Donald Tsang Yam Kuen

By Cheung Chi Yeung S6S

Mr. .Tsang was well-known for his habit of wearing a bow tie. That’s why he was nick named ‘Bow-Tie Tsang’. He has been a civil servant for more than 30 years and has been the Chief executive of Hong Kong since 2005.

I think no one will believe that Mr. Tsang was once a salesman at Pfizer Corporation. His early life was not easy. He was born in 7^th October, 1994. His father was a police officer. I think it encouraged Mr. Tsang to become a civil servant. After he completed his secondary education at Wah Yan College in1964, he worked as a salesman. Luckily, he soon joined the government. At the beginning of the 1980s, he was given a chance to study in the United State and then he completed a Master of Public Administration at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. I think it was a great chance for him and it gave him qualification and knowledge to work in the higher position in the government. During the 1980s and 1990s, he worded as a Deputy Secretary of the General Duties Branch, and then the Director-General of Trade and finally the Secretary for the treasury. He was reaching the highest position in the government. At the September of 1995, he became the Financial Secretary and he was the first Chinese person who held that position.

During his term as Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary, Hong Kong’s public spends reached the top. Also, the Public expenditure to GDP rose to as high as 23%. From these, we can see that Mr. Tsang = was really good at politicisation and was a brilliant official. Moreover, when the Asian financial crisis came in 1997-1998, he worked with Joesph Yam, the chief executive of HK Monetary Authority and protected th Hong Kong currency peg from speculators’ attacks. I think that’s the greatest success in his life. He showed his providence, bravery and determination. Not every one can do it at that critical moment. Because of these, success, he gain many supports. During the Chief Executive election campaign, he received a lot of votes which was three times more than that of Tung Chee Hwa’s. Finally, he became the Chief Executive of Hong Kong. As Hong Kong’s Chief executive now, he meets a number of thorny problems like food safety about H5N1, Political reform and GST but his support rate remains high. It shows that he can deal with these problems well.

In conclusion, I think Mr. Tsang has made a miracle , a salesman can be the Hong Kong’s Chief Executive. His struggle is the thing that I appreciate most. I think he is the greatest politician in Hong Kong.

6S(3) Cheung Chi Yeung

Back to Main Page .......................Back to S6S Writing index