Bernard Chan
Encyclopedia
Bernard Charnwut Chan GBS
JP
is a Hong Kong politician and businessman. He is the grandson of Chin Sophonpanich
, the late founder of Bangkok Bank
, and is a practicing Roman Catholic. He graduated from The Hill Shoool
and Pomona College
in 1988 with a BA
in Studio Art. He is married and has two children.
He was a member of the Executive Council
from 2004 to 2009, and of the Legislative Council
(Legco) from 1998 to 2008, in which he was a member of the Alliance
. He became a Hong Kong Deputy to National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China in 2008. He chairs three government advisory bodies: the Antiquities Advisory Board
, the Advisory Committee on Revitalizing Historical Buildings and the Hong Kong Council for Sustainable Development.
Outside politics, he is President of Asia Financial Group and its main subsidiary, Asia Insurance. he is also Chairman of The Hong Kong Council of Social Service
, Chair of the Hong Kong-Thailand
Business Council, Chairman of the Council of Lingnan University and Vice Chairman of Oxfam
Hong Kong. Chan has been awarded Commander (third class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand
, the Gold Bauhinia Star
(GBS) and Justice of the Peace (JP).
He is a citizen of China and has previously also held American and Thai citizenship.
Gold Bauhinia Star
The Gold Bauhinia Star is the highest rank in Order of the Bauhinia Star in Hong Kong, created in 1997 to replace the British honours system of the Order of the British Empire after the transfer of sovereignty to People's Republic of China and the establishment of the Hong Kong Special...
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...
is a Hong Kong politician and businessman. He is the grandson of Chin Sophonpanich
Chin Sophonpanich
- Biography :Chin was born to a Chinese immigrant father from Chaoyang, who was a sawmill clerk, and a Thai mother in Thonburi, Bangkok, although some sources stated otherwise that he was born in Shantou before he migrated to Thailand...
, the late founder of Bangkok Bank
Bangkok Bank
Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited , is a Thai commercial bank, with approximately US$64.6 billion in total assets. Its branch network includes over 1000 branches within Thailand, with 25 international branches or representative offices in 13 economies, spanning ASEAN and major economic countries,...
, and is a practicing Roman Catholic. He graduated from The Hill Shoool
The Hill School
The Hill School is a preparatory boarding school for boys and girls located in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, about 35 miles northwest of Philadelphia....
and Pomona College
Pomona College
Pomona College is a private, residential, liberal arts college in Claremont, California. Founded in 1887 in Pomona, California by a group of Congregationalists, the college moved to Claremont in 1889 to the site of a hotel, retaining its name. The school enrolls 1,548 students.The founding member...
in 1988 with a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Studio Art. He is married and has two children.
He was a member 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 2004 to 2009, and 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...
(Legco) from 1998 to 2008, in which he was a member of the Alliance
The Alliance (Hong Kong)
Professional Forum , formerly and still widely known as The Alliance , is a political group in Hong Kong, composed of five members of the Legislative Council who ran as independents in functional constituencies in the 2004 election. Four were members of the so-called "Breakfast Group", led by Eric Li...
. He became a Hong Kong Deputy to National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China in 2008. He chairs three government advisory bodies: the Antiquities Advisory Board
Antiquities Advisory Board
The Antiquities Advisory Board is a statutory body of the Government of Hong Kong created in 1976 to evaluate old buildings in Hong Kong, and to recommend those with historical or architectural merit for listing as monuments. It is under the responsibility of the Home Affairs Bureau, directly...
, the Advisory Committee on Revitalizing Historical Buildings and the Hong Kong Council for Sustainable Development.
Outside politics, he is President of Asia Financial Group and its main subsidiary, Asia Insurance. he is also Chairman of The Hong Kong Council of Social Service
The Hong Kong Council of Social Service
The Hong Kong Council of Social Service is a council coordinating NGOs in the social service field in Hong Kong, established in 1947...
, Chair of the Hong Kong-Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
Business Council, Chairman of the Council of Lingnan University and Vice Chairman of Oxfam
Oxfam
Oxfam is an international confederation of 15 organizations working in 98 countries worldwide to find lasting solutions to poverty and related injustice around the world. In all Oxfam’s actions, the ultimate goal is to enable people to exercise their rights and manage their own lives...
Hong Kong. Chan has been awarded Commander (third class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand
The Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand
The Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand is a Thai order, established in 1869 by King Rama V of The Kingdom of Siam for Thais, Royal Family, Government Employees, and Foreign Dignitaries for their outstanding services to the Kingdom of Thailand. The order originally had 7 classes...
, the Gold Bauhinia Star
Gold Bauhinia Star
The Gold Bauhinia Star is the highest rank in Order of the Bauhinia Star in Hong Kong, created in 1997 to replace the British honours system of the Order of the British Empire after the transfer of sovereignty to People's Republic of China and the establishment of the Hong Kong Special...
(GBS) and Justice of the Peace (JP).
He is a citizen of China and has previously also held American and Thai citizenship.