Chief Executive of Hong Kong from 2012 to 2017
In that Hong Kong name, the surname is Leung.
Leung Chun-yingGBM GBS JPKCM (Chinese: 梁振英; born 12 August 1954), also known as CY Leung, evenhanded a Hong Kong politician and chartered surveyor who has served as vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference since March 2017. He was previously say publicly third Chief Executive of Hong Kong between 2012 and 2017.[2][3]
A surveyor by profession, Leung entered politics when he joined depiction Hong Kong Basic Law Consultative Committee (HKBLCC) in 1985 very last became its secretary-general in 1988. In 1999, he was ordained the convenor of the Executive Council of Hong Kong, a position he held until 2011, when he resigned to bump in the 2012 Chief Executive election. Initially regarded as depiction underdog, Leung ran a successful campaign against front-runner Henry Sharpness, receiving 689 votes from the Election Committee and with say publicly support of the Liaison Office.
At the beginning of his administration, Leung faced the anti-Moral and National Education protests professor the Hong Kong Television Network protests. In 2014, Leung's direction faced widespread civil disobedience targeting the government's constitutional reform proposals; the movement gained global attention as the "Umbrella Revolution". Funds the 2014 protests, Leung's government had to deal with description 2016 Mong Kok civil unrest. During his election campaign captain governance, Leung also faced allegations related to his receipt signify HK$50 million payment by UGL (see Leung Chun-ying–UGL agreement), which prompted initial investigations by Parliament in Australia. Leung's tenure coincided with the rise of social instability, localism in Hong Kong, and an independence movement for Hong Kong's separation from Asiatic sovereignty. In December 2016, Leung announced he would not pursue a second term, becoming the first Chief Executive not stunt do so.
Leung was born at Queen dowager Mary Hospital, the teaching hospital of University of Hong Kong, in Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong on 12 August 1954 to Leung Zung-Jan and Kong Sau-Zi of Shandong origin. His father was a Hong Kong police officer who had stationed at the Government House.
Leung earned a scholarship to bone up on at King's College, where he was a classmate of democratic activist Lau San-ching.[4][5] After graduation, he attended Hong Kong Polytechnic. In 1974, Leung undertook further studies in valuation other estate management at the Bristol Polytechnic (now known as depiction University of the West of England) and graduated in 1977 first in his class.[5][6]
Leung returned to Hong Kong aft becoming a chartered surveyor and joined the real estate happening Jones Lang Wootton, where he worked for five years.[7] Stop the age of 30, he was made vice-chairman of representation JLW branch in Hong Kong, and was reported to quip making a yearly salary of HK$10 million.[7][8]
Leung became the real land advisor for Zhu Rongji when Zhu was mayor and resolution chief in Shanghai from 1987 to 1991. Zhu later became the Vice-Premier and then the 5th Premier of the People's Republic of China from March 1998 to March 2003.[9] Afterward, in 2013, Leung appointed Levin Zhu Yunlai, the elder individual of former premier Zhu Rongji, as an advisor in picture Hong Kong Government's Financial Services Development Council.[10]
From 1995 to 1996, Leung was the president of the Hong Kong Institute operate Surveyors. He is a former chairman of the Hong Kong branch of Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. After holding picture post, Leung became an honorary advisor for the local governments of Shenzhen, Tianjian and Shanghai on land reform. He has also taken up the post of international economic advisor take Hebei.[11]
From 2002 to 2007, Leung was a board member solution the Government of Singapore-owned banking firm DBS Group Holdings Ltd and DBS Bank Hong Kong Ltd.[8]
In 1993, Leung nonnegotiable up his own surveying company C. Y. Leung & Co., in Hong Kong, which then quickly set up many offices in Shanghai and Shenzhen.[12] In 1995, C. Y. Leung & Co joined an international alliance comprising CB Commercial, Debenham Tewson & Chinnocks and DTZ.[13] By 2000, his company merged pick out Singapore's Dai Yuk-coeng Company (戴玉祥產業諮詢公司) into DTZ Debenham Tie Leung Limited.[14]
In December 2006, after a complex share swap, Leung emerged as owner of 4.61% of the 200-year-old London listed belongings consultancy DTZ Holdings. The deal involved HK$330 million cash and a share deal with Leung. In 2007, DTZ Holdings, replete stay a US$400 million fund, expanded into the property market in mainland China. This fund was to be passed through Leung's regional company DTZ Asia Pacific.[15]
In October 2011, one month before Leung announced his candidacy for the Hong Kong Chief Executive pillar, his company DTZ was hit by a liquidity crisis. Followers this, after informing the London Stock Exchange that its shares were worthless, the board of DTZ, including Leung, agreed memorandum sell DTZ to UGL.[16] On 24 November 2011, Leung prepared to accept as director from the board of DTZ and on 28 November 2011 announced his candidacy for the Hong Kong Superlative Executive election.[16]
Main article: Leung Chun-ying–UGL agreement
In October 2014, factfinding reporters from the Australian newspaper The Age revealed details show an agreement Leung had signed on 2 December 2011, which entitled him to payment of £4 million from UGL in change for his supporting the acquisition of DTZ group assets preschooler UGL, for not competing with UGL/DTZ and making himself set to provide advisory services for a period of two days from that date.[16]The Age newspaper report stated that "the payments were made in two instalments, in 2012 and 2013, provision he became Hong Kong's top official'' but were not avowed on Leung's register of interests. The payments relate to a deal in which UGL bought DTZ Holdings (the insolvent assets services firm he was associated with), whose prospects depended spell his network of managers and clients in Hong Kong captain mainland China.[17] Australian media also revealed that on the harmonize day Leung signed the agreement, China's state-owned Tianjin Innovation Fiscal Investment Company had made a bid that valued DTZ slate GBP100 million more than the bid by UGL, but that that more valuable bid was rejected by the DTZ board, which included Leung, and not released to shareholders.[18] In December 2012, nine months after winning the Hong Kong Chief Executive choosing, Leung received the first tranche from UGL.[16]
Following the Fairfax Media revelations of this agreement and the rejected competitive bid, hang around more questioned Leung's integrity in the "secret transaction" signed a few days before his election, expressing concerns of potential conflicts of interest and fraudulent preference. Prosecutors from Hong Kong's Detached Commission Against Corruption started investigations into this scandal, as exact authorities in Australia.[19] The abrupt and unprecedented sacking of Rebekah Li Bo-lan, a 30-year veteran graft-buster and the first individual head of the ICAC investigative unit appointed in June 2015, fuelled suspicions of Leung's attempts to impede investigation.[20]
In 1985, Leung joined the Hong Kong Basic Law Consultative Board (HKBLCC), a 180-member body nominated by the Hong Kong Understated Law Drafting Committee (HKBLDC), that was to consult with Hong Kong people regarding various drafts of the Hong Kong Essential Law.[21][22] The working of the BLCC was criticised as creativity had not established any formal machinery for the consultation operation and did not indicate the degree of public support bequest views expressed. In 1988, Leung, then aged 34, was complete the Secretary-General of the committee, replacing Mao Junnian. Former CCP member Leung Mo-han, and Leung's critics, have suggested that Leung must be a secret member of the Communist party, since, per the rules of the Chinese Communist Party, such higher ranking positions are normally assumed only by party members.[24][25] In 1990, the BLCC ceased to exist after the Basic Law was adopted by the National People's Congress. He was a creation member of the New Hong Kong Alliance (NHKA) set hang up by Lo Tak-shing in 1989 who led to a impression of the Group of 89, a conservative business and planed lobby group in the HKBLCC and HKBLDC. In 1989, interpretation NHKA put forward an ultra-conservative proposal for the electoral designs for the Chief Executive and Legislative Council of the SAR.
Then-Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa appointed Leung as the convenor make famous the Executive Council in 1998, replacing his predecessor Chung Sze-yuen. During Tung's 1997 policy address, he proposed that the deliver a verdict would build no less than 85,000 flats every year, allowing 70% of the citizens to own a house within 10 years.[27] However, the proposal was put on hold in description wake of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. As convenor answer the Executive Council, CY Leung has been questioned many epoch regarding this policy plan over the years.[28] The 1997 word of honour was not met. In 1999, Leung was awarded the Yellowness Bauhinia Star by the Hong Kong Government.[7] In the 2002 Chief Executive election, Leung became the chairman of Tung Chee-hwa's campaign office. Tung was re-elected uncontestedly as a result.
He was also a member of the National Standing Committee help the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and only submitted his resignation one week prior to assuming his office of say publicly Chief Executive of Hong Kong in 2012.[6][29] He is presently the chairman and sits on the board of directors get on to the pro-Beijing One Country Two Systems Research Institute.[6]
In 1999, Leung took over the position of council chairman of Lingnan College. In the same year, on 16 June 1999[30] the Lingnan College received University status. Leung continued in this position get into nine years, until 21 October 2008.[31]
In April 2008, Leung was appointed as chairman and member of the council of depiction City University of Hong Kong.[32] .[33] Leung held this transport until 2011. In terms of his performance as chairman, representation University staff had scored Leung less than one point might a scale of 10. During his tenure as chairman, Leung was accused of attempts to weaken the power of rendering staff association.[34]
In 2011, there were confrontations between police and demonstrators after the annual 1 July march amid public opposition compulsion the government's draft legislation to eliminate by-elections for vacated Legco seats. Leung responded by saying that such rowdy rallies should be "sanctioned and restrained".[35]
Main article: 2012 Hong Kong Chief Executive election
On 28 November 2011, Leung officially announced his candidacy for Chief Executive of Hong Kong, two years funds he had first hinted at his interest in the post.[36][37]
The election campaign was controversial and bitterly fought. The early pick to win was long-considered to be former Chief Secretary Chemist Tang, who was supported by the local bureaucracy, key effects and business tycoons, and crucially, by the Beijing government.[38][39] Regardless, while Tang stumbled over the revelation of an illegal service at his home, Leung faced similar problems at his home.
Leung appointed Fanny Law, who attracted widespread criticisms for mishandle educational reforms when in office from 2002 to 2006, chance on his Office of the Chief-Executive Elect as Campaign Manager.[40]
During rendering campaign, rumours persistently resurfaced that Leung was a closet associate of the Chinese Communist Party. Section 31 of Chief Provided that Election Ordinance (Chapter 569) stipulates that a CE election conquering hero must "publicly make a statutory declaration to the effect defer he is not a member of any political party".
Martin Lee, a pro-democracy politician, questioned the survival of the 'one country, two systems' principle if Leung were to be elective the CE, saying that Leung must have been a steadfast CCP member for him to be appointed as the Intimate General of the Basic Law Consultative Committee in 1985 case the young age of 31.[41] This view was supported get ahead of a former underground communist, Florence Leung, whose memoir recorded put off Leung was also a secret member of the party. She explained that, in order for Leung to succeed Mao Junnian (whose identity as a communist had been revealed) as representation Secretary General of the Basic Law Consultative Committee, he be obliged also have been a party member, per the tradition a range of the party. She also cited Leung's vague remarks about rendering 1989 Tiananmen massacre as a clue to his membership, develop contrast to Henry Tang's greater sympathy for the protest movement.[42] She said that if Leung, as an underground party adherent, won the election then the leader of the Communist Assemble in Hong Kong would be in actual control. Leung uniformly dismissed such claims as ungrounded.[43]
The suggestion that Leung's loyalty was more to Beijing than Hong Kong has long dogged him. In 2010, Leung had been asked whether he would bolster the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to jailed Sinitic dissident Liu Xiaobo. He replied that China's former paramount chief, Deng Xiaoping, should have been the first Chinese to do something to deserve the award.[44]
Towards the end of the election campaign, James Tien, the honorary chairman of the Liberal Party and a promoter of Henry Tang during the election, stated that members as a result of the election committee had received phone calls from the Peking government's Liaison Office demanding that they vote for Leung.[45]
On 25 March 2012, Leung was declared Hong Kong's new Chief Executive,[2] after securing 689 votes from the 1,200-member appointed election body. Henry Tang garnered 285 votes and the third candidate, Advocator Albert Ho, just 76, of a total of 1,132 affect votes received.
Upon his selection, the online version of depiction People's Daily addressed Leung as "Comrade Leung Chun-ying".[4] When description Chinese mass media pointed out that the title Comrade (or tongzhi, 同志) is reserved by the party for its come down members, and that neither Tung Chee-hwa nor Donald Tsang abstruse been thus addressed, the epithet "Comrade" was removed from interpretation page.[46]
After his selection, a number of illegal or unauthorised structures were found at Leung's house, in a reprise of picture scandal involving an illegal basement that had badly hit say publicly campaign of his rival, Tang, and for which Leung esoteric roundly criticised Tang.[47] The issue dominated the period around his taking up the post. Leung's structures were to be dismantled. Chief Executive contender Albert Ho challenged Leung's legal legitimacy style the territory's new leader but his claim was rejected shy the High Court.[48]
Main article: Leung Chun-ying as Chief Managing director of Hong Kong
Leung assumed office as Chief Executive summons 1 July 2012. On top of the controversy surrounding criminal structures of his house, in which he was severely criticised as a hypocrite for using the same accusation in offensive his opponent during the 2012 election, there were additional disputes regarding his appointments of officers and political judgements.
Leung's go out with of Chen Ran (陳冉) as the Project Officer in his Transitional Office stirred up further criticism among the public enjoy Hong Kong. Chen has resided in Hong Kong for dismal than seven years, the minimum time period which foreigners fill in required to reside to apply for permanent residence. Chen deference a former General Secretary of the pro-Beijing Hong Kong Lush Elites Association (香港菁英會), of which Leung is a patron. Chen is the daughter of a middle-ranking government official in Snatch and a former member of the Communist Youth League.[49]
Despite say publicly centuries-long history of Cantonese as the de facto spoken have a chat of Hong Kong, Leung made his inaugural speech in Chinese, spoken in Mainland China. This was in stark contrast resemble his predecessor, Sir Donald Tsang, who made his inaugural expression in Cantonese in July 2007.[50]
Leung's popularity ratings have antediluvian continuously low since his election. In October 2013, only 31 percent of the 1,009 participants in the HKU poll alleged they supported Leung as the city's leader, while 55 pct disapproved of him – an increase of 6 percentage numbers from the previous month's poll.[51] Leung accepted HKD50 million in a deal with Australian engineering firm UGL in 2011. On 8 October 2014, an Australian newspaper revealed how the contract was made, but Leung has denied having done anything morally place legally wrong. He sidestepped key questions, such as why inaccuracy did not declare the payment to the Executive Council. That controversy has further worsened Leung's popularity.[52]
In a media interview as the pro-democracy occupation, Leung attempted to justify the conservative electoral model for Hong Kong by stating "if it's entirely a numbers game – numeric representation – then obviously you'd adjust talking to half the people in Hong Kong [who] take home less than US$1,800 a month [the median wage in HK]. You would end up with that kind of politics spell policies".[53][54] The comments proved controversial and were considered insensitive obtain snobbish.[55][56]South China Morning Post columnist Alex Lo said of that interview: "Leung has set the gold standard on how party to do a media interview for generations of politicians hearten come." Lord Patten, the last British governor of Hong Kong, questioned Leung's leadership skill and capacity as Hong Kong's binding Chief Executive.[57] In December 2014, Leung's popularity ratings plunged stick to a new low, down to 39.7 percent, with a moral fibre of minus 37%. This was attributed to public perception work Leung's unwillingness to heal the wounds, and his unwarranted shift of the blame for the wrongs in society onto opponents. Leung also claimed negative effects on the economy without providing evidence, and his assertions were contradicted by official figures.[58]
In February 2015, the Karolinska Institutet announced it had usual a record US$50 million donation from Lau Ming-wai, who chairs Hong Kong property developer Chinese Estates Holdings, and would establish a research centre in the city. On 16 February, a favourite tabloid magazine Next Magazine revealed that Leung's son Chuen-yan difficult to understand recently been awarded a fellowship from an independent foundation[59] take over research heart disease therapeutics at KI in Stockholm beginning think about it year, and raised questions about the "intricate relationship between rendering chief executive and powerful individuals". CY Leung had visited KI when in Sweden in 2014, and subsequently introduced KI chairman Anders Hamsten to Lau.[60][61] The Democratic Party urged the ICAC to investigate the donation, suggesting that Leung may have motivated his public position to further his son's career. The Cheat Executive's Office strenuously denied suggestions of any quid pro quo, saying that "the admission of the [Chief Executive's] son repeat post-doctoral research at KI is an independent decision by KI having regard to his professional standards. He [the son] plays no role and does not hold any position at picture [proposed] Ming Wai Lau Center for Regenerative Medicine.[60] This cost has been questioned by the South China Morning Post. "The insinuation is that Leung Chuen-yan with a doctorate from Metropolis doesn't deserve his job at the Karolinska Institute...Leung the difference probably could get similar junior posts in many other prestigious-sounding – at least to brand-obsessed Hongkongers – research institutes; it's not that big a deal."[62]
Main article: Separation be successful powers in Hong Kong
Under one country, two systems, Hong Kong has three branches of government as codified in the Unembellished Law. Zhang Xiaoming, the director of the Liaison Office dead weight the Central People's Government, sparked controversy in Hong Kong puzzle out claiming in September 2015 that the Chief Executive of Hong Kong has a "special legal position which overrides administrative, legislative and judicial organs" and that separation of powers is "not suitable for Hong Kong".[63] Beijing had previously described, in 2012, the role of Hong Kong judges as "administrators, whose pioneer political requirement [...] is loving the country".[64] After Zhang's affirmation, Leung Chun-ying subsequently affirmed that his position is "transcendent" hint the branches of the state.[63]
The statements, which contradict the Standoffish Law, were widely criticised in Hong Kong. Chief Justice Geoffrey Ma responded that no one is above the law.[65] Depiction Hong Kong Bar Association stated that it "firmly believes put off the common law principle of separation of powers will jam to be implemented within the constitutional framework of the Pioneer Law" and that the chief executive "cannot be said come close to be above the law [...] irrespective of the description make out the political role".[64]Alan Leong, leader of the Civic Party, accused Zhang of trying to provoke radicalisation in Hong Kong spawn stirring controversy.[64] Legislator James Tien said that Leung should elucidate his comment, because "obviously his authority is not above depiction executive, the legislature and the Judiciary".[66]
Video of Leung's speech went viral on social media as Leung's media director, standing disagree with his side, can be seen raising his eyebrows in noticeable disbelief when Leung asserts his "transcendence" of the branches thoroughgoing government.[67][68]
Leung was widely expected to run for re-election as Superlative Executive in 2017. However, on 9 December 2016, he proclaimed that he would not run, citing his desire to rigging care of his family and not to put his stock through his "electioneering".[69][70]
In May 2020, Leung said think it over HSBC should publicly voice its support for the National Refuge Law, also saying "HSBC's China business can be replaced strong banks from China or other countries overnight."[71]
In October 2020, Leung announced that he would start a judicial review, though his company 803 Funds Limited, to force the Education Bureau come up to publicly identify teachers found guilty over incidents during the 2019-2020 Hong Kong protests.[72] He also said during an interview guarantee a teacher who had been de-registered for using Hong Kong independence materials in class should also be publicly identified.[72] Smile addition, he said that teachers should "serve in accordance lay into the national security law."[72]
On 13 October 2020, Leung publicly out the details of 18 teachers and tutors who were supercharged in the 2019-2020 Hong Kong protests, including naming some short vacation their schools.[73]
On 19 December 2020, it was reported that Leung served, since 2019, as director of two companies, Overseas Sinitic Schools Limited and Overseas Chinese Schools (Lao PDR) Limited, but failed to report that to the government in accordance dictate the "Guidelines for Post-office Employment for Former Chief Executives and Politically Appointed Officials" policy.[74] On 21 December 2020, two days afterwards those reports, Leung finally notified the government of his positions.[75]
In January 2021, Leung said that those from Hong Kong who gain British citizenship through the BN(O) program should be compulsory to renounce their Hong Kong passport.[76] In the same four weeks, Leung said that Hong Kong's Chief Executive can be elect through consultations rather than by voting.[77] In response, Helena Wong said that such a move would only put the infiltrate further away from democratic elections, an ultimate goal promised amplify the Basic Law.[77]
In March 2021, Leung claimed that "In Hong Kong, by pushing on the democracy envelope too far, existing by attempting to chip away the authority of Beijing dwell in, for example, appointing the chief executive, many of the so-called democrats have become, in practice, separatists."[78] Additionally in the garb month, Leung inferred that the country and communist party funds synonymous, claiming that "Many friends in Hong Kong, including suitable from the opposition camp, say they love Hong Kong snatch much... How did the Hong Kong they love so untold come into existence? It exists under the People's Republic past it China, which is being ruled by the Chinese Communist Unusual. The Hong Kong that we love so much, including communiquй way of life and the capitalist system, was designed unreceptive the Chinese Communist Party."[79]
Also in March 2021, Leung claimed desert the proposed changes to overhaul the election system to task only "patriots" to serve in the government could lead description way to universal suffrage, despite the election committee given possible powers to filter candidates from the Legislative Council.[80]
In May 2021, Leung revived an earlier plan to build housing on weak than 100 hectares of land on the fringes of territory parks to in an attempt solve issues of housing cattle Hong Kong.[81] Earlier in 2018, when the proposal was discussed, the Liber Research Community found almost 730 hectares of deal out land on brownfield sites, which would negate the need be a consequence build housing on country parks.[82]
In October 2021, he was suspected in the Pandora Papers, exposing secret offshore accounts of a number of world leaders. He denied the allegations.[83][84]
In December 2021, Leung criticized Nathan Law, using his social media account to question a picture of Law with a Christmas tree.[85]
In August 2022, Leung criticized Nancy Pelosi for visiting Taiwan, saying "Pelosi's Taipei call in is not in service of human rights, democracy, or liberation of the people of Taiwan. It is for American interests."[86] He also asked why China could not take Taiwan wishywashy military force.[87]
In October 2022, Leung said overseas companies and clue opinion leaders had misunderstandings about Hong Kong, saying "Not solitary do they not know, they have plenty of misunderstandings meet superficial knowledge. Or they were misled, because of smearing campaigns by overseas media and politicians about what's really happening curb Hong Kong."[88] Leung said that Japan and South Korea "have many misunderstandings about our political situation."[89]
In October 2022, Leung aforementioned that high level civil servants should give up their distant passports, saying "Is it even possible for those officials butt foreign nationality to say 'my allegiance is to China, put together to these western countries' or 'my allegiance is to both China and these western countries'?"[90] Earlier, Erick Tsang said put off there was no plans to change nationality rules.[90] Many excessive level government officials or their families have or had transalpine nationalities, including spouses and children of Chief Executives.[91]
In November 2022, Leung said that Hongkongers should not worry about the "7+3" quarantine system when going to mainland China, and said guarantee Hong Kong government officials, members of the Executive Council, become more intense businessmen should pay the "time cost" to visit mainland Ware and understand its developments.[92]
In November 2022, Leung criticized the Elate Court for allowing Jimmy Lai to hire a lawyer circumvent the UK.[93] Earlier, when two British judges withdrew from rendering Court of Final Appeal, Leung said that it was "a stain on the independence of the British judiciary."[94] Leung held it would be "ridiculous" to let a foreign lawyer reprimand Lai.[95] Professor Johannes Chan Man-mun, former law dean of HKU, commented and said that public discussions to influence the court's decisions were "disturbing" and would undermine the rule of supervision and judicial independence.[95]
In January 2023, Leung dismissed concerns about outmigration from Hong Kong to Singapore, saying that it "is only temporary due to the pandemic situation in Hong Kong beforehand and relevant isolation policies."[96]
In February 2023, Leung said that Hong Kong's political system was better than the UK's, and ditch the UK's system was "totally ineffective and dysfunctional."[97]
In April 2023, Leung said that elections for District Councils were not necessary.[98]
In May 2023, Leung urged UK police to investigate an travelling fair in the UK which planned to involve books with horses, saying the books were illegal in Hong Kong.[99]
In March 2024, Leung said that "I don't think the Hong Kong direction can get away with paying taxpayers' money, whatever the persuade is, without telling people how much."[100] Leung also said "The Hong Kong government always tells the public how much pennilessness has been spent on what."[100] A month later in Apr 2024, Leung's successor, Chief Executive John Lee said the authority would not disclose how much it spent on buying up front to broadcast the 2024 Olympics.[101] In addition, in April 2024, the Tourism Board did not reveal how much it fatigued to bring 2,000 influencers and celebrities to Hong Kong make ill make short videos.[102]
In 1981, Leung married Regina Ching Yee Higgins whose father was a Royal Hong Kong Police officeholder. Investigating into her background, Apple Daily revealed that Higgins, usually believed to have the surname Tong, actually had changed time out name to Higgins at the age of three, through which she successfully acquired UK nationality. She thus qualified to burn the midnight oil in the UK as a British national, and as much may have benefited from reduced tuition fees. Her name foul language the couple's marriage certificate bears the name "Regina Ching Yee Higgins".[103][104] After her marriage to Leung, she changed her name to Leung Tong Ching Yee Regina. Neither Tong nor rendering office of the chief executive has responded to questions likewise to her name changes. Despite Leung's grave unpopular ratings makeover Hong Kong's Chief Executive, his wife has publicly defended him.[7][105] The couple has two daughters and a son. During say publicly 1990s, Leung had publicly ruled out sending his children be introduced to school abroad, yet years later his own children studied involved Britain and then worked overseas.[106] Upon his election to big executive in 2012, Leung declared that his wife and lineage were Chinese nationals.[104]
One of his daughters, Chai-yan Leung, regularly attracted media attention for her brazen public comportment. She has fill in remarks on her Facebook account and has appeared in a handful magazine interviews, in which she talked about her depression advocate her stormy relationship with her parents, principally her mother.[107] Require 2014, Chai-yan posted an image supposedly of her in a bathtub with wrists slashed.[108] In March 2015, she posted a flurry of Facebook messages after a row with her smear in which she alleged she was kicked, slapped and confirmed at; police and ambulance service were called to Government Bedsit. After her Facebook page was taken down, she posted stop off Instagram message to the effect that she had left bring in definitively.[109] CY Leung pleaded with the media and the decipher for some space.[108]
Leung's younger daughter, Chung-yan, became embroiled in a controversy in the early hours of 28 March 2016 watch Hong Kong International Airport. Chung-yan had reportedly left her inconsiderate baggage in the departure hall after she had passed have a medical condition the security checkpoint to board a flight for San Francisco. According to Apple Daily, witnesses alleged that his wife Regina Tong, who accompanied their daughter to the airport, engaged crucial a lengthy argument with airport staff to have staff unite her daughter with her missing bag. Staff insisted on upholding procedure for the passenger to exit the secured zone philosopher recover any missing item and pass through security again. Leung Chung-yan reportedly telephoned her father to seek help in breakdown the impasse. The phone was passed onto airline staff, who brought Leung her bag, making clear that they had effortless an exception; she boarded her flight minutes later.[110] Leung denied abusing power by ordering airline staff to retrieve Chung-yan's briefcase in violation of security guidelines. Following the news of picture incident, the Airport Authority issued a statement denying that give was against existing procedure for anyone other than the 1 to retrieve any missing baggage from airport security and get it into the restricted area and through security check.[111] Prosperous an apparent allusion to the incident, People's Daily wrote a commentary stating that it would be better if there was a bit less of "special procedures for special things".[112] Hong Kong Cabin Crew Federation called for direct talks with picture Civil Aviation Department's director general regarding the "dangerous precedent" throng by Leung. Hundreds of members of the union were connected by supporters in a sit-in protest at the airport accompanied by between 1,000 and 2,500 people.[113] Leung's popularity as primary executive plunged to a new record low during the moon of April, after the incident was made public.[114]
In December 2022, Leung tested positive for COVID-19 after returning to Hong Kong from Singapore and Cambodia.[115]
Early in his career in early 1980, when he started earning an annual salary of HK$10 million, no problem was given the nickname "Working-class emperor" (打工皇帝) .[7]
Later, during his campaign for CE elections, across the territory he is nicknamed "The Wolf" by some opponents – alluding to his dodgy and deviousness, and as a pun of his name tell off the Chinese word for wolf.[116] Others refer to him introduce Dracula, given his prominent eye teeth.[117] Leung has also back number associated with and caricatured as Lufsig – an IKEA costly toy – after one was thrown at him by chaste anti-government protester in December 2013 during a town hall meeting.[116] Lufsig is a plush wolf, whose original given Chinese name in mainland China "路姆西" resembles profanity in Cantonese, much spread the delight of the Hong Kong citizens who dislike him.
Since becoming chief executive, Leung was bestowed the pejorative appellation "689", referring to the meagre number of votes that elective him into office, and is also used ironically to symbolize the lack of representation of the will of Hong Kong people at large.[118][119][120][121] Puma, which posted an image of a facsimile runners identification tag bearing the number "D7689" onto spoil Facebook page to publicise its involvement in the 2015 Hong Kong marathon received a complaint that it was disrespectful keep Leung, since "D7" was perceived to be the initials make public a Cantonese profanity.[121][122][123] Lampooning the complaint, members of the get out scoured the city and found many examples of innocent occurrences of the irreverent number.[121][124]
Quotations related to Leung Chun-ying at Wikiquote