{{Short description|Hong Kong politician (born 1949)}} {{for|the Hong Kong activist|Tommy Cheung (politician)}} {{family name hatnote|[[Zhang (surname)|Cheung]]|Tommy Cheung|Cheung Yu-yan|lang=Hong Kong}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = [[The Honourable]] | name = Tommy Cheung | native_name = {{nobold|張宇人}} | native_name_lang = zh-hk | honorific_suffix = [[Gold Bauhinia Star|GBS]], [[Justice of the Peace|JP]] | image = Cheung Yu-yan in 2017 (cropped).jpg | caption = Cheung in 2017
| office1 = Member of the [[Legislative Council of Hong Kong|Legislative Council]] | term_start1 = 1 October 2000 | term_end1 = 31 December 2025 | predecessor1 = ''New constituency'' | successor1 = [[Jonathan Leung]] | constituency1 = [[Catering (constituency)|Catering]]
| office = Non-official Member of the [[Executive Council of Hong Kong|Executive Council]] | term_start = 25 November 2016 | term_end = | predecessor = | successor = | constituency = | appointer = [[Leung Chun-ying]]<br />[[Carrie Lam]]<br />[[John Lee Ka-chiu|John Lee]]
| office2 = Leader of the [[Liberal Party (Hong Kong)|Liberal Party]] | term_start2 = 10 May 2022 | predecessor2 = [[Felix Chung]]
| office3 = Chairman of the [[Liberal Party (Hong Kong)|Liberal Party]] | leader3 = [[Felix Chung]] | term_start3 = 7 October 2016 | predecessor3 = [[Felix Chung]] | successor3 = [[Peter Shiu]] | term_end3 = 10 May 2022
| ancestry = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1949|9|30}} | birth_place = [[British Hong Kong]] | death_date = | death_place = | party = [[Liberal Party (Hong Kong)|Liberal Party]] | occupation = Businessman<br />politician | spouse = | alma_mater = [[Diocesan Boys' School]]<br />[[Pepperdine University]] {{small|([[Bachelor of Science|BSc]], [[M.B.A.]])}} }} {{Infobox Chinese | order = | showflag = | t = 張宇人 | j = Zoeng<sup>1</sup> Jyu<sup>5</sup> jan<sup>4</sup> | y = Jēung Yúh yàhn }}
'''Tommy Cheung Yu-yan''', [[Gold Bauhinia Star|GBS]], [[Justice of the Peace|JP]] ({{lang-zh|t=張宇人}}, born 30 September 1949 in Hong Kong) is a Hong Kong politician and former member of the [[Legislative Council of Hong Kong]] (LegCo), representing the [[Catering (constituency)|Catering]] [[Functional constituency (Hong Kong)|functional constituency]]. He is also a non-official member of the [[Executive Council of Hong Kong]] and is leader of the [[Liberal Party (Hong Kong)|Liberal Party]], having previously served as party chairman from 2016 to 2022.
==Career== He graduated from the [[Diocesan Boys' School]] and [[Pepperdine University]].<ref name=":0">[http://www.tommycheung.com/profile_eng.htm Profile of Tommy Cheung] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905133012/http://www.tommycheung.com/profile_eng.htm |date=5 September 2008 }}</ref> He was previously a member of the [[Eastern District, Hong Kong|Eastern District]] Council. He is a businessman, chairman of a trading and investment company,<ref>[http://www.legco.gov.hk/general/english/members/yr04-08/cyy.htm Hon Tommy CHEUNG Yu-yan, SBS, JP] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080226015410/http://www.legco.gov.hk/general/english/members/yr04-08/cyy.htm |date=26 February 2008 }}</ref> and a member of the Diocesan Boys' School school committee.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dbs.edu.hk/index.php?section=administration&sub=schoolcommittee |title=An official list of DBS school committee members |access-date=17 November 2010 |archive-date=6 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606090643/http://www.dbs.edu.hk/index.php?section=administration&sub=schoolcommittee |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Legislative Councillor== In late 2005, when there were strong concerns regarding a potential "bird flu" pandemic, Cheung became "an outspoken opponent of migratory birds". He stated that [[migrating birds]] were the source of the pandemic threat.<ref name="hkstandard1">Hong Kong Standard. "{{cite web |url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=4&art_id=4670&sid=5266644&con_type=1&d_str=20051101 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-06-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221212630/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=4&art_id=4670&sid=5266644&con_type=1&d_str=20051101 |archive-date=2014-02-21 }}." ''Wetland migratory birds not to blame, say experts.'' Retrieved on 21 June 2012.</ref>
On 20 March 2010, after Cheung suggested a minimum wage of [[HK$]]20/hour, he became the subject of insults and derision from labour quarters, nicknamed "$20 Cheung".<ref name="scmp1">South China Morning Post. "[http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=35ace746f79c7210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=Hong+Kong&s=News SCMP]." ''Young critics heckle Liberal lawmaker.'' Retrieved on 5 April 2010.</ref>
During the [[2020 coronavirus pandemic in Hong Kong|2020 coronavirus pandemic]], Cheung spoke out against the government's extension of mandatory social distancing measures. He complained that catering constituents were suffering due to mandatory closures of some types of businesses, such as bars and karaoke centres, and accused the government of "not understanding economics".<ref name="blasts">{{cite news |title=Lawmaker blasts govt for extending Covid-19 curbs |url=https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1521829-20200421.htm |publisher=RTHK |date=21 April 2020 |access-date=21 April 2020 |archive-date=23 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200423015309/https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1521829-20200421.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
In January 2021, Cheung partially blamed teachers for the [[2019–20 Hong Kong protests]] and that CCTV cameras should be installed in classrooms to monitor teachers for "subversive remarks."<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-22|title=Hong Kong lawmakers push for surveillance cameras in classrooms|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3118789/hong-kongs-pro-establishment-lawmakers-make-case|access-date=2021-01-23|website=South China Morning Post|language=en|archive-date=22 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122124833/https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3118789/hong-kongs-pro-establishment-lawmakers-make-case|url-status=live}}</ref>
In December 2022, Cheung was one of three lawmakers who drafted legislation to reform [[Chinese University of Hong Kong|CUHK]]'s governing council, saying "During the anti-government turmoil in 2019, there was a riot on the campus of CUHK but the attitude and handling of the incident by CUHK were appalling.<ref name=":0" />
In December 2022, Cheung said "We need to take action to correct such behaviour that is this disrespectful to Hong Kong and to our country" and that he would support summing Google to the Legislative Council, to answer questions on why [[Glory to Hong Kong]] was ranked so highly when searching for the national anthem of Hong Kong.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-17 |title=Hong Kong may stop buying Google adverts unless national anthem row is resolved |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3203696/hong-kong-government-official-tells-google-city-will-not-buy-adverts-correct-search-engines-national |access-date=2022-12-18 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en |archive-date=18 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221218203805/https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3203696/hong-kong-government-official-tells-google-city-will-not-buy-adverts-correct-search-engines-national |url-status=live }}</ref> At the same month, he was tested positive for COVID-19.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www2.hkej.com/instantnews/current/article/3331352/%25E5%25BC%25B5%25E5%25AE%2587%25E4%25BA%25BA%25E7%25A2%25BA%25E8%25A8%25BA-%25E4%25BB%258A%25E5%25B9%25B4%25E7%25B4%25AF%25E8%25A8%258834%25E5%25AE%2597%25E8%25AD%25B0%25E5%2593%25A1%25E6%2584%259F%25E6%259F%2593 |title=張宇人確診 今年累計34宗議員感染 |date=21 December 2022 |website=[[Hong Kong Economic Journal]] |access-date=27 May 2025 |language=zh}}</ref>
In September 2023, Cheung drew criticism after he helped push a bill to revamp [[Chinese University of Hong Kong|Chinese University's]] governing council without the school's endorsement, with former lawmaker [[Abraham Shek]] asking "They should table the bill with the university’s endorsement. Why do they have to be that authoritarian?"<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-02 |title=Hong Kong should 'respect procedural justice', ex-lawmaker Abraham Razack says |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3231793/hong-kong-should-respect-procedural-justice-talk-less-about-national-security-says-political-veteran |access-date=2023-09-03 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en |archive-date=3 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230903113223/https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3231793/hong-kong-should-respect-procedural-justice-talk-less-about-national-security-says-political-veteran |url-status=live }}</ref>
Cheung retired in [[2025 Hong Kong legislative election|2025]] amidst a massive wave of retirement.
==Chairman of the Liberal Party== Cheung was elected Liberal Party's new chairman after the [[2016 Hong Kong legislative election|2016 Legislative Council election]] in October. The new leadership was seen as more moderate and conservative with less vocal anti-Leung Chun-ying (pro-government, but anti-Leung) stance.<ref>{{cite news|title=是否繼續「ABC」反梁 自由黨鬧分歧|url=https://www.hk01.com/%E6%B8%AF%E8%81%9E/47275/%E6%98%AF%E5%90%A6%E7%B9%BC%E7%BA%8C-ABC-%E5%8F%8D%E6%A2%81-%E8%87%AA%E7%94%B1%E9%BB%A8%E9%AC%A7%E5%88%86%E6%AD%A7-|work=HK01|date=7 October 2016}}</ref> Cheung was subsequently appointed by Leung to the Executive Council.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hong Kong leader appoints two new cabinet members just four months from leadership race|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2049273/hong-kong-leader-appoints-two-new-cabinet-members-just-four|date=25 November 2016|newspaper=South China Morning Post}}</ref> Cheung was reappointed to the Executive Council successively by [[Carrie Lam]] and [[John Lee Ka-chiu|John Lee]].
Cheung voted against paternity leave when it was introduced to the Employment Ordinance in 2015. In 2018, he opposed the Hong Kong government proposal to increase statutory paternity leave from three to five days, claiming the benefit itself should not even exist, as demands for more would be "never-ending". Cheung said that "back in the 1980s" there was no legally mandated paternal leave, but many companies would still grant "white days" for funerals and "red days" for auspicious events such as births and marriages without the need for "inflexible" labour laws requiring them to do so. Cheung's remarks attracted a lot of criticism, including by [[Ng Chau-pei]] of the pro-Beijing [[Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions]], who described Cheung as taking part in a "barbaric form of capitalism".<ref>{{cite news|title=Mandatory paternity leave for Hongkongers a mistake as city has dire shortage of workers, pro-establishment lawmaker says|work=South China Morning Post|date=9 August 2018|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/2158950/mandatory-paternity-leave-blame-worker-shortage|access-date=19 August 2018|archive-date=19 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819114602/https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/2158950/mandatory-paternity-leave-blame-worker-shortage|url-status=live}}</ref> Another Executive Councillor, [[New People's Party (Hong Kong)|New People's Party]] chairwoman [[Regina Ip]] agreed members should avoid publicly criticising the government.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hong Kong lawmaker who called mandatory paternity leave a mistake criticised by colleagues for attacking government plan|work=South China Morning Post|date=11 August 2018|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2159220/hong-kong-lawmaker-who-called-mandatory-paternity-leave|access-date=19 August 2018|archive-date=19 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819182113/https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2159220/hong-kong-lawmaker-who-called-mandatory-paternity-leave|url-status=live}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.tommycheung.com/ Official site of Tommy Cheung]
{{s-start}} {{s-par|hk}} {{s-bef|before=[[Ambrose Cheung]]<!-- 張永森 -->|as=Representative for [[Urban Council (constituency)|Urban Council]]}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of Legislative Council|district=[[Catering (constituency)|Catering]]|years=2000–2025}} {{s-aft|after=[[Jonathan Leung]]}} {{s-bef|before=[[Abraham Shek]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Father of the House|Senior Member]] in Legislative Council|years=2022–2025}} {{s-aft|after=[[Starry Lee]]}} {{s-bef|before=[[Emily Lau]]}} {{s-ttl|title=Chairman of Finance Committee|years=2012–2013}} {{s-aft|after=[[Ng Leung-sing]]}} {{s-bef|before=[[Ng Leung-sing]]}} {{s-ttl|title=Chairman of Finance Committee|years=2014–2015}} {{s-aft|after=[[Chan Kin-por]]}} {{s-ppo}} {{s-bef|before=[[Selina Chow]]}} {{s-ttl|title=Vice-Chairperson of the [[Liberal Party (Hong Kong)|Liberal Party]]|years=2008–2010 |alongside=[[Vincent Fang (entrepreneur)|Vincent Fang]]}} {{s-aft|after=[[Selina Chow]]}} {{s-bef|before=[[Felix Chung]]}} {{s-ttl|title=Chairman of the [[Liberal Party (Hong Kong)|Liberal Party]]|years=2016–2022}} {{s-aft|after=[[Peter Shiu]]}} {{s-prec}} {{s-bef|before=[[Jeffrey Lam]]<br /><small>''Member of the Executive Council''</small>}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Hong Kong order of precedence]]<br /><small>''Member of the Executive Council''</small>}} {{s-aft|after=[[Martin Liao]]<br /><small>''Member of the Executive Council''</small>}} {{end}}
{{HK Liberal Party}} {{HKLegco}} {{HKExco}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cheung, Tommy}} [[Category:1949 births]] [[Category:District councillors of Eastern District]] [[Category:HK LegCo Members 2000–2004]] [[Category:HK LegCo Members 2004–2008]] [[Category:HK LegCo Members 2008–2012]] [[Category:HK LegCo Members 2012–2016]] [[Category:HK LegCo Members 2016–2021]] [[Category:HK LegCo Members 2022–2025]] [[Category:Hong Kong Basic Law Consultative Committee members]] [[Category:Hong Kong businesspeople]] [[Category:Hong Kong Christians]] [[Category:Hong Kong justices of the peace]] [[Category:Hong Kong pro-Beijing politicians]] [[Category:Liberal Party (Hong Kong) politicians]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Members of the Executive Council of Hong Kong]] [[Category:People educated at Diocesan Boys' School]] [[Category:Pepperdine University alumni]] [[Category:Recipients of the Gold Bauhinia Star]] [[Category:Recipients of the Silver Bauhinia Star]]