Chung Sze Yuen
Encyclopedia
Sir Sze-yuen Chung, GBE
, GBM
' onMouseout='HidePop("25992")' href="/topics/Hong_Kong">Hong Kong
) is a mechanical engineer, industrialist, business executive and politician
in Hong Kong
. He succeeded Sir Yuet Keung Kan
, as the Senior Unofficial Member of the Legislative Council
and Executive Council
in 1980 and served in the latter body until his first retirement from politics in 1988.
He once again became influential in Hong Kong politics when Tung Chee Hwa
assumed the office of the Chief Executive of Hong Kong
, when he was invited by Tung as the convenor of the non-official members of the Executive Council
, from which he retired on 15 June 1999.
and studied civil engineering
at Saint John's University, Shanghai
. In 1939, he married Cheung Yung Hing in Jiangxi
.
Due to the spread of Second Sino-Japanese War
, Chung had to return to Hong Kong in 1941 before his undergraduate degree could be completed. He continued his study in mechanical engineering
at the University of Hong Kong and graduated. After graduation, he worked as a mechanical engineer for Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock
. In 1948, he was awarded a scholarship
from University of Sheffield
, England
. Three years later he earned his doctoral degree.
Chung returned to Hong Kong in 1951 and worked as mechanical engineer in a manufacturing firm for 1 year. In 1951, he established his own firm Chung Sze Yuen
Engineering.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, GBM
Grand Bauhinia Medal
The Grand Bauhinia Medal the highest award under the Hong Kong honours and awards system, is to recognise the selected person's lifelong and highly significant contribution to the well-being of Hong Kong. The awardee is entitled to the postnominal letters GBM and the style "The Honorable"...
' onMouseout='HidePop("25992")' href="/topics/Hong_Kong">Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
) is a mechanical engineer, industrialist, business executive and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. He succeeded Sir Yuet Keung Kan
Yuet Keung Kan
Sir Yuet-keung Kan, GBE, Kt, JP is a retired Hong Kong banker, politician and lawyer who was successively appointed Senior Unofficial Member of the Legislative Council and Executive Council in the 1960s and 1970s...
, as the Senior Unofficial Member of the Legislative Council
Legislative Council of Hong Kong
The Legislative Council is the unicameral legislature of Hong Kong.-History:The Legislative Council of Hong Kong was set up in 1843 as a colonial legislature under British rule...
and Executive Council
Executive Council of Hong Kong
The Executive Council of Hong Kong is a core policy-making organ in the executive branch of the government of Hong Kong.. The Chief Executive of Hong Kong serves as its President.The Executive Council normally meets once a week...
in 1980 and served in the latter body until his first retirement from politics in 1988.
He once again became influential in Hong Kong politics when Tung Chee Hwa
Tung Chee Hwa
Tung Chee Hwa, GBM was the first Chief Executive and President of the Executive Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China....
assumed the office of the Chief Executive of Hong Kong
Chief Executive of Hong Kong
The Chief Executive of Hong Kong is the President of the Executive Council of Hong Kong and head of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The position was created to replace the Governor of Hong Kong, who was the head of the Hong Kong government during British rule...
, when he was invited by Tung as the convenor of the non-official members of the Executive Council
Executive Council of Hong Kong
The Executive Council of Hong Kong is a core policy-making organ in the executive branch of the government of Hong Kong.. The Chief Executive of Hong Kong serves as its President.The Executive Council normally meets once a week...
, from which he retired on 15 June 1999.
Early life
Chung was born in 1917 to a middle class family in Hong Kong. In 1936, he went to ShanghaiShanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
and studied civil engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
at Saint John's University, Shanghai
Saint John's University, Shanghai
St. John's University was an Anglican university located in Shanghai, China. Before the Chinese Civil War it was regarded as one of the most prestigious universities in Shanghai and China...
. In 1939, he married Cheung Yung Hing in Jiangxi
Jiangxi
' is a southern province in the People's Republic of China. Spanning from the banks of the Yangtze River in the north into hillier areas in the south, it shares a border with Anhui to the north, Zhejiang to the northeast, Fujian to the east, Guangdong to the south, Hunan to the west, and Hubei to...
.
Due to the spread of Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
, Chung had to return to Hong Kong in 1941 before his undergraduate degree could be completed. He continued his study in mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
at the University of Hong Kong and graduated. After graduation, he worked as a mechanical engineer for Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock
Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock
Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock was a Hong Kong dockyard once among the largest dockyards in Asia. Founded in 1863 by Douglas Lapraik and Thomas Sutherland, the Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock Company...
. In 1948, he was awarded a scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
from University of Sheffield
University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield is a research university based in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It is one of the original 'red brick' universities and is a member of the Russell Group of leading research intensive universities...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Three years later he earned his doctoral degree.
Chung returned to Hong Kong in 1951 and worked as mechanical engineer in a manufacturing firm for 1 year. In 1951, he established his own firm Chung Sze Yuen
Engineering.
Honours
- Knight BachelorKnight BachelorThe rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
(1978) - Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(1989)