Edward Yau Tang-wah
GBS JP
邱騰華
Edward Yau introducing the plastic levy in 2009
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development
In office
1 July 2017 – 30 June 2022
Chief ExecutiveCarrie Lam
Preceded byGregory So
Succeeded byAlgernon Yau
Director, Office of the Chief Executive
In office
1 July 2012 – 30 June 2017
Chief ExecutiveLeung Chun-ying
Preceded byGabriel Leung
Succeeded byEric Chan
Secretary for the Environment
In office
1 July 2007 – 30 June 2012
Chief ExecutiveSir Donald Tsang
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byWong Kam-sing
Director of the Information Services
In office
2006–2007
Preceded byYvonne Choi
Succeeded byFung Ching Suk-yee
Personal details
Born (1960-04-28) 28 April 1960
British Hong Kong
Alma materUniversity of Hong Kong
Oxford University
Harvard University
Edward Yau
Traditional Chinese邱騰華
Simplified Chinese邱腾华

Edward Yau Tang-wah, GBS, JP (Chinese: 邱騰華; born 28 April 1960, Hong Kong) is a Hong Kong politician. He was the Secretary for the Environment from 2007 to 2012, and from 2012 to 2017, he was the Director of the Chief Executive's Office of Hong Kong. He served as Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development from 2017 to 2022.

Career

Yau joined the Administrative Service in August 1981 and earned more than 30 years of public administration experience. During his years as a civil servant, he was Deputy Director-General of Trade (later renamed Deputy Director-General of Trade and Industry), Director-General of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Washington, and Deputy Secretary for Education and Manpower, and Director of Information Services.

Yau was the Secretary for the Environment from 2007 to 2012. His responsibilities covered environmental protection, energy, and sustainable development. Nature conservation was also one of his main tasks and with his efforts, he established the Hong Kong Geopark which showcases the unique geological features in northeast Hong Kong. The Park obtained the UNESCO Global Geopark status in 2011.

From 2012 to 2017, he was the Director of the Chief Executive's Office of Hong Kong, and his responsibilities were to assist the Chief Executive in formulating policies and setting policy goals and priorities; and to maintain close contacts with Executive and Legislative Councillors, political parties as well as the public sector to enlist their support for Government work.

In 2020, after RTHK journalist Yvonne Tong asked WHO assistant director-general Bruce Aylward about the status of Taiwan, Yau claimed that the show had violated the "One China" principle.[1]

In September 2020, after the United States required that goods made in Hong Kong be labelled as "Made in China," Yau filed a complaint to the United States, stating that such a rule was unreasonable.[2]

In January 2021, Yau said that a policy to require SIM card registration, where users of SIM cards would need to link their IDs, was necessary.[3] In response, some sellers of pre-paid SIM cards said that they might lose their business, and that it would not prevent criminal activity, as criminals could use SIM cards from overseas.[4] In May 2023, the government revealed that phone scams increased by 76% from the first quarter of 2022 to the first quarter of 2023.[5]

In February 2021, Yau said that his bureau was investigating complaints into RTHK and that he had requested RTHK to conduct a thorough review of its programming.[6] Following a report that said RTHK had "serious inadequacies" that required changes, Yau claimed that the government was not trying to weaken RTHK's editorial independence.[7] In March 2021, after two people asked why some episodes on RTHK had been axed, Yau defended the decisions and said "There is no need for the public to discuss whether a programme should be screened or not."[8]

In July 2021, Yau dismissed claims that the National Security Law would affect the city's creative freedom.[9] In August 2021, Yau announced the introduction of a new film censorship law with punishments of up to three years in jail and fines of up to HK$1 million ($128,000) for anyone screening films containing material in violation of the new law.[10] Yau claimed that the law would not compromise freedom of speech.[11]

In August 2021, Yau defended his decision to allow Nicole Kidman to skip quarantine when flying from Australia to Hong Kong, when others, including residents of Hong Kong, must undergo hotel quarantine.[12] Athletes representing Hong Kong also must quarantine.[13] Yau later during a TV interview claimed that Kidman's trip to a clothing store could have been part of a "costume fitting".[14]

Education

Edward Yau graduated from the University of Hong Kong in 1981, and received further education at Oxford University and Harvard University.

References

  1. ↑ "Hong Kong journalist who challenged WHO official quits RTHK - sources". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. 13 April 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  2. ↑ "Hong Kong formally demands US drop 'Made-in-China' labelling requirement". South China Morning Post. 16 September 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  3. ↑ Candice Chau (29 January 2021). "Minister says Hong Kong SIM card ID registration plan will thwart crime, but expert says workarounds possible". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  4. ↑ "'This will be the end of our industry': Hong Kong registration plan may kill off pre-paid SIM card business, retailers say". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. 3 February 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  5. ↑ Cheng, Mandy. "Hong Kong sees overall crime rise by almost 50% in first quarter of 2023 - fraud and violent crime up - Hong Kong Free Press HKFP". hongkongfp.com. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  6. ↑ "RTHK should respond in a responsible manner over wrongdoings: Edward Yau". The Standard. Archived from the original on 3 February 2021.
  7. ↑ "RTHK told to address its 'serious inadequacies' - RTHK". news.rthk.hk. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  8. ↑ "New RTHK boss confirms he axed several episodes of shows over lack of balance". South China Morning Post. 16 March 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  9. ↑ "National security law: Hong Kong commerce chief dismisses lawmakers' calls to censor online films". South China Morning Post. 12 July 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  10. ↑ "Illegal Film Screenings to Be Punished With Three-Year Jail Terms Under Hong Kong Censorship Law". Variety. 24 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  11. ↑ "Edward Yau: security law protects free speech - RTHK". news.rthk.hk. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  12. ↑ "Official defends Nicole Kidman's quarantine-free deal in Hong Kong". South China Morning Post. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  13. ↑ "Hong Kong trail runner hit by quarantine changes, coach blasts government". South China Morning Post. 25 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  14. ↑ "Nicole Kidman's shopping trip could have been 'costume fitting,' claims Hong Kong minister after star skips Covid quarantine". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. 23 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
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