Preceded by Paul Chan Constituency Accountancy | Name Kenneth Leung | |
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Alma mater Hong Kong Polytechnic University
London School of Economics (BSc, LL.M.) Occupation Tax Consultant
Accountant Education London School of Economics and Political Science, Hong Kong Polytechnic University | ||
Political party Professional Commons | ||
Hong Kong: Exclusive Interview with Kenneth Leung
Kenneth Leung Kai-cheong (Chinese: 梁繼昌; pinyin: Liáng Jìchāng; Cantonese Yale: Lèuhng Gaichēung) is a leading tax adviser in Hong Kong. He has been voted the world's 250 top tax advisers since 2008. He currently is a consultant at, and heads the Asia Pacific tax practice of, the British law firm Clifford Chance. He has been active in participating in public affairs since the 1990s to promote fair competition, the diversification of economy, responsible fiscal policy and housing policy, human rights and democratic reforms. He is a founding member of the Hong Kong Core Value Movement and the Synergynet. He is also a founding member and vice-chairman of the political think-tank, The Professional Commons.
Contents
- Hong Kong Exclusive Interview with Kenneth Leung
- Education and professional qualifications
- In politics
- Controversies
- Other government and professional activities
- Personal life
- References
Education and professional qualifications
Leung was born in Hong Kong. He graduated from Queen's College in 1981 before going on to the Hong Kong Polytechnic, where he received a professional diploma in accountancy. He then went abroad for further studies, first for a BSc in economics at the London School of Economics and Political Science, graduating in 1987, and then an LL.M at the same institution, which he completed in 1992.
Leung holds the professional qualifications of FCPA, Chartered Accountant, UK Chartered Tax Adviser, and Hong Kong Certified Tax Adviser. He is a solicitor admitted in England and Wales and in Hong Kong. According to the website of London-based law firm Clifford Chance, for which the legislator works, Kenneth Leung specialises in corporate and international tax planning and is named as one of the Global Top 250 tax advisers in the Tax Directors Handbook.
In politics
He first contested and won in a by-election in 2005 to fill a casual vacancy in the accountancy sub-sector of the Election Committee for the Chief Executive. In 2006, he participated in the sub-sector election (accountancy) for the Election Committee again and was elected with the second highest votes amongst the 20 successful candidates in that sub-sector. He nominated Lee Wing-tat and Alan Leong respectively in the 2005 and 2007 Chief Executive Election. In 2011, he led a nine-member team, "Democratic Accountants", to take part in the Election Committee sub-sector election for a third time; all members were elected. He nominated Albert Ho to take part in the Chief Executive election in 2012. Later that year, he ran in the LegCo election for the seat representing the Accountancy constituency. He was elected with 7,701 votes, against 6,538 for Nelson Lam and 2,231 for other candidates.
Controversies
In 2013, Leung was one of eight legislators treated by Cathay Pacific to a six-day trip to France to tour Airbus factories. In response to the public outcry and the perception of a conflict of interest, Leung stated that he would donate HK$100,000 to UNICEF, but refused to apologise.
In March 2017, Kenneth Leung was sued by CY Leung, the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, for alleged defamation. Kenneth Leung has made remarks about the $50 million payment that CY Leung received from an Australian firm in 2011 for signing a non-compete agreement, claiming that CY Leung is under investigation by overseas tax authorities for that payment, which CY Leung denied. According to SCMP, Kenneth Leung said that the lawsuit "would not stop him from continuing with a Legislative Council investigation into the payment controversy".
Other government and professional activities
As of 2013, Leung is a member of the Hong Kong Housing Authority (since 2007), the Independent Police Complaints Council (since 2011), and the Estate Agents Authority (since 2010). He has previously been a member of the Inland Revenue Board of Review and the Estate Agents Authority's Disciplinary Committee.
Leung also plays a role in a number of industry and professional groups, He was vice-chairman of the Taxation Policy Committee of The Taxation Institute of Hong Kong before rising to the chairmanship in 2008. He has been the vice-chairman of The Professional Commons since 2007. He continues to be a member of the Joint Liaison Committee on Taxation (since 2007) and the tax sub-committee of the Hong Kong chapter of the Alternative Investment Management Association, Hong Kong Chapter (since 2007). He was formerly a member of the Public Affairs Form and an external examiner for the PCLL courses of the University of Hong Kong and the City University of Hong Kong.
He has published articles in international professional journals including International Tax Review, Asia-Pacific Journal of Taxation, China Tax, and China Staff. He is a regular contributor to the column in Hong Kong Economic Journal, the Professional Eye.
Personal life
Leung is short-sighted, with one eye much worse than the other. In 2013, doctors found damage to the retina of his right eye, which if it worsened could have led to retinal detachment, and he underwent surgery to correct the problem.