James Tien
Encyclopedia
James Tien Pei-chun GBS
OBE
JP
(born 8 January 1947 in Shanghai
) is the former Chairman of the Liberal Party
(LP), a pro-business and pro-Beijing political party
in Hong Kong
, and former member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong
(LegCo). He was also a member of the District Council of Hong Kong
in the Central and Western district
. Professionally, he is a hugely wealthy garment merchant in Hong Kong, but his companies also invest in property and land development.
His equally wealthy younger brother Michael Tien
is also a businessman. He owns the fashion chain G2000
and is a former chairman of Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation
.
Tien was a member of LegCo from 1983, and was the Chairman of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce
, an influential business organization in Hong Kong. He became the Chairman of the LP after the resignation of its former and founding Chairman, Allen Lee Peng Fei
, in December 1998.
Tien currently serves as a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
, and general committee member of both the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and Federation of Hong Kong Industries.
Tien joined the Executive Council
, the cabinet of the Chief Executive of Hong Kong
, in July 2002 as the Chairman of LP, following the reorganization of the Council under the new accountability system of the Chief Executive. However, barely after 1 year, Tien announced his resignation from the Executive Council on 6 July 2003, after his calls to delay the controversial legislation on Article 23
of the Basic Law
were rejected. His resignation caused the eventual withdrawal of the legislation and break-up of the "ruling alliance" of the Chief Executive, while his popularity and that of LP surged.
Until 2004, Tien held the seat of Commercial (First) Functional Constituency
in LegCo, representing the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce's ≈4,000 members. Tien ran for a seat in the geographical constituency of New Territories
East in the Hong Kong Legislative Council election, 2004 and succeeded.
In 2005, the announcement that his ally Henry Tang had dropped out of the race was another upsetting piece of news about his party's political future. He initially said that he may join the Chief Executive Election, but has since chosen not to run as a candidate.
Tien lost his seat in the 2008 Legco election, when the Liberal Party lost all its Geographical Constituency members, and subsequently announced that he would not participate further in future Legco elections. He also resigned as leader of the Liberal Party.
Hong Kong honours system
The existing Hong Kong honours system was created after transfer of government of Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China as a special administrative region in 1997...
OBE
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...
JP
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(born 8 January 1947 in Shanghai
Shanghai
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...
) is the former Chairman of the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (Hong Kong)
Liberal Party is a business-friendly liberal conservative political party in Hong Kong.-Party beliefs:The party is known for its conservative and business-friendly policies. Despite being a political party friendly with Beijing, it fits in the centre-right political spectrum...
(LP), a pro-business and pro-Beijing political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
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...
, and former member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong
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...
(LegCo). He was also a member of the District Council of Hong Kong
District Council of Hong Kong
The District Councils, formerly District Boards until 1999, are the local councils for the 18 Districts of Hong Kong. Under the supervision of Home Affairs Bureau of the Hong Kong Government, they are consultative bodies on district administration and affairs.- History :In 1982, under the...
in the Central and Western district
Central and Western District
The Central and Western District located on northern part of Hong Kong Island is one of the 18 administrative districts of Hong Kong. It had a population of 261,884 in 2001...
. Professionally, he is a hugely wealthy garment merchant in Hong Kong, but his companies also invest in property and land development.
His equally wealthy younger brother Michael Tien
Michael Tien
Michael Puk Sun Tien is deputy chairman of New People's Party, and the member of Tsuen Wan District Council. He is founder of The G2000 Group and the former chairman of the board of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation . He joined the Liberal Party in 2008, a party led by his elder brother,...
is also a businessman. He owns the fashion chain G2000
G2000
G2000 is a clothing brand featuring upscale and urban-career styles for men and women, founded by Michael Tien in 1980...
and is a former chairman of Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation
Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation
The Kowloon–Canton Railway Corporation was established in 1982 under the Kowloon–Canton Railway Corporation Ordinance for the purposes of operating the Kowloon–Canton Railway , and to construct and operate other new railways...
.
Tien was a member of LegCo from 1983, and was the Chairman of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce
Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce
The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1861. It is a self-funding, non-profit organization whose mission is to safeguard and represent trade, service and industry in Hong Kong...
, an influential business organization in Hong Kong. He became the Chairman of the LP after the resignation of its former and founding Chairman, Allen Lee Peng Fei
Allen Lee
Allen Lee Peng Fei , CBE, JP, is a founding member of Liberal Party of Hong Kong, veteran Hong Kong politician, political programme radio host and TV host. Jonathan Dimbleby described him as a "weather vane" in his book The Last Governor.Lee was a senior member of the Legislative Council of Hong...
, in December 1998.
Tien currently serves as a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference [], shortened as 人民政协, Rénmín Zhèngxié, i.e. "People's PCC"; or just 政协, Zhèngxié, i.e. "The PCC"), abbreviated CPPCC, is a political advisory body in the People's Republic of China...
, and general committee member of both the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and Federation of Hong Kong Industries.
Tien joined 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...
, the cabinet 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...
, in July 2002 as the Chairman of LP, following the reorganization of the Council under the new accountability system of the Chief Executive. However, barely after 1 year, Tien announced his resignation from the Executive Council on 6 July 2003, after his calls to delay the controversial legislation on Article 23
Hong Kong Basic Law Article 23
Hong Kong Basic Law Article 23 is the basis of a security law proposed by the Government of Hong Kong. It states:On 24 September 2002 the government released its proposals for the anti-subversion law. It is the cause of considerable controversy and division in Hong Kong, which operates as a...
of the Basic Law
Hong Kong Basic Law
The Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, or simply Hong Kong Basic Law, serves as the constitutional document of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China...
were rejected. His resignation caused the eventual withdrawal of the legislation and break-up of the "ruling alliance" of the Chief Executive, while his popularity and that of LP surged.
Until 2004, Tien held the seat of Commercial (First) Functional Constituency
Functional constituency
In the political systems of Hong Kong and Macau, a functional constituency is a professional or special interest group involved in the electoral process...
in LegCo, representing the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce's ≈4,000 members. Tien ran for a seat in the geographical constituency of New Territories
New Territories
New Territories is one of the three main regions of Hong Kong, alongside Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula. It makes up 86.2% of Hong Kong's territory. Historically, it is the region described in The Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory...
East in the Hong Kong Legislative Council election, 2004 and succeeded.
In 2005, the announcement that his ally Henry Tang had dropped out of the race was another upsetting piece of news about his party's political future. He initially said that he may join the Chief Executive Election, but has since chosen not to run as a candidate.
Tien lost his seat in the 2008 Legco election, when the Liberal Party lost all its Geographical Constituency members, and subsequently announced that he would not participate further in future Legco elections. He also resigned as leader of the Liberal Party.
Controversies
- On 11 October 2007, it was reported that Tien had accepted MTRC CEOChief executive officerA chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
Chow Chung-kong's sincere apology after the latter backed Civic Party barrister Tanya Chan Suk-chongTanya ChanTanya Chan Suk-chong is a Legislative Councillor and is a member of the Central and Western District Council of Hong Kong...
against Liberal Party lawyer and incumbent Mark Lin Man- kit in the district council election for the PeakVictoria PeakVictoria Peak is a mountain in Hong Kong. It is also known as Mount Austin, and locally as The Peak. The mountain is located in the western half of Hong Kong Island...
district.
- Tien explained that Chow would have to bear all the politicalPoliticsPolitics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
consequencesPunishmentPunishment is the authoritative imposition of something negative or unpleasant on a person or animal in response to behavior deemed wrong by an individual or group....
for his choice of backing a rival partyCivic PartyCivic Party is a liberal democratic political party in Hong Kong.The Civic Party is currently the third largest political party in the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, with five members securing seats in the 2008 Hong Kong Legislative Council elections...
's candidate. Tien made clear that he was personally infuriated by Chow's unfriendly act despite the Liberal PartyLiberal Party (Hong Kong)Liberal Party is a business-friendly liberal conservative political party in Hong Kong.-Party beliefs:The party is known for its conservative and business-friendly policies. Despite being a political party friendly with Beijing, it fits in the centre-right political spectrum...
's loyalty and consistent support for the rail company. Tien further stated that the MTRC would face probable dissentDissentDissent is a sentiment or philosophy of non-agreement or opposition to a prevailing idea or an entity...
from Liberal members in future matters involving MTRC inside district councilsDistrict Council of Hong KongThe District Councils, formerly District Boards until 1999, are the local councils for the 18 Districts of Hong Kong. Under the supervision of Home Affairs Bureau of the Hong Kong Government, they are consultative bodies on district administration and affairs.- History :In 1982, under the...
.
- Tien backed down on 12 October 2007 by sincerely apologising to Chow and the public at large.