.
3. Jasper Tsang
Jasper Tsang Photo-Wikimedia
He is a Mathematics major and a University of Hong Kong graduate with first-class honours. Tsang had invitations from several Universities in the U.S. to continue his studies but turned them down.
This was after he saw his brother’s arrest and conviction for charges relating to riots in the university. At the University, he launched the New Hong Kong University (HKU) journal.
He partnered with others to start the party, Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong early 1990s. He became the first chairperson of the party. Tsang was elected to represent Kowloon West in the Legislative Council in 1998. He was also the Hong Kong Island representative starting in 2008.
The appointment to the Executive Council in 2002 by the Chief Executive Tung Chee-Hwa popularized Tsang’s political career. He was honoured with the Gold Bauhinia Star (GBS) in 2002. This award was issued by the Special Administrative Region(SAR) during its fifth-anniversary celebrations.
According to annual polls conducted by the University of Hong Kong under the Public Opinion Programme, Tsang emerged as the most popular councillor. In all the years he was a Legislative Council member between 2004 to 2016, votes favoured him as the most popular council member every year.
His political life faced stumbling blocks as well. In 2017, he declared his participation in the election of Chief Executive but his ambition didn’t materialise.
4. Carrie Lam
Carrie Lam Photo-Wikimedia
Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-Ngor was born on 13 May 1957, in Hong Kong. She was an active student activist at the University of Hong Kong during her studies.
She began her career life in 1980 as civil service personnel. Her political popularity started when she held the office of Secretary for Development. During the time she was nicknamed a “tough fighter”.
The peak of her political journey came in 2017 when she was elected Chief Executive of Hong Kong. She was the fourth to occupy the office but the first female to hold the position in Hong Kong. She has also chaired the Committee for Safeguarding National Security.
5. Andrew Leung
Andrew Leung, Photo by Iris Tong-Wikimedia
This Hong Kong politician was born on February 25, 1951. He went to the University of Leeds after which he joined their family business until 1970. He left to nurture the Sun Hing Knitting Factory and he was its founder and first chairperson.
He was Legco (Legislative Council of Hong Kong) President between 2012 and 2016. Leung rose to chair the Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong (BPA) party. This party in the Legco prides being the second largest.
6. Audrey Eu
Audrey Eu Photo by Iris Tong-Wikimedia
This female politician was born in Hong Kong on September 11, 1953. She is a law major with a bachelor of law from the University of Hong Kong and a master’s in the same from the London School of Economics.
In Hong Kong politics her fame is a result of her fight for the Basic Law amendments and enforcement. Eu is popular for founding the Civic party in 2005 and was a member of the LegCo.
7. Albert Chan
Albert Chan speaking at a protest-Wikimedia
He is a native Hong Kong politician born on March 3, 1955. He was elected to the Legislative Council of Hong Kong and re-elected to the council seven times starting 1991 until 2016.
He then stepped out of the competition to allow young politicians to take over. Though between 1997 and 2000 Chan didn’t take part in political races. He partnered with Wong Yuk-man to form the People Power, one of the pro-democracy parties in 2011.
8. Andrew Cheng
Andrew Cheng Kar-foo Photo-Wikimedia
This famous Hong Kong politician was born in the same region on April 28, 1960.
Cheng was in the Legislative Council of Hong Kong representing the geographical constituency of the New Territories.
9. Alan Leong
Alan Leong at a press conference on parallel trading in Hong Kong, Photo by Iris Tong-Wikimedia
Leong is a notable Hong Kong politician born in 1958 on 22nd February. His educational background is in Law with a Bachelor of Law from the University of Hong Kong. He has a master’s of law from Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge.
His political highlights in Hong Kong are Hong Kong Bar Association chairperson between 2001 to 2003. Leong became the chairperson of the Civil Party in 2011. Though he lost to Donald Tsang he gained support from other parties popularizing his career.
10. Starry Lee
Starry Lee Photo by Iris Tong-Wikimedia
The politician was born in Hong Kong on March 13, 1974. She is an accountant and a graduate of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Also an MBA graduate from the University of Manchester.
As early as 26 years, Lee was already in the political arena. She was the youngest district councillor in her time after winning the 1999 elections for the position in Kowloon.
Lee advanced her political career and became a Legislative Councillor for the geographical constituency of Kowloon Central. Later she served as an Executive Council member from 2012 to 2016.
She has been chair of the DAB-Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of the Hong Kong party. A leading establishment in Hong Kong’s political arena.
Here are a few other Hong Kong politicians that missed out on the listing yet have great political fame in the area. Lo Wai-Kwok has served as the Engineering constituency representative in the LegCo. He has chaired the Alliance for Hong Kong (BPA) party.
Margaret Chan is another example. She has been Director-General of the WHO(World Health Organization). Forbes ranking of 2014 on the world’s powerful women, she secured position 30 on the list.
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