Eunice Yung

Eunice Yung Hoi-yan (Chinese: 容海恩; born 7 June 1977) is a Hong Kong barrister and pro-Beijing politician. She is a member of the New People's Party (NPP) and the Civil Force (CF). She became member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong for New Territories East in 2016.

The Honourable Eunice Yung Hoi-yan
容海恩
Member of the Legislative Council
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 October 2016
Preceded by	James Tien
Constituency	New Territories East
Personal details
Born	7 June 1977 Hong Kong
Political party	New People's Party (2016–present)
Other political affiliations	Civil Force
Spouse(s)	Derek Yuen ​ (m. 2018)​
Children	1
Parents	Yung Yan-biu
Alma mater	St. Francis' Canossian College Rosaryhill School University of British Columbia City University of Hong Kong
Profession	Barrister
Website	euniceyung.hk

Early life

Yung was born in Hong Kong in 1977 and was educated at St. Francis' Canossian College and Rosaryhill School. She went on to study computer science at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and graduated in 2001. Unsuccessful in her bid to begin her chosen career as a gaming programmer,[1] she stayed on as a research assistant and helped develop a journal research programme at UBC. After she returned to Hong Kong in the summer of 2003, she studied law at the City University of Hong Kong and qualified as a barrister in 2008.[2]

Political career

Yung became a volunteer legal consultant of the New Home Association, a pro-Beijing non-governmental organisation that helps mainland Chinese immigrants and ethnic minorities integrate into Hong Kong society. She was also founding member of the Hong Kong Professionals and Senior Executives Association, a pro-Beijing professionals' association where she broadened her social circle by meeting with political and business figures.[2] In 2015, she founded the Youth and Professional Network to help young people with start-ups.[3]

Yung joined Civil Force (CF), a pro-Beijing Sha Tin-based political group that formed an alliance with the New People's Party (NPP) in February 2014, effecting the expansion of Regina Ip's party from Hong Kong Island to New Territories East.[2]

In 2016, Yung became the NPP–CF candidate in the Legislative Council election, leading a seven-member ticket in New Territories East and won a seat with 36,183 votes.

Political views

In securing her Legislative Council seat, Yung is widely considered to have received support from the central government's liaison office based in Sai Wan, with which she has confessed a "working relationship", earning her the nickname, "Goddaughter of Sai Wan".[1] She is best known for her interest in the promotion of e-sports and her statement that "there should not be too much politics inside or outside of the legislature". She considers Regina Ip her political mentor.[1]

In May 2018, Eunice Yung caused controversy by stating that domestic workers in Hong Kong often gather in large groups in public areas, thus they affect the hygiene and daily lives of other members of the public and nearby shops. She suggested the government should segregate them by providing additional activity centres for them. Several groups representing Hong Kong’s domestic workers including The International Migrants Alliance, Asian Migrants Coordinating Body and Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions condemned the remarks as racist against migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong, saying it contributed to discrimination against ethnic minorities.[4][5] A few days later, around 150 people from the same groups held a protest outside the New People's Party Headquarters calling Yung to retract her remarks and apologise. Yung met with the protesters briefly and apologised for her remarks causing 'disrespect'.[6]

In February 2021, Yung voiced concerns that the 2019-20 Hong Kong protests had protestors who were recruited with drugs, a claim that police commissioner Chris Tang said there was no evidence for.[7]

Personal life

Yung is an avid gamer, describing herself as a "tech girl".[1]

Yung married Derek Yuen Mi-chang, the policy director of New People's Party, in August 2018. Mimi and Erica Yuen, executive directors of Mi Ming Mart, are Yung's sisters-in-law. Erica is also the former chairwoman of People Power, a pro-democracy political party and a candidate for the 2016 Legislative Council election.

In September 2018, she announced that she was four-month pregnancy. Her daughter was born 23 January 2019, making Yung the first sitting Hong Kong legislator to give birth.[8][9]

References

1. Cheng, Kris. "Interview: 'Tech girl' lawmaker Eunice Yung finding a foothold in Hong Kong's political world". Hong Kong Free Press. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
2. "Political Risers: Eunice Yung, a programmer turns to politics". Harbour Times. 15 June 2016.
3. "How the Mong Kok riot shocked a rising Hong Kong political star into action". South China Morning Post. 20 July 2016.
4. https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/05/24/group-slams-lawmaker-saying-hygiene-issues-arise-domestic-workers-public-gatherings/
5. http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/community/article/2147803/hong-kongs-foreign-domestic-workers-plan-protest-march-over
6. http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2148011/lawmakers-brief-apology-hong-kongs-domestic-workers-just-not
7. "Hong Kong protesters acted like they were on drugs, police chief says ｜ Apple Daily". Apple Daily 蘋果日報 (in Chinese). Retrieved 2021-02-03.
8. "First sitting Hong Kong legislator to give birth wants to vote during maternity leave". South China Morning Post. 14 September 2018.
9. "First-ever Hong Kong legislator to give birth in office, Eunice Yung celebrates birth of baby girl". South China Morning Post. 23 January 2019.