Edward Yau

Edward Yau Tang-wah, GBS, JP (Chinese: 邱騰華; born 28 April 1960, Hong Kong) is the current Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of Hong Kong. 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.

The Honourable Edward Yau Tang-wah GBS JP
邱騰華
Edward Yau introducing the plastic levy in 2009
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 July 2017
Chief Executive	Carrie Lam
Preceded by	Gregory So
Director, Office of the Chief Executive
In office 1 July 2012 – 30 June 2017
Chief Executive	Leung Chun-ying
Preceded by	Gabriel Leung
Succeeded by	Eric Chan
Secretary for the Environment
In office 1 July 2007 – 30 June 2012
Chief Executive	Sir Donald Tsang
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Wong Kam-sing
Director of the Information Services
In office 2006–2007
Preceded by	Yvonne Choi
Succeeded by	Fung Ching Suk-yee
Personal details
Born	28 April 1960 British Hong Kong
Alma mater	University of Hong Kong Oxford University Harvard University

Edward Yau
Traditional Chinese	邱騰華
Simplified Chinese	邱腾华
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Qiū Ténghuá Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Yāu Tàhng wàh Jyutping Jau^1 Tang^4 waa^4

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 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.[1]

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.[2] 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.[3]

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.[4]

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 formally demands US drop 'Made-in-China' labelling requirement". South China Morning Post. 16 September 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
2. 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.
3. "'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.
4. "RTHK should respond in a responsible manner over wrongdoings: Edward Yau". The Standard.

External links

• Mr Edward Yau Tang-wah biodata