Anson Chan
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Anson Chan

Anson Chan
Anson Chan
Anson Chan was the chief secretary of Hong Kong from 1993 to 2001 and a member of the Legislative Council from December 2007 to September 2008. She now leads Hong Kong 2020, a group formed in 2013 to facilitate public discussion on electoral reform in the city.
Born
17 Jan 1940
Industry
Politics
Job Title
Former Chief Secretary for Administration of Hong Kong
last updated:
7 October, 2024
From left: Andrew Lo, head of family advisory for North Asia at UBS Global Wealth Management, Anson Chan, chairman and CEO of Bonds Group, Bryant Lu, vice-chairman of Ronald Lu & Partners and Janet Shih, chairwoman of Centaline Group Subsidiaries, speak at the Asian Financial Forum on January 14, 2025. Photo: Enoch Yiu
Family offices

Low taxes, currency peg are keys to lure more family offices, investors say

To avoid reducing its appeal for wealthy families, Hong Kong will need to look at ways other than higher taxes to trim budget shortfalls, Bonds Group says.

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Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai told staff to run ‘pro-resistance’ stories: trial

My Take

My Take | End of the road for Dennis Kwok

From our archives

Marching orders: the Royal Hong Kong Regiment’s final salute

After 141 years of protecting Hong Kong from pirates and patrolling the border, the all-volunteer regiment was disbanded in 1995.

The Volunteers’ final parade passes by chief secretary Anson Chan on September 2, 1995. Photo: SCMP
Hong Kong national security law

Letters | How national security law will curb free speech in Hong Kong

While the justice secretary has said that whether slogan-chanting is illegal will depend on the circumstances and be determined by the courts, many people are likely to think twice about speaking up, even if the criticism is constructive.

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Hong Kong protests

Former Hong Kong No 2 official Anson Chan retires from public life

Grieving the loss of her daughter and with the national security law imminent, the ex-chief secretary and a prominent campaigner for political reform wants a ‘quieter life’.

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Two Sessions 2020

Opinion | National security law leaves too many unanswered questions to feel safe

The wording of the proposed national security legislation leaves it unclear if people beyond protesters in the street could find themselves accused of subversion, secession or terrorism.

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A woman stands in front of police during a protest against Beijing's move to enact a new national security law for Hong Kong, in Causeway Bay on May 24. Photo: DPA
Hong Kong protests

State media attacks Hong Kong pro-democracy figures in ‘smear campaign’

Jimmy Lai, Martin Lee, Anson Chan and Albert Ho labelled as ‘new Gang of Four’ that ‘colludes’ with Western forces to instigate unrest.

Law

Hong Kong’s ex-No 2 urges Americans to protest fugitive transfer law change

Concerns must be voiced ‘before it is too late’, she tells the Heritage Foundation think tank in Washington, saying Hong Kong’s basic freedoms are progressively being whittled away.

Hong Kong localism, independence

Hong Kong’s former No 2 criticises city’s response to world on autonomy

While on US visit, Chan suggests that Hong Kong’s leaders need to go to Washington and elsewhere and say they, not Beijing, are in charge.

Hong Kong’s former deputy leader Anson Chan, centre, and lawmakers Dennis Kwok, left, and Charles Mok meeting with National Security Council officials in Washington on Friday. Photo: Handout
Hong Kong Basic Law

Hong Kong’s former No 2 Anson Chan meets US Vice-President Mike Pence

Charles Mok, Dennis Kwok and Chan were in Washington at the invitation of the Trump administration. A State Department report found that the ‘tempo of mainland intervention in Hong Kong affairs’ had increased.

Human rights

US invites Hong Kong opposition to White House ahead of key report

Former No 2 official-turned-government critic Anson Chan and lawmakers Dennis Kwok and Charles Mok will embark on their 10-day trip next Tuesday.

History

British files reveal Anson Chan’s secret invitation to meet Li Peng in 1993

Recently declassified British files show UK also tried to establish dialogue between city’s then chief secretary and Chinese government.

International Women's Day

Ten Hong Kong women achievers in politics, film, sport and more

Some fought for the underprivileged or championed human rights, others were leaders in fields such as sport, business, charity – and all have left their mark on Hong Kong

Anson Chan, the first woman director of a civil service department and the first woman, and Chinese, holder of the office of chief secretary for administration in Hong Kong’s government, at her office in Wan Chai in 2011.
Hong Kong Basic Law

Anson Chan’s criticisms of Hong Kong’s legal system are dishonest

Anson Chan’s criticisms of Hong Kong’s legal system while in the US took advantage of her audience’s ignorance and her host’s anti-Chinese sentiments, and impugned the reputation of our legal professionals.

Former chief secretary and Legislative Council member Anson Chan has received international recognition for her criticism of Beijing’s role in Hong Kong’s affairs. Photo: Xiaomei Chen
Hong Kong Basic Law

Anson Chan slams ‘political screening’ as she wins US justice prize

City’s former No 2 official also urges international community to speak out for – and remind Beijing of – the ‘one country, two systems’ principle

Anson Chan to join ex-US president Carter as justice award recipient

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Hong Kong Basic Law

Anson Chan rejects US envoy’s ‘one country, two systems’ view

Anson Chan said the liaison office was interfering in day-to-day Hong Kong affairs, in breach of the Basic Law. Photo: Dickson Lee
Donald Trump's 2017 inauguration

Public Eye | Anson Chan hard to Trump on hypocrisy

Donald Trump's 2017 inauguration

My Take | Ego trumps substance for Anson Chan

Anson Chan says she was invited by Republicans to inauguration

Former chief secretary Anson Chan (centre) hopes to meet ‘old friends’ and ‘movers and shakers’ in Washington next week. Photo: Sam Tsang
Donald Trump's 2017 inauguration

Former HK No 2 Anson Chan to attend Trump inauguration

It remains unclear who extended the invitation to Chan. Photo: Simon Song

China blamed for New Zealand snub of high-profile Hong Kong duo critical of Beijing

Carrie Lam

Hong Kong chief secretary Carrie Lam says she won’t become another Anson Chan

Despite growing interference from Beijing, most Hongkongers aren’t seeking independence, says city’s former No 2

Former chief secretary Anson Chan Fang On-sang says Hong Kong remains an important bridge between mainland China and the rest of the world. Photo: May Tse

Anson Chan Part IV: Why Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung can't lead

04:17

Anson Chan Part III: Why Hong Kong's media compared her to the world's four worst dictators

Anson Chan Part II: Housewife, mother and a careerwoman

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