Algernon Yau
Algernon Yau | |
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![]() Yau in 2023 | |
Secretary for Commerce and Economic DevelopmentinHong Kong | |
Assumed office 1 July 2022 | |
Appointed by | John Lee |
Personal details | |
Born | 1959 (age 64–65) |
Relatives | Qiu Fengjia(grandfather) |
Education | Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University |
Algernon Yau Ying-wah | |||||||||||
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Traditional Chinese | Khâu ứng hoa | ||||||||||
Simplified Chinese | Khâu ứng hoa | ||||||||||
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Algernon Yau Ying-wahJP(Chinese:Khâu ứng hoa;born 1959) is the currentSecretary for Commerce and Economic DevelopmentinHong Kong,appointed on 1 July 2022 as part ofJohn Lee's administration.[1]
Biography
[edit]Yau is the grandson of lateQingTaiwanese HakkapatriotQiu Fengjia.[2]Yau studied at theRoyal Melbourne Institute of Technology University.[1]
In his professional life, he was CEO ofCathay Dragon,before becoming CEO ofGreater Bay Airlines.[1]
On 1 July 2022, he was appointed as theSecretary for Commerce and Economic Development.[1]
In September 2022, Yau said he was confident that the November 2022Global Financial Leaders' Investment Summitin Hong Kong would be successful; top financial executives who were invited made quarantine-free travel to the city a mandatory precondition.[3]
In December 2022, Yau said the number of international companies in Hong Kong had fallen to below 9,000 for the first time since 2019, with a further 3% surveyed planning to relocate, and another 16% uncertain about their plans.[4]
In September 2023, Yau said that foreign companies that left during COVID-19 "have all returned" to Hong Kong.[5]
In December 2023, Yau appealed to the US government to stop a proposed bill that would stripHKETOoffices in the US of special privileges.[6]
National Security Law
[edit]In September 2022, Yau said it was important to tell the Hong Kong story accurately, and said that some news reports were inaccurate on Hong Kong's freedoms after theNational Security Lawwas passed.[3]
COVID-19
[edit]In September 2022, in response to Hong Kong and quarantine-free travel, Yau claimed that the government uses a pragmatic approach and will make a science-based decision.[7]
Made in China
[edit]In December 2022, the WTO had ruled that the United States is in breach of international trade rules by requiring all products made in Hong Kong to be marked as "Made in China".Yau criticised the US ban hours after the WTO ruling, and stated of the US actions that it was" politically motivated and a vain attempt to interfere with Hong Kong's internal affairs through weaponizing trade. "[8][9]Yau asserted that Hong Kong sends only a tiny portion of its exports to the US and so "the value of the trade is not the point." He said that the move by the United States had "confused" customers and that his "government's successful challenge to a US ban on the 'Made in Hong Kong' label is a matter of upholding the SAR's separate status in the World Trade Organisation."[10]
Personal life
[edit]In August 2022, he tested positive for COVID-19.[11]In December 2022, a family member tested positive for COVID-19, and Yau underwent home quarantine.[12]
References
[edit]- ^abcdGovHK ( gov.hk)."GovHK: Mr Algernon Yau, JP, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development".gov.hk.Retrieved2022-08-26.
- ^"Tân gánh hát bộc lộ quan điểm | chỉ định thương kinh cục cục trưởng khâu ứng hoa tổ phụ vì thanh mạt trứ danh thi nhân khâu phùng giáp".Đầu đề nhật báo Headline Daily(in Chinese). 19 June 2022.
- ^ab"HK financial summit will be successful: Algernon Yau - RTHK".news.rthk.hk.Retrieved2022-09-10.
- ^"On recovery, John Lee must beware of overpromising and underdelivering".South China Morning Post.2023-01-14.Retrieved2023-01-16.
- ^Chan, Irene (2023-09-18)."Foreign capital showing confidence in Hong Kong, commerce chief says, as 272 companies set up in city".Hong Kong Free Press HKFP.Retrieved2023-09-18.
- ^"Hong Kong minister urges US against stripping trade offices of special privileges".South China Morning Post.2023-12-02.Retrieved2023-12-04.
- ^"I'll tell the good stories of HK during visit: Yau - RTHK".news.rthk.hk.Retrieved2022-09-15.
- ^"Govt welcomes WTO ruling on origin marking dispute - RTHK".news.rthk.hk.Retrieved2022-12-22.
- ^"Hong Kong officials, exporters urge US to respect WTO 'Made in China' ruling".South China Morning Post.2022-12-22.Retrieved2022-12-25.
- ^"'Made in HK' label fight upholds SAR's status: govt - RTHK ".news.rthk.hk.Retrieved2022-12-22.
- ^Standard, The."Two top govt officials contract Covid-19".The Standard.Retrieved2022-08-26.
- ^Grundy, Tom (2022-12-08)."Ex-Hong Kong leader CY Leung isolating after contracting Covid-19".Hong Kong Free Press HKFP.Retrieved2022-12-08.