Stephen Lam
Encyclopedia
Stephen Lam Sui-lung GBS
JP
(born 24 November 1955) is the Chief Secretary for Administration
of Hong Kong
and formerly Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs.
Lam was born in Hong Kong
attended Wah Yan College
. He graduated from the University of Hong Kong in 1978 and then began his public service career. During his early years in the civil service he attended the University of London
Law School, from which he graduated in 1983.
from 1989 to 1991. He was the Deputy Secretary for Constitutional Affairs from 1994 to 1996. He was the director of the Hong Kong Handover Ceremony Co-ordination Office from 1996 to 1997. After the transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China
, he was the Director of Administration and Development in the Hong Kong Department of Justice
. From July 2002 to September 2011 he was Secretary for Constitutional Affairs. Lam then replaced Henry Tang as the Chief Secretary for Administration, with nine months of the term remaining, due to Tang's resignation from the post in advance of his expected trot to the Chief Executiveship.
On 5 and 6 June 2009, Lam met with Fu Don-cheng (傅棟成), Taiwan
's Mainland Affairs Council
deputy minister. The meeting took place in Taipei
to improve cooperation between Hong Kong and Taiwan trade. He also met with Lai Shin-yuan, the Chairwoman of the MAC.
Lam". He has also been called a "Human flesh recorder" for constantly repeating the government line. Lam has attempted to make light of the situation by saying he is a high-tech MP3 player, not a low-tech tape recorder.
In 2011, his alleged "manipulation" of political development -- in particular, the so-called "replacement mechanism" for filling vacancies in the Legislative Council caused by resignations, led to objections to his promotion to Chief Secretary, including a protest march of more than a thousand people, led by the Civil Human Rights Front
.
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...
(born 24 November 1955) is the Chief Secretary for Administration
Chief Secretary for Administration
The Chief Secretary for Administration , commonly known as Chief Secretary and abbreviated as CS, is the second highest position of the Hong Kong Government...
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...
and formerly Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs.
Lam was born in 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...
attended Wah Yan College
Wah Yan College, Hong Kong
Wah Yan College, Hong Kong is an eminent grant-in-aid secondary school in Hong Kong. It was founded on 16 December 1919, by Tsui Yan Sau Peter . It is a Roman Catholic secondary school for boys run by the Chinese Province of the Society of Jesus...
. He graduated from the University of Hong Kong in 1978 and then began his public service career. During his early years in the civil service he attended the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
Law School, from which he graduated in 1983.
Career
Lam joined the Hong Kong government administrative service in October 1978. He held senior positions as Administrative Assistant to the Chief SecretaryChief Secretary for Administration
The Chief Secretary for Administration , commonly known as Chief Secretary and abbreviated as CS, is the second highest position of the Hong Kong Government...
from 1989 to 1991. He was the Deputy Secretary for Constitutional Affairs from 1994 to 1996. He was the director of the Hong Kong Handover Ceremony Co-ordination Office from 1996 to 1997. After the transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, he was the Director of Administration and Development in the Hong Kong Department of Justice
Department of Justice (Hong Kong)
The Department of Justice is the department responsible for the laws of Hong Kong headed by the Secretary for Justice. Before 1997, the names of the department and the position was the Legal Department and Attorney General respectively....
. From July 2002 to September 2011 he was Secretary for Constitutional Affairs. Lam then replaced Henry Tang as the Chief Secretary for Administration, with nine months of the term remaining, due to Tang's resignation from the post in advance of his expected trot to the Chief Executiveship.
On 5 and 6 June 2009, Lam met with Fu Don-cheng (傅棟成), Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
's Mainland Affairs Council
Mainland Affairs Council
The Mainland Affairs Council is a cabinet-level administrative agency under the Executive Yuan of the Republic of China. The MAC is responsible for the planning, development, and implementation of policies between the Free Area of the Republic of China, commonly known as Taiwan, and the People's...
deputy minister. The meeting took place in Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
to improve cooperation between Hong Kong and Taiwan trade. He also met with Lai Shin-yuan, the Chairwoman of the MAC.
Criticism
In July 2007 during a Legislative Council meeting, Lam was criticized by the pan-democrats for pocketing millions of dollars in government salary, while making no progress in constitutional development. Lam was dubbed "EunuchEunuch
A eunuch is a person born male most commonly castrated, typically early enough in his life for this change to have major hormonal consequences...
Lam". He has also been called a "Human flesh recorder" for constantly repeating the government line. Lam has attempted to make light of the situation by saying he is a high-tech MP3 player, not a low-tech tape recorder.
In 2011, his alleged "manipulation" of political development -- in particular, the so-called "replacement mechanism" for filling vacancies in the Legislative Council caused by resignations, led to objections to his promotion to Chief Secretary, including a protest march of more than a thousand people, led by the Civil Human Rights Front
Civil Human Rights Front
Civil Human Rights Front or CHRF is an organization that focuses on the issues of Hong Kong politics and livelihood, affiliates almost all the pan-democratic camps in Hong Kong. Forty-eight NGOs and political groups have been involved in the organization as of January 2006...
.