# Michael Suen

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Hong Kong politician (1944–2024)

In this [Hong Kong name](/source/Hong_Kong_name), the [surname](/source/Surname) is *[Suen](/source/Sun_(surname))*. In accordance with Hong Kong custom, the Western-style name is Michael Suen and the Chinese-style name is Suen Ming-yeung.

Michael Suen Ming-yeung GBS CBE JP 孫明揚 Suen in 2008 Chief Secretary for Administration Acting In office 28 September 2011 – 30 September 2011 Chief Executive Sir Donald Tsang Preceded by Henry Tang Succeeded by Stephen Lam In office 25 May 2005 – 30 May 2005 Chief Executive Henry Tang (Acting) Sir Donald Tsang Preceded by Sir Donald Tsang Succeeded by Rafael Hui Secretary for Constitutional Affairs In office 4 August 1997 – 30 June 2002 Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa Preceded by Nicholas Ng Succeeded by Stephen Lam In office 1 March 1989 – 2 October 1991 Governor David Wilson Preceded by John Chan Succeeded by Michael Sze Secretary for Home Affairs In office 7 November 1991 – 3 August 1997 Governor David Wilson Chris Patten Secretary for Education In office 1 July 2007 – 30 June 2012 Chief Executive Sir Donald Tsang Preceded by Arthur Li (as Secretary for Education and Manpower) Succeeded by Eddie Ng Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands In office 1 July 2002 – 30 June 2007 Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa Sir Donald Tsang Personal details Born (1944-04-07)7 April 1944 Chongqing, China Died 22 October 2024(2024-10-22) (aged 80) Hong Kong

Michael Suen Traditional Chinese 孫明揚 Simplified Chinese 孙明扬 Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Sūn Míngyáng Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Syūn Mìhng yèuhng Jyutping Syun1 Ming4 joeng4

**Michael Suen Ming-yeung** [GBS](/source/Gold_Bauhinia_Star) [CBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire) [JP](/source/Justice_of_the_Peace#Hong_Kong) (7 April 1944 – 22 October 2024) was a Hong Kong politician who served as the acting [Chief Secretary for Administration](/source/Chief_Secretary_for_Administration) in 2005 and 2012 and as [Secretary for Education of Hong Kong](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Secretary_for_Education_of_Hong_Kong&action=edit&redlink=1) from 2007 to 2012.

## Early life and education

Suen was born in [Chongqing](/source/Chongqing), [China](/source/Republic_of_China_(1912-1949)) on 7 April 1944. His family fled the then provisional capital to Hong Kong in 1947. He attended [Wah Yan College](/source/Wah_Yan_College%2C_Hong_Kong), a [Jesuit](/source/Society_of_Jesus) school in Hong Kong.[1]

## Career

Suen joined the [colonial](/source/British_Hong_Kong) [Hong Kong Government](/source/Hong_Kong_Government) in 1966 as an Administrative Officer and was substantively promoted to the rank of Secretary, Government Secretariat in January 1991.[2]

During the early years of his career, he served in the former New Territories Administration, [Resettlement Department](/source/Resettlement_Department) and Environment Branch. He was appointed [Secretary for Constitutional Affairs](/source/Secretary_for_Constitutional_Affairs) in March 1989 and [Secretary for Home Affairs](/source/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](/source/Secretary_for_Housing%2C_Planning_and_Lands) on 1 July 2002.[2]

Upon the resignation of Sir [Donald Tsang](/source/Donald_Tsang) on 25 May 2005, he assumed the post as the acting [Chief Secretary for Administration](/source/Chief_Secretary_for_Administration), until [Rafael Hui](/source/Rafael_Hui) was appointed. In July 2007, he took over the position of [Secretary for Education](/source/Secretary_for_Education) after [Arthur Li](/source/Arthur_Li) retired.[3]

Around 2007, he was known for pushing [trilingual](/source/Trilingual) education with English, [Cantonese](/source/Cantonese) and [Putonghua](/source/Putonghua) to boost Hong Kong's competitiveness.[4]

## Illness and death

On 27 April 2011, Suen announced that he was suffering from [renal failure](/source/Renal_failure).[5] Suen was also diagnosed with [Legionnaires' disease](/source/Legionellosis) on 21 December 2011. The new HK government headquarters found as many as 19 areas contaminated with [legionella](/source/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.[6]

## 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 [Longhair Leung Kwok-hung](/source/Leung_Kwok-hung) finally camped out at Suen's house in [Happy Valley](/source/Happy_Valley%2C_Hong_Kong) 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.[7]

### Illegal extension case

In 1994, Suen purchased a new home, the low-rise [Shuk Yuen building](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shuk_Yuen_building&action=edit&redlink=1) in Green Lane [Happy Valley](/source/Happy_Valley%2C_Hong_Kong). He then illegally extended the size of his home to make it bigger. As the former [Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands](/source/Secretary_for_Housing%2C_Planning_and_Lands), his staff reportedly warned him against the illegal extension,[8][9] 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 [democratic](/source/Pro-democracy_camp_in_Hong_Kong) and [pro-Beijing](/source/Pro-Beijing_camp) camps criticised him.[10]

## See also

- [List of graduates of University of Hong Kong](/source/List_of_graduates_of_University_of_Hong_Kong)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [華仁仔再出擊 師兄拔刀相助](https://web.archive.org/web/20110629014429/http://paper.wenweipo.com/2011/01/27/HK1101270023.htm). 文匯報 (in Chinese). 27 January 2011. Archived from [the original](http://paper.wenweipo.com/2011/01/27/HK1101270023.htm) on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2011.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-gov1_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-gov1_2-1) ["Mr Michael Suen Ming-yeung, GBS, JP, Secretary for Education"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110519194946/http://www.gov.hk/en/about/govdirectory/po/sed.htm). *GovHK*. Archived from [the original](http://www.gov.hk/en/about/govdirectory/po/sed.htm) on 19 May 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Chong, Winnie (13 July 2007). ["Grants Chief Opposes Creation of Body to Settle Disputes"](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). *[The Standard](/source/The_Standard_(Hong_Kong))*. Archived from [the original](http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=48926&sid=14464900&con_type=1) on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Patel, Nishika (13 November 2007). ["Language Plan Gets Mixed Reviews"](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). *The Standard*. Archived from [the original](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) on 15 October 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [教育局局長與傳媒談話全文（只有中文）](https://web.archive.org/web/20110430160605/http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201104/27/P201104270122.htm). *info.gov.hk* (Transcript of Secretary for Education) (in Chinese). 27 April 2011. Archived from [the original](http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201104/27/P201104270122.htm) on 30 April 2011. Retrieved 27 April 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["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"](https://std.stheadline.com/realtime/article/2031068) (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). [Sing Tao Daily](/source/Sing_Tao_Daily). 22 October 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-stan2007_7-0)** Chong, Winnie (6 June 2007). ["'Long Hair' Among Suen Home Protesters Held"](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). *The Standard*. Archived from [the original](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) on 15 October 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-stan2011_8-0)** Lee, Diana (25 May 2011). ["OK, I'll Pull Them Down Now"](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). *The Standard*. Archived from [the original](http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=11&art_id=111400&sid=32493578&con_type=1&d_str=20110525&fc=2) on 15 October 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-autogenerated1_9-0)** [承辦商準備拆卸孫明揚寓所僭建物](https://web.archive.org/web/20121002035321/http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/news/expressnews/20110525/news_20110525_55_757685.htm). *rthk.org.hk* (in Chinese). 25 May 2011. Archived from [the original](http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/news/expressnews/20110525/news_20110525_55_757685.htm) on 2 October 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-criticisms_10-0)** Ho, Serinah (26 May 2011). ["Suen Tries to Mend Fences"](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). *The Standard*. Archived from [the original](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) on 15 October 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2011.

Political offices New creation Secretary for Constitutional Affairs 1989–1991 Succeeded by Michael Sze Preceded by Peter Tsao Secretary for Home Affairs 1991–1997 Succeeded by David Lan Preceded by Nicholas Ng Secretary for Constitutional Affairs 1997–2002 Succeeded by Stephen Lam Preceded by Dominic Wong as Secretary for Housing Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands 2002–2007 Succeeded by Eva Cheng as Secretary for Transport and Housing Preceded by John Tsang as Secretary for Planning and Lands Succeeded by Carrie Lam as Secretary for Development Preceded by Donald Tsang Chief Secretary for Administration Acting 25 May 2005 – 30 June 2005 Succeeded by Rafael Hui Preceded by Arthur Li as Secretary for Education and Manpower Secretary for Education 2007–2012 Succeeded by Eddie Ng Order of precedence Preceded by Nellie Fong Recipients of the Gold Bauhinia Star Hong Kong order of precedence Recipients of the Gold Bauhinia Star Succeeded by John B. Mortimer Recipients of the Gold Bauhinia Star

v t e Education Bureau Secretary for Education: Christine Choi Subordinate departments University Grants Committee Secretariat Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency Operations Primary One Admission System Predecessors Education and Manpower Bureau Education and Manpower Branch Education Department

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Michael Suen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Suen) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Suen?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.