Michael Suen

{{Short description|Hong Kong politician (1944–2024)}} {{family name hatnote|[[Sun (surname)|Suen]]|Michael Suen|Suen Ming-yeung|lang=Hong Kong}} {{Use Hong Kong English|date=November 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Michael Suen Ming-yeung | image = Michael Suen Ming Yeung.JPG | native_name = {{nobold|孫明揚}} | native_name_lang = zh-hk | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=HKG|GBS|CBE|JP|size=100%}} | order = [[Chief Secretary for Administration]] Acting | term_start = 28 September 2011 | term_end = 30 September 2011 | 1blankname = Chief Executive | 1namedata = [[Sir Donald Tsang]] | predecessor = [[Henry Tang]] | successor = [[Stephen Lam]] | term_start1 = 25 May 2005 | term_end1 = 30 May 2005 | 1blankname1 = Chief Executive | 1namedata1 = [[Henry Tang]] (Acting) [[Sir Donald Tsang]] | predecessor1 = [[Sir Donald Tsang]] | successor1 = [[Rafael Hui]] | order2 = [[Secretary for Constitutional Affairs]] | term_start2 = 4 August 1997 | term_end2 = 30 June 2002 | 1blankname2 = Chief Executive | 1namedata2 = [[Tung Chee-hwa]] | predecessor2 = Nicholas Ng | successor2 = [[Stephen Lam]] | term_start3 = 1 March 1989 | term_end3 = 2 October 1991 | predecessor3 = [[John Chan]] | successor3 = [[Michael Sze]] | governor3 = [[David Wilson, Baron Wilson of Tillyorn|David Wilson]] | order4 = [[Secretary for Home Affairs]] | term_start4 = 7 November 1991 | term_end4 = 3 August 1997 | governor4 = [[David Wilson, Baron Wilson of Tillyorn|David Wilson]] [[Chris Patten]] | order5 = [[Secretary for Education]] | term_start5 = 1 July 2007 | term_end5 = 30 June 2012 | 1blankname5 = Chief Executive | 1namedata5 = [[Sir Donald Tsang]] | predecessor5 = [[Arthur Li]] (as Secretary for Education and Manpower) | successor5 = [[Eddie Ng (politician)|Eddie Ng]] | order6 = [[Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands]] | term_start6 = 1 July 2002 | term_end6 = 30 June 2007 | 1blankname6 = Chief Executive | 1namedata6 = [[Tung Chee-hwa]] [[Sir Donald Tsang]] | birth_date = {{birth date|1944|4|7|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Chongqing]], [[Republic of China (1912-1949)|China]] | death_date = {{death date and age|2024|10|22|1944|4|7|df=y}} | death_place = Hong Kong | caption = Suen in 2008 }} {{Infobox Chinese | order = | showflag = | t = 孫明揚 | s = 孙明扬 | j = Syun1 Ming4 joeng4 | y = Syūn Mìhng yèuhng | p = Sūn Míngyáng }}

'''Michael Suen Ming-yeung''' {{post-nominals|country=HKG|GBS|CBE|JP}} (7 April 1944 – 22 October 2024) was a Hong Kong politician who served as the acting [[Chief Secretary for Administration]] in 2005 and 2012 and as [[Secretary for Education of Hong Kong]] from 2007 to 2012.

==Early life and education== Suen was born in [[Chongqing]], [[Republic of China (1912-1949)|China]] on 7 April 1944. His family fled the then provisional capital to Hong Kong in 1947. He attended [[Wah Yan College, Hong Kong|Wah Yan College]], a [[Society of Jesus|Jesuit]] school in Hong Kong.<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 January 2011 |script-title=zh:華仁仔再出擊師兄拔刀相助 |language=zh |url=http://paper.wenweipo.com/2011/01/27/HK1101270023.htm |access-date=28 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629014429/http://paper.wenweipo.com/2011/01/27/HK1101270023.htm |archive-date=29 June 2011 |script-website=zh:文匯報}}</ref>

==Career== Suen joined the [[British Hong Kong|colonial]] [[Hong Kong Government]] in 1966 as an Administrative Officer and was substantively promoted to the rank of Secretary, Government Secretariat in January 1991.<ref name="gov1">{{Cite web |title=Mr Michael Suen Ming-yeung, GBS, JP, Secretary for Education |url=http://www.gov.hk/en/about/govdirectory/po/sed.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519194946/http://www.gov.hk/en/about/govdirectory/po/sed.htm |archive-date=19 May 2011 |access-date=28 May 2011 |website=GovHK |language=en}}</ref>

During the early years of his career, he served in the former New Territories Administration, [[Resettlement Department]] and Environment Branch. He was appointed [[Secretary for Constitutional Affairs]] in March 1989 and [[Secretary for Home Affairs]] in November 1991. He continued his post as Secretary for Home Affairs on 8 July 1997 and took up the appointment as Secretary for Constitutional Affairs on 4 August 1997. Suen took up the post of [[Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands]] on 1 July 2002.<ref name="gov1" />

Upon the resignation of Sir [[Donald Tsang]] on 25 May 2005, he assumed the post as the acting [[Chief Secretary for Administration]], until [[Rafael Hui]] was appointed. In July 2007, he took over the position of [[Secretary for Education]] after [[Arthur Li]] retired.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chong |first=Winnie |date=13 July 2007 |title=Grants Chief Opposes Creation of Body to Settle Disputes |language=en |work=[[The Standard (Hong Kong)|The Standard]] |url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=48926&sid=14464900&con_type=1 |url-status=dead |access-date=23 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629165944/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=48926&sid=14464900&con_type=1 |archive-date=29 June 2011 }}</ref>

Around 2007, he was known for pushing [[trilingual]] education with English, [[Cantonese]] and [[Putonghua]] to boost Hong Kong's competitiveness.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Patel |first=Nishika |date=13 November 2007 |title=Language Plan Gets Mixed Reviews |language=en |work=The Standard |url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=56794&sid=16258931&con_type=1&d_str=20071113&sear_year=2007 |url-status=dead |access-date=28 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015195647/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=56794&sid=16258931&con_type=1&d_str=20071113&sear_year=2007 |archive-date=15 October 2012 }}</ref>

==Illness and death== On 27 April 2011, Suen announced that he was suffering from [[renal failure]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 April 2011 |script-title=zh:教育局局長與傳媒談話全文（只有中文） |url=http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201104/27/P201104270122.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430160605/http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201104/27/P201104270122.htm |archive-date=30 April 2011 |access-date=27 April 2011 |website=info.gov.hk |language=zh |type=Transcript of Secretary for Education}}</ref> Suen was also diagnosed with [[Legionellosis|Legionnaires' disease]] on 21 December 2011. The new HK government headquarters found as many as 19 areas contaminated with [[legionella]] bacteria out of 43 water samples. Suen announced his recovery in January 2012.

On 22 October 2024, Suen died in Hong Kong at the age of 80.<ref>{{cite news |title=前教育局長孫明揚逝世享年80歲政壇不倒翁曾推「孫九招」穩樓市影響深遠 |url=https://std.stheadline.com/realtime/article/2031068 |access-date=22 October 2024 |agency=[[Sing Tao Daily]] |date=22 October 2024 |language=zh-hk}}</ref>

==Controversy==

===2007 protest at home=== For years as a housing chief, Suen denied to meet with housing rights activists until 2007, when some 30 activists, including [[Leung Kwok-hung|Longhair Leung Kwok-hung]] finally camped out at Suen's house in [[Happy Valley, Hong Kong|Happy Valley]] to protest. Public housing citizens were suffering from excessive rent increase, and the activists tried to voice the concern. The protest turned violent outside his home, with five policemen and one protester injured. Leung was also arrested.<ref name="stan2007">{{Cite news |last=Chong |first=Winnie |date=6 June 2007 |title='Long Hair' Among Suen Home Protesters Held |language=en |work=The Standard |url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=46132&sid=13933998&con_type=1&d_str=20070606&sear_year=2007 |url-status=dead |access-date=28 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015195655/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=46132&sid=13933998&con_type=1&d_str=20070606&sear_year=2007 |archive-date=15 October 2012 }}</ref>

===Illegal extension case=== In 1994, Suen purchased a new home, the low-rise [[Shuk Yuen building]] in Green Lane [[Happy Valley, Hong Kong|Happy Valley]]. He then illegally extended the size of his home to make it bigger. As the former [[Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands]], his staff reportedly warned him against the illegal extension,<ref name="stan2011">{{Cite news |last=Lee |first=Diana |date=25 May 2011 |title=OK, I'll Pull Them Down Now |language=en |work=The Standard |url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=11&art_id=111400&sid=32493578&con_type=1&d_str=20110525&fc=2 |url-status=dead |access-date=28 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015195707/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=11&art_id=111400&sid=32493578&con_type=1&d_str=20110525&fc=2 |archive-date=15 October 2012 }}</ref><ref name="autogenerated1">{{Cite news |date=25 May 2011 |script-title=zh:承辦商準備拆卸孫明揚寓所僭建物 |language=zh |work=rthk.org.hk |url=http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/news/expressnews/20110525/news_20110525_55_757685.htm |access-date=28 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002035321/http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/news/expressnews/20110525/news_20110525_55_757685.htm |archive-date=2 October 2012}}</ref> sending him a letter in April 2006 to remove the extension, which he reportedly ignored. In 2011, he agreed to reduce the size of the structure. Both the [[Pro-democracy camp in Hong Kong|democratic]] and [[pro-Beijing camp|pro-Beijing]] camps criticised him.<ref name="criticisms">{{Cite news |last=Ho |first=Serinah |date=26 May 2011 |title=Suen Tries to Mend Fences |language=en |work=The Standard |url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=30&art_id=111445&sid=32503572&con_type=3&d_str=20110526&sear_year=2011 |url-status=dead |access-date=28 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015195759/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=30&art_id=111445&sid=32503572&con_type=3&d_str=20110526&sear_year=2011 |archive-date=15 October 2012 }}</ref>

==See also== * [[List of graduates of University of Hong Kong]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-new|creation}} {{s-ttl|title = [[Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs|Secretary for Constitutional Affairs]]|years = 1989–1991}} {{s-aft|after = [[Michael Sze]]}} {{s-bef|before = [[Peter Tsao]]}} {{s-ttl|title = [[Secretary for Home Affairs]]|years = 1991–1997}} {{s-aft|after = [[David Lan (politician)|David Lan]]}} {{s-bef|before = [[Nicholas Ng]]}} {{s-ttl|title = [[Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs|Secretary for Constitutional Affairs]]|years = 1997–2002}} {{s-aft|after = [[Stephen Lam]]}} {{s-bef|before=[[Dominic Wong]]|as=[[Secretary for Housing]]}} {{s-ttl|rows=2|title = [[Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands]]|years = 2002–2007}} {{s-aft|after=[[Eva Cheng]]|as=[[Secretary for Transport and Housing]]}} {{s-bef|before=[[John Tsang]]|as=[[Secretary for Planning and Lands]]}} {{s-aft|after=[[Carrie Lam (politician)|Carrie Lam]]|as=[[Secretary for Development]]}} {{s-bef|before = [[Donald Tsang]]}} {{s-ttl|title = [[Chief Secretary for Administration]] {{small|Acting}}|years = 25 May 2005 – 30 June 2005}} {{s-aft|after = [[Rafael Hui]]}} {{s-bef|before=[[Arthur Li]]|as=[[Secretary for Education and Manpower]]}} {{s-ttl|title = [[Secretary for Education]]|years = 2007–2012}} {{s-aft|after=[[Eddie Ng (politician)|Eddie Ng]]}} {{s-prec}} {{s-bef|before = [[Nellie Fong]] ''Recipients of the Gold Bauhinia Star''}} {{s-ttl|title = [[Hong Kong order of precedence]] ''Recipients of the Gold Bauhinia Star''}} {{s-aft|after = [[John B. Mortimer]] ''Recipients of the Gold Bauhinia Star''}} {{S-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Suen, Michael}} [[Category:1944 births]] [[Category:2024 deaths]] [[Category:Chinese emigrants to British Hong Kong]] [[Category:Government officials of Hong Kong]] [[Category:Politicians from Chongqing]] [[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]] [[Category:Recipients of the Grand Bauhinia Medal]] [[Category:Recipients of the Gold Bauhinia Star]] [[Category:HK LegCo Members 1988–1991]]