# Sophia Chan > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Sophia_Chan > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Sophia_Chan.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophia_Chan > Source revision: 1348787264 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) In this [Hong Kong name](/source/Hong_Kong_name), the [surname](/source/Surname) is *[Chan](/source/Chen_(surname))*. In accordance with Hong Kong custom, the Western-style name is Sophia Chan and the Chinese-style name is Chan Siu Chee. Professor Sophia Chan Siu Chee GBS JP 陳肇始 Secretary for Food and Health In office 1 July 2017 – 30 June 2022 Chief Executive Carrie Lam Preceded by Ko Wing-man Succeeded by Lo Chung-mau (Secretary for Health) Personal details Born (1958-04-16) April 16, 1958 (age 68) Alma mater University of Manchester (MEd) Harvard University (MPH) University of Hong Kong (PhD) Signature **Sophia Chan Siu Chee** [GBS](/source/Gold_Bauhinia_Star) [JP](/source/Justice_of_the_Peace#Hong_Kong) ([Chinese](/source/Chinese_language): 陳肇始; born 16 April 1958) is a [Hong Kong](/source/Hong_Kong) academic, health policy leader, and former government official. She is currently a Professor at the School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), and serves as Senior Advisor to the President’s Office at HKU.[1] She is also Professor and Director of the HKU Primary Health Care Academy, and Head of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Health and Nursing Workforce Development in Primary Health Care.[2] Chan is internationally recognized for her work in public health, tobacco control, and primary health care development. ## Biography She was educated at the [St. Paul's Secondary School](/source/St._Paul's_Secondary_School). She subsequently graduated from the [University of Manchester](/source/University_of_Manchester) with a Master of Education, the [Harvard University](/source/Harvard_University) with a Master of Public Health and the [University of Hong Kong](/source/University_of_Hong_Kong) with a Doctor of Philosophy Degree. She was a Professor in Nursing and Director of Research in HKU's School of Nursing and an Assistant Dean of the [Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine](/source/Li_Ka_Shing_Faculty_of_Medicine) of HKU.[3] She was involved in tobacco control and smoking cessation promotion and was a consultant to the [World Health Organization](/source/World_Health_Organization) on training health-care professionals in tobacco dependency treatment interventions through advocacy and education.[3] ### Political Career In 2012, she was appointed as the Under Secretary for Food and Health.[4] From 2017 to 2022, she was appointed [Secretary for Food and Health](/source/Secretary_for_Food_and_Health) of the administration of [Carrie Lam](/source/Carrie_Lam). Subsequently, in 2018 she declined to speak in support of banning bear-bile products, the production of which is considered inhumane and cruel, in Hong Kong.[5] In February 2021, Chan gave approval for emergency use of the Sinovac vaccine,[6] and granted it an exemption from a rule that stated vaccines must have third phase clinical trial data published in a journal.[7] In April 2021, Chan briefed varies industries (catering, agriculture and fisheries, Chinese medicine, and health services) on why the [NPCSC](/source/Standing_Committee_of_the_National_People's_Congress) implemented rules to only allow "patriots" to serve in the government, and asked for their full support. In addition, she said that she fully supports the changes.[8] In December 2021, Chan claimed that having only "patriots" serve in the government would help the global fight against COVID-19.[9] On 31 December 2021, Chan warned the public not to gather in large groups; hours later, she attended the Hong Kong Dental Association's annual ball, as the guest of honor.[10] In March 2022, Chan said that a COVID-19 lockdown in Hong Kong had not been ruled out, contradicting an earlier statement by Carrie Lam, who said that a lockdown would not happen.[11] The contradiction caused rumors and panic-buying at grocery stores and pharmacies.[11] Chan also said that traditional Chinese medicine could prevent Covid-19.[12] In November 2022, Chan said that the government was not underprepared for the city's fifth wave, and when asked if the administration should apologize to relatives of those who died, Chan said it was time for people to move on.[13] ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Chan, Siu Chee Sophia"](https://sph.hku.hk/en/Biography/Chan-Siu-Chee-Sophia). *sph.hku.hk*. Retrieved 2026-04-14. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["HKU School of Public Health Professor Sophia Chan awarded Honorary Fellowship by the Royal College of Nursing - Press Releases - Media - HKU"](https://www.hku.hk/press/press-releases/detail/29045.html). *www.hku.hk*. Retrieved 2026-04-14. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-professor_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-professor_3-1) ["Professor Sophia CHAN, JP"](http://www.fhb.gov.hk/en/aboutus/biography/usfh.htm). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Under Secretaries, Political Assistants appointed"](http://archive.news.gov.hk/en/categories/admin/html/2012/10/20121031_152810.shtml?pickList=ticker). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["LCQ22: Prohibiting the trade of products containing ingredients from bear bile"](https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201805/30/P2018053000640.htm). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Govt approves Sinovac jabs 'in the public interest' - RTHK"](https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1576185-20210218.htm?). *news.rthk.hk*. Retrieved 2021-02-18. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Covid-19: Hong Kong experts endorse China's Sinovac vaccine before trial results are published"](https://hongkongfp.com/2021/02/17/covid-19-hong-kong-experts-endorse-chinas-sinovac-vaccine-before-trial-results-are-published/). *Hong Kong Free Press HKFP*. 2021-02-17. Retrieved 2021-02-18. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-sfhmeets_8-0)** ["SFH meets with stakeholders on improving Hong Kong's electoral system (with photos/video)"](https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202104/07/P2021040700672.htm). Hong Kong Government. 7 April 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["'HK will help global Covid fight with revamped Legco' - RTHK"](https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1623836-20211212.htm?). *news.rthk.hk*. Retrieved 2021-12-12. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Standard, The. ["Sophia Chan attended ball hours after advising citizens to avoid gatherings"](https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/4/186176/Sophia-Chan-attended-ball-hours-after-advising-citizens-to-avoid-gatherings). *The Standard*. Retrieved 2022-01-20. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_11-1) ["Hong Kong government urges residents spooked by citywide lockdown not to panic"](https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/hong-kong-government-urges-residents-spooked-by-citywide-lockdown-not-panic-2022-03-02/). *Reuters*. 2022-03-02. Retrieved 2022-03-06. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["How traditional Chinese medicine – TCM – is used to treat Covid-19"](https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3172362/traditional-chinese-medicine-tcm-and-covid-19-what-you). *South China Morning Post*. 2022-03-31. Retrieved 2022-12-16. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Standard, The. ["HK govt not underprepared for city's fifth wave, former health chief says"](https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/4/196804/HK-govt-not-underprepared-for-city%E2%80%99s-fifth-wave,-former-health-chief-says). *The Standard*. Retrieved 2022-11-07. Political offices Preceded by Gabriel Leung Under Secretary for Food and Health 2012–2017 Succeeded by Chui Tak-yi Preceded by Ko Wing-man Secretary for Food and Health 2017–2022 Succeeded by Lo Chung-mau (Secretary for Health) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sophia Chan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophia_Chan) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophia_Chan?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.