Michael Yeung

Yeung Ming-cheung was born in Shanghai in 1945. He completed his primary and secondary schooling and began working for an import-export company in Hong Kong. In 1972 at the age of 26 he entered the Pontifical Urban University to study theology and philosophy and graduated in 1978.

He was ordained a priest for the diocese of Hong Kong on 10 June 1978.

After his ordination he took a variety of pastoral and administrative roles. From 1978 to 1980 he was vicar in Ha Kwai Chung District, New Territories; from 1980 to 1982 he earned an MA in social communications from Syracuse University in the United States. In 1982 he returned to Hong Kong and was appointed director of the office of Social Communications for the diocese. He held this post until 1986.[2]

Subsequently, he was appointed as parish priest of Our Lady of Lourdes parish, where he served until 1989 when he was appointed chaplain at Yu C.K. Memorial College. He returned to the United States to study at Harvard University where in 1990 he earned a Master's in Education (Ed.M.). He returned to Hong Kong in 1990 and held the post of director of the office of education until 2013. He was the head of Caritas Hong Kong and was appointed vicar general of the diocese in 2009.[3] He was later appointed a member of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum.[2]

On 11 July 2014, Pope Francis appointed him Titular Bishop of Mons in Numidia and named him one of three Auxiliary Bishops of Hong Kong along with Joseph Ha Chi-shing, O.F.M. and Stephen Lee Bun-sang. Consecrated on 30 August 2014, Yeung became the coadjutor bishop of the diocese on 13 November 2016,[4] and succeeded Cardinal John Tong Hon as the Bishop of Hong Kong on 1 August 2017.[5]

On 27 June 2018, AsiaNews reported that Yeung had tendered his resignation to Pope Francis in order to dedicate himself to Caritas.[6] However it was later reported as a misunderstanding since he merely informed the press of his future retirement plans not his actual retirement.[7]

He received two honorary doctorates: one in Social Science from the Open University of Hong Kong, and another one from the Australian Catholic University.[3]

Yeung reportedly tripped over his alb and injured himself when stepping upstairs before celebrating a Mass in December 2018.[8] He made his last public appearance when he celebrated the Christmas Eve Midnight Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception the same month. Beginning 27 December 2018, Yeung underwent treatment for liver failure brought on by cirrhosis at the Canossa Hospital.[9] He died at 1:30pm (Hong Kong time) on 3 January 2019 from the illness.[10][11][12]

Following Yeung's death, the sole auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing became in charge of administering the diocese. Before the board of consultors could elect a diocesan administrator, Cardinal Tong was appointed apostolic administrator to be the acting head of the diocese until an appointment of a new bishop by the Roman Curia, in accordance with the church's Canon law.[9]

Throughout his career as a Catholic clergyman, Yeung was at the center of various controversies.

Yeung was criticized for comparing participants of the 2014 Hong Kong protests, as well as homosexuals, to those who use drugs.[13][14]

Yeung's close ties with Carrie Lam, the 5th Chief Executive of Hong Kong, were also a source of controversy. Yeung said Lam is a Catholic, and he had good ties with Lam for years. Yeung also said he knew Lam on a professional level, during her time as the Director of the Social Welfare Department, and that he has no reasons to reject her, and sever ties.[15][16] Yeung's cosy ties with the rich and powerful in Hong Kong has also been a source of criticism.[14]

Yeung was also criticized for allegedly defending mainland Chinese authorities during a news conference over controversies concerning the removal of crucifixes from church buildings or demolition of churches.[17][18] He also said that, since China has regulations on religion, he will respect their rules.[19]