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
The planned Panama port sale was among the stories that made headlines this year. Photo: Reuters
Hong Kong politics

Hong Kong politics in 2025: Jimmy Lai verdict, Legco poll and Panama port saga

The Post rounds up major political events that made 2025 a significant year for the city.

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Hong Kong society

Hong Kong man, 87, with dementia found dead 9 days after going missing

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

University eyes Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis for nuclear medicine plant

Hong Kong economy

Letters | Hong Kong has what it takes to be an Islamic finance hub

Readers discuss how Hong Kong can capitalise on the potential of Islamic finance assets, the Flywin principle, and English standards.

Tourists take pictures with the Petronas Twin Towers in the background in Kuala Lumpur on July 15. Hong Kong could partner with leading Islamic finance centres such as Malaysia to accelerate product innovation. Photo: AFP
Hong Kong tourism

Letters | Actually, mainland Chinese tourists help us discover Hong Kong anew

Readers discuss the silver lining in mainland budget travel, why country parks should consider charging tourists, and senior accessibility around Kai Tak Stadium.

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

Cheung Kim-hung tells court Lai ‘desperate’ to launch English version Apple Daily as Beijing prepared to impose 2020 national security law on city.

Cheung Kim-hung, the ex-publisher of Apple Daily, arrives at court to give evidence for the prosecution in the trial of Jimmy Lai on conspiracy charges. Photo: Nora Tam
My Take

My Take | End of the road for Dennis Kwok

Pan-democrats hide their political moderation, their most valuable asset, from anti-government radicals and, in the end, make themselves irrelevant to both sides.

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.

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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The Chinese flag is displayed outside Beijing’s Office for Safeguarding National Security in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, on July 9, in the wake of the adoption of a new national security law for the city. Even if the law’s bark is a lot worse than its bite, the thought of being arrested and tried in court could deter some from speaking their mind. Photo: EPA-EFE
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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Anson Chan, Hong Kong’s former chief secretary, is stepping back from politics at the age of 80. Photo: Sam Tsang
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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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.

Anson Chan was Hong Kong’s chief secretary before and after its 1997 handover to Chinese rule. Photo: K.Y. Cheng
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.

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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.

Beijing secretly invited former Hong Kong No 2 Anson Chan to meet Chinese premier Li Peng in 1993, after collapse of Sino-British talks on electoral reform
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

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.

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

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

Former chief secretary Anson Chan will receive the award in person in the US. Photo: K.Y. Cheng
Hong Kong Basic Law

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

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 Fang On-sang. Photo: Edward Wong

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

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

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