{{Short description|Hong Kong politician}} {{family name hatnote|[[Qiū (surname)|Yau]]|Edward Yau|Yau Tang-wah|lang=Hong Kong}} {{Use Hong Kong English|date=July 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}} {{Infobox officeholder |honorific_prefix = |name=Edward Yau Tang-wah |native_name = {{nobold|邱騰華}} |native_name_lang = zh-hk | honorific_suffix = [[Gold Bauhinia Star|GBS]] [[Justice of the Peace|JP]] |image=File:Edward Yau.jpg |caption=Edward Yau introducing the plastic levy in 2009 |birth_date={{birth date and age|1960|4|28|df=y}} |birth_place=[[British Hong Kong]] |alma_mater=[[University of Hong Kong]]<br>[[Oxford University]]<br>[[Harvard University]] |office=[[Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development]] |predecessor=[[Gregory So]] |successor=[[Algernon Yau]] |1blankname=Chief Executive |1namedata=[[Carrie Lam]] |term_start=1 July 2017 |term_end=30 June 2022 |office1=[[Office of the Chief Executive|Director, Office of the Chief Executive]] |predecessor1=[[Gabriel Leung]] |successor1 = [[Eric Chan]] |1blankname1=Chief Executive |1namedata1=[[Leung Chun-ying]] |term_start1=1 July 2012 |term_end1=30 June 2017 |office2=[[Secretary for the Environment]] |term_start2=1 July 2007 |term_end2=30 June 2012 |predecessor2= Position established |successor2=[[Wong Kam-sing]] |2blankname2=Chief Executive |2namedata2=[[Sir Donald Tsang]] |office3=Director of the [[Information Services Department|Information Services]] |term_start3=2006 |term_end3=2007 |predecessor3=[[:zh:蔡瑩璧|Yvonne Choi]] |successor3=[[:zh:馮程淑儀|Fung Ching Suk-yee]] }} {{Infobox Chinese |t=邱騰華 |j=Jau<sup>1</sup> Tang<sup>4</sup> waa<sup>4</sup> |y=Yāu Tàhng wàh |hide=yes |s=邱腾华 |p=Qiū Ténghuá| }} '''Edward Yau Tang-wah''', [[Gold Bauhinia Star|GBS]], [[Justice of the Peace|JP]] ({{lang-zh|t=邱騰華}}; born 28 April 1960, [[Hong Kong]]) is a Hong Kong politician. He was the [[Secretary for the Environment]] from 2007 to 2012, and from 2012 to 2017, he was the [[Office of the Chief Executive|Director of the Chief Executive's Office of Hong Kong]]. He served as [[Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development]] from 2017 to 2022.
==Career== Yau joined the Administrative Service in August 1981 and earned more than 30 years of public administration experience. During his years as a civil servant, he was [[Trade and Industry Department|Deputy Director-General of Trade]] (later renamed Deputy Director-General of Trade and Industry), Director-General of the [[Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office]] in [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]], and Deputy [[Secretary for Education and Manpower]], and Director of [[Information Services Department|Information Services]].
Yau was the [[Secretary for the Environment]] from 2007 to 2012. His responsibilities covered environmental protection, energy, and sustainable development. [[Conservation in Hong Kong|Nature conservation]] was also one of his main tasks and with his efforts, he established the [[Hong Kong Geopark]] which showcases the unique geological features in northeast Hong Kong. The Park obtained the [[UNESCO Global Geoparks|UNESCO Global Geopark]] status in 2011.
From 2012 to 2017, he was the [[Office of the Chief Executive|Director of the Chief Executive's Office of Hong Kong]], and his responsibilities were to assist the [[Chief Executive of Hong Kong|Chief Executive]] in formulating policies and setting policy goals and priorities; and to maintain close contacts with Executive and Legislative Councillors, political parties as well as the public sector to enlist their support for Government work.
=== Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development === Yau returned to the cabinet in 2017 as Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development in [[Lam government|Carrie Lam's government]].
In 2020, after RTHK journalist Yvonne Tong asked [[World Health Organization|WHO]] assistant director-general [[Bruce Aylward]] about the status of [[Taiwan]], Yau claimed that the show had violated the "One China" principle.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-04-13|title=Hong Kong journalist who challenged WHO official quits RTHK - sources|url=https://hongkongfp.com/2021/04/13/journalist-yvonne-tong-quits-rthk-source/|access-date=2021-04-13|website=Hong Kong Free Press HKFP|language=en-GB}}</ref>
In September 2020, after the United States required that goods made in Hong Kong be labelled as "Made in China," Yau filed a complaint to the United States, stating that such a rule was unreasonable.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-16|title=Hong Kong formally demands US drop 'Made-in-China' labelling requirement|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3101771/hong-kong-formally-demands-us-drop-made-china|access-date=2021-02-03|website=South China Morning Post|language=en}}</ref>
In January 2021, Yau said that a policy to require SIM card registration, where users of SIM cards would need to link their IDs, was necessary.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Candice Chau|date=2021-01-29|title=Minister says Hong Kong SIM card ID registration plan will thwart crime, but expert says workarounds possible|url=https://hongkongfp.com/2021/01/29/minister-says-hong-kong-sim-card-id-registration-plan-will-thwart-crime-but-expert-says-workarounds-possible/|access-date=2021-02-03|website=Hong Kong Free Press HKFP|language=en-GB}}</ref> In response, some sellers of pre-paid SIM cards said that they might lose their business, and that it would not prevent criminal activity, as criminals could use SIM cards from overseas.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-02-03|title='This will be the end of our industry': Hong Kong registration plan may kill off pre-paid SIM card business, retailers say|url=https://hongkongfp.com/2021/02/03/this-will-be-the-end-of-our-industry-hong-kong-registration-plan-may-kill-off-pre-paid-sim-card-business-retailers-say/|access-date=2021-02-03|website=Hong Kong Free Press HKFP|language=en-GB}}</ref> In May 2023, the government revealed that phone scams increased by 76% from the first quarter of 2022 to the first quarter of 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cheng |first=Mandy |title=Hong Kong sees overall crime rise by almost 50% in first quarter of 2023 - fraud and violent crime up - Hong Kong Free Press HKFP |url=https://hongkongfp.com/2023/05/16/hong-kong-sees-overall-crime-rise-by-almost-50-in-first-quarter-of-2023-fraud-and-violent-crime-up/ |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=hongkongfp.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>
In February 2021, Yau said that his bureau was investigating complaints into [[RTHK]] and that he had requested RTHK to conduct a thorough review of its programming.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=RTHK should respond in a responsible manner over wrongdoings: Edward Yau|url=https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/4/164890/RTHK-should-respond-in-a-responsible-manner-over-wrongdoings:-Edward-Yau|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203062003/https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/4/164890/RTHK-should-respond-in-a-responsible-manner-over-wrongdoings:-Edward-Yau |archive-date=3 February 2021 |access-date=|website=The Standard}}</ref> Following a report that said RTHK had "serious inadequacies" that required changes, Yau claimed that the government was not trying to weaken RTHK's editorial independence.<ref>{{Cite web|title=RTHK told to address its 'serious inadequacies' - RTHK|url=https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1576410-20210219.htm?|access-date=2021-02-20|website=news.rthk.hk|language=en-gb}}</ref> In March 2021, after two people asked why some episodes on RTHK had been axed, Yau defended the decisions and said "There is no need for the public to discuss whether a programme should be screened or not."<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-03-16|title=New RTHK boss confirms he axed several episodes of shows over lack of balance|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3125569/new-rthk-boss-confirms-he-pulled-plug-several-programmes-and|access-date=2021-03-16|website=South China Morning Post|language=en}}</ref>
In July 2021, Yau dismissed claims that the National Security Law would affect the city's creative freedom.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-07-12|title=National security law: Hong Kong commerce chief dismisses lawmakers' calls to censor online films|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3140838/national-security-law-hong-kong-commerce-chief-dismisses|access-date=2021-08-24|website=South China Morning Post|language=en}}</ref> In August 2021, Yau announced the introduction of a new film censorship law with punishments of up to three years in jail and fines of up to HK$1 million ($128,000) for anyone screening films containing material in violation of the new law.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-08-24|title=Illegal Film Screenings to Be Punished With Three-Year Jail Terms Under Hong Kong Censorship Law|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/asia/hong-kong-censorship-law-jail-1235047547/|access-date=2021-08-24|website=Variety|language=en}}</ref> Yau claimed that the law would not compromise freedom of speech.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Edward Yau: security law protects free speech - RTHK|url=https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1608002-20210828.htm?|access-date=2021-08-28|website=news.rthk.hk|language=en-gb}}</ref>
In August 2021, Yau defended his decision to allow [[Nicole Kidman]] to skip quarantine when flying from Australia to Hong Kong, when others, including residents of Hong Kong, must undergo hotel quarantine.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-08-20|title=Official defends Nicole Kidman's quarantine-free deal in Hong Kong|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3145754/nicole-kidmans-quarantine-free-deal-hong-kong|access-date=2021-08-20|website=South China Morning Post|language=en}}</ref> Athletes representing Hong Kong also must quarantine.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-08-25|title=Hong Kong trail runner hit by quarantine changes, coach blasts government|url=https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3146193/hong-kong-trail-runner-wong-ho-chung-hit-quarantine|access-date=2021-08-25|website=South China Morning Post|language=en}}</ref> Yau later during a TV interview claimed that Kidman's trip to a clothing store could have been part of a "costume fitting".<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-08-23|title=Nicole Kidman's shopping trip could have been 'costume fitting,' claims Hong Kong minister after star skips Covid quarantine|url=https://hongkongfp.com/2021/08/23/nicole-kidmans-shopping-trip-could-have-been-costume-fitting-claims-hong-kong-minister-after-star-skips-covid-quarantine/|access-date=2021-08-23|website=Hong Kong Free Press HKFP|language=en-GB}}</ref>
==Education== Edward Yau graduated from the [[University of Hong Kong]] in 1981, and received further education at [[Oxford University]] and [[Harvard University]].
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.gov.hk/en/about/govdirectory/po/sced.htm Mr Edward Yau Tang-wah biodata]
{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=[[Sarah Liao]]|as=[[Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Secretary for the Environment]]|years = 2007–2012}} {{s-aft|after=[[Wong Kam-sing]]}} {{s-bef|before=[[Gabriel Leung]]}} {{s-ttl|title=Director of [[Office of the Chief Executive|Chief Executive Office]]|years = 2012–2017}} {{s-aft|after=[[Eric Chan]]}} {{s-bef|before=[[Gregory So]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development]]|years = 2017–2022}} {{s-aft|after=[[Algernon Yau]]}} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yau, Edward}} [[Category:1960 births]] [[Category:Alumni of the University of Hong Kong]] [[Category:Alumni of the University of Oxford]] [[Category:Government officials of Hong Kong]] [[Category:Harvard University alumni]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Recipients of the Gold Bauhinia Star]]