Name Wong Yan-lung Residence Hong Kong | Children Three daughters Spouse Esther Chan (m. 1996) Nationality Hong Kong Role Barrister | |
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Similar People Audrey Eu, Rafael Hui, Lee Wing‑tat, Rita Fan, Leung Chun‑ying | ||
Education University of Cambridge | ||
Revised proposal constitutional: SJ (29.6.2011)
Wong Yan-lung (born 1963) is a barrister and politician of Hong Kong. He has previously served as the second Secretary for Justice of Hong Kong between 20 October 2005 and 30 June 2012.
Contents
- Revised proposal constitutional SJ 2962011
- Speech by the Secretary for Justice at press conference on constitutional reform package 2162010
- Early years
- Career
- Personal life
- References
Speech by the Secretary for Justice at press conference on constitutional reform package (21.6.2010)
Early years
Wong grew up in a small flat in Tai Wong Street East (大王東街) in Wan Chai. He sold ice cream with his father for a monthly income of HK$300-HK$400. Wong graduated from secondary school at Queen's College in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. His top marks meant that he secured scholarships every year while studying at the College. In the 1980s, the family "upgraded" to Wah Fu Estate in Aberdeen. However, his father continued selling ice cream until Wong returned from studying in England. He read law at Magdalene College, Cambridge while on a Prince Philip Scholarship.
Career
Wong undertook pupillage with Andrew Li, and was the latter's last ever pupil. In 1987, he was called to both the Bar of England & Wales and the Bar of Hong Kong. He was appointed a Senior Counsel in 2002.
He sat as a Deputy High Court Judge of the Court of First Instance in July and August 2003, and was a Council member of the Hong Kong Bar Association from 1989 to 1990, from 1997 to 2002 and from 2003 to 2005. He was also Chairman of the Special Committee on Legal Education of the Association from 2003 to 2005.
He then served as the second Secretary for Justice of Hong Kong between 20 October 2005 and 30 June 2012, under Donald Tsang Yam-kuen. When the latter was later found guilty of one count of misconduct in public office in 2017, Wong personally wrote a ten-page letter of mitigation, stating that "[Tsang's] significant contributions to Hong Kong in the past over 4 decades should be properly recognized."
After his retirement from governmental office, Wong has resumed private practice as a barrister for Temple Chambers, with a broad civil and commercial practice. Wong has served as Chairman of the Buildings Appeal Tribunal, of the Criminal and Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation Boards, and of the Non-local Higher and Professional Education Appeal Board.
Personal life
Wong has three daughters with his wife, Esther Chan. He met his wife while doing charity work between 1991 and 1996, and married in 1996. He received several hundred thousand Hong Kong dollars as a wedding gift from his wife's wealthy family, which he, in turn, gave to organisations for the homeless.
He is a devout Christian. He has also served as Vice-Chairman of the CEDAR Fund and Member of the Steering Committee and Volunteer of the Hong Kong Christian Concern for the Homeless.