Gregory So Kam-leung is the current Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development

The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development , head of Commerce and Economic Development Bureau of the Hong Kong Government, is responsible for promoting the commerce and economic development in Hong Kong...

 of 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...

.

Education

So holds a Bachelor of Arts

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...

 degree in Economics

Economics

Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...

 from Carleton University

Carleton University

Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...

 and a double degree of Master

Master's degree

A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...

 of business administration and Bachelor of Laws

Bachelor of Laws

The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...

 from the University of Ottawa

University of Ottawa

The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...

.

Early years

So moved to Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

 at age 16, returning to Hong Kong in the 1980s. He got married and raised his family in Canada.

Professional career

So is the senior partner of a solicitor’s firm, member of the Hospital Authority

Hospital Authority

The Hospital Authority is a statutory body managing all the public hospitals and institutes in Hong Kong. It is managed by the Hospital Authority Board and is under the monitor of the Secretary for Food and Health of the Hong Kong Government. Its chairman is Mr...

, the Council of the Lingnan University

Lingnan University

Lingnan University can refer to two separate establishments:*Lingnan University - a university in Hong Kong*Lingnan University - a university in Guangzhou, Guangdong province in China...

, and the Commission on Strategic Development.

Political career

So was the vice chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong when he was appointed as Under Secretary. He resigned as the party's vice chairman then, but still maintain his membership.

Between 2000 and 2003, So served on the Wong Tai Sin

Wong Tai Sin District

Wong Tai Sin District is one of the 18 districts of Hong Kong, and is the only landlocked district of the city. It is located in Kowloon and has a population of 444,630...

 District Councils and the Tsz Wan Shan

Tsz Wan Shan

Tsz Wan Shan is a residential area in New Kowloon, Hong Kong. Located at the foot of Temple Hill, it is administratively part of Wong Tai Sin District....

 Area Committee.

In 2008 he was nominated Undersecretary

Undersecretary

An under secretary is an executive government official in many countries, frequently a career public servant, who typically acts as a senior administrator or second-in-command to a politically-appointed Cabinet Minister or other government official...

 for the Commerce and Economic Development under the 2008 Political Appointments System

Political Appointments System

The Political Appointments System is a scheme introduced in 2008 by the Hong Kong Government to reinforce its ministerial team by superseding the Principal Officials Accountability System and inserting two layers of politically-appointed officials below the secretaries, who are political appointees...

, at the 'cost' of having to renounce his Canadian citizenship. "It was a tough decision. In doing so, I have also had to give up my legal practice qualification in Canada where I still have friends and relatives," he said

On June 28, 2011, So was appointed to succeed Rita Lau

Rita Lau

Rita Lau Ng Wai Lan or Rita Ng Wai Lan, GBS, JP is a Hong Kong Government senior civil servant. She was appointed Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development in July 2008 after her predecessor Frederick Ma resigned due to health reasons...

as Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development after she resigned for health reasons on April 2011.