Erick Tsang

Erick Tsang Kwok-wai IDSM (Chinese: 曾國衞; born 1 September 1963) is a Hong Kong government official. Since 2020, he has been Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, one of the principal officials of Hong Kong. Prior to that, he was Director of Immigration.

Not to be confused with Eric Tsang.
In this Hong Kong name, the surname is Tsang. In accordance with Hong Kong custom, their Western-style name is Erick Tsang and their Chinese-style name is Tsang Kwok-wai.

Erick Tsang Kwok-wai

IDSM
曾國衞
Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs
Assumed office
22 April 2020
Chief ExecutiveCarrie Lam
Preceded byPatrick Nip
Director of Immigration
In office
5 April 2016 – 22 April 2020
Preceded byEric Chan
Succeeded byAu Ka-wang
Personal details
Born (1963-09-01) 1 September 1963
Hong Kong
Alma materNew Asia College, CUHK (BSS)
Erick Tsang Kwok-wai
Traditional Chinese曾國衞
Simplified Chinese曾国衞

Biography

Tsang joined the Immigration Department in 1987 and rose through the ranks to Principal Immigration Officer in 2009. He was Assistant Secretary for Security from 2003 to 2006. In 2012, he became Assistant Director of Immigration and then in 2014, Deputy Director of Immigration. In April 2016, he was appointed Director of Immigration.[1]

In April 2020, State Council of the People's Republic of China appointed Tsang Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs,[2] replacing Patrick Nip, days after the department had failed to reflect Beijing's controversially changed position on the status of the Liaison Office under Hong Kong's Basic Law.[3][4] He also drew criticism for a prominently positioned photograph of Chinese Communist Party general secretary Xi Jinping in his office.[5]

In August 2020, Tsang and ten other officials were sanctioned by the United States Department of the Treasury under Executive Order 13936 by President Trump for undermining Hong Kong's autonomy.[6][7][8]

On October 14, 2020, the United States Department of State released a report on 10 individuals who materially contributed to the failure of the China to meet its obligations under the Sino–British Joint Declaration and Hong Kong's Basic Law. Tsang was on the list. [9]

In September 2020, when pro-democracy organizers planned to hold primaries for the 2020 Legislative Council, Tsang said that candidates could be in breach of the National Security Law.[10]

On 25 November 2020, Tsang was spotted sleeping during Chief Executive Carrie Lam's annual Policy Address. At a press conference two days later, Tsang claimed that medication he took caused the drowsiness.[11]

In January 2021, Tsang commented on forcing district councillors to take an oath to pledge loyalty to the government, and said that under the National Security Law, this would be required.[12] After the arrest of 53 pro-democracy figures in January 2021, Tsang said that they had to pay the price for "crossing the red line" by organizing primaries for the Legislative Council.[13]

Personal life

In April 2019, Tsang's wife Louise Ho became the Deputy Commissioner of Customs and Excise of Hong Kong.[14]

References
  1. "Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, IDSM, Director of Immigration".
  2. "Government announces appointment and removal of Principal Officials (with photos)". Hong Kong Government. 20 April 2020.
  3. Ho, Kelly (21 April 2020). "Mainland affairs minister Patrick Nip replaced following apology over Beijing office row". Hong Kong Free Press. HKFP. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  4. Cheung, Gary (21 April 2020). "Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam to announce major cabinet reshuffle with four ministers leaving and another transferred, sources reveal". SCMP. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  5. Lung, Natalie (22 April 2020). "Hong Kong Leader Carrie Lam Replaces Five Ministers in Cabinet Reshuffle". Hong Kong Free Press. HKFP. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  6. "US sanctions Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam, police chief and 9 other top officials for 'undermining autonomy'". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  7. Macias, Amanda (7 August 2020). "U.S. sanctions Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam for carrying out Chinese 'policies of suppression'". CNBC. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  8. "Treasury Sanctions Individuals for Undermining Hong Kong's Autonomy". United States Department of the Treasury. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  9. U.S. Department of State. "Identification of Foreign Persons Involved in the Erosion of the Obligations of China Under the Joint Declaration or the Basic Law". Archived from the original on 14 October 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  10. "Hong Kong national security law: 53 held for subversion in biggest crackdown yet". South China Morning Post. 6 January 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  11. Kong, Dimsumdaily Hong (27 November 2020). "Erick Tsang elaborates on electronic and overseas voting". Dimsum Daily. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  12. Kong, Dimsumdaily Hong (5 January 2021). "District councillors may be required to take oath to uphold the Basic Law of HK". Dimsum Daily. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  13. "'Pan-dems have to pay for crossing red line' - RTHK". news.rthk.hk. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  14. "Congratulations to our alumna Ms HO Pui Shan Louise, C.M.S.M, for becoming the Deputy Commissioner of Customs and Excise. | 英華女校校友會YWGSAA". www.ywgsaa.org.hk.
Government offices
Preceded by
Eric Chan		 Director of Immigration
2016–2020		 Succeeded by
Au Ka-wang
Political offices
Preceded by
Patrick Nip		 Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs
2020–present		 Incumbent
Order of precedence
Previous:
Alfred Sit
Member of the Executive Council		 Hong Kong order of precedence
Member of the Executive Council		 Next:
Caspar Tsui
Member of the Executive Council
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