Donald Tsang
Donald Tsang
====================
Full Name and Common Aliases
--------------------------------
Donald Tsang Yam-kuen is a former Hong Kong politician who served as the second Chief Executive of Hong Kong from 2005 to 2012. He is commonly known by his Chinese name, Tsang Yam-kuen.
Birth and Death Dates
-------------------------
Donald Tsang was born on July 7, 1944. As of this writing, he is still alive.
Nationality and Profession(s)
---------------------------------
Nationality: Hong Kong (British subject at birth, later became a Chinese citizen)
Profession: Politician
Early Life and Background
------------------------------
Tsang Yam-kuen was born in Shanghai, China, to a family of modest means. His father was a bank clerk, and the family moved to Hong Kong when Tsang was just two years old. He attended St. Stephen's College, a prestigious secondary school in Hong Kong, before pursuing higher education at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom.
Major Accomplishments
---------------------------
Tsang Yam-kuen began his career in the Hong Kong government as a civil servant in 1967. He rose through the ranks to become a senior administrator and was appointed as the Chief Secretary for Administration in 2001, serving under then-Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa.
In 2005, Tsang succeeded Tung as the second Chief Executive of Hong Kong, marking the first peaceful transfer of power in the territory's history. During his tenure, he implemented various economic and social reforms, including the introduction of a "Vision 2030" plan to boost the economy and improve living standards.
Tsang also played a key role in negotiating the Hong Kong Basic Law, which serves as the constitutional document of Hong Kong.
Notable Works or Actions
------------------------------
As Chief Executive, Tsang oversaw several notable initiatives:
Introduced the "Consultation Document on Constitutional Development" to engage citizens in constitutional reform discussions.
Launched the "Hong Kong 2030+ Vision and Strategy for the Urban Planning and Design of Hong Kong", a comprehensive plan to shape the city's development.
Tsang was known for his diplomatic skills, which earned him international recognition. He served as the Chairman of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from 2001 to 2013 and played a key role in securing Hong Kong's hosting rights for the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Impact and Legacy
-------------------------
Donald Tsang's impact on Hong Kong is multifaceted:
His tenure marked a significant shift towards greater autonomy and self-governance, as he worked closely with Beijing to implement constitutional reforms.
He implemented economic policies that fostered growth and innovation, solidifying Hong Kong's status as an international financial hub.
Tsang's leadership style was characterized by his inclusive approach, which sought to engage citizens in governance through public consultations and dialogue. His efforts to promote civic participation have been widely praised.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
--------------------------------------------
Donald Tsang is remembered for his:
Visionary leadership, which has left a lasting impact on Hong Kong's development.
Commitment to promoting civic engagement and democratic reform.
* Diplomatic skills, which have earned him international recognition.
His legacy serves as a testament to the power of inclusive governance and collaborative leadership.
Quotes by Donald Tsang
The hard work over the past two years, of intensive and widespread consultation and of putting the proposals together, will be lost. Worse, the mutual trust we have taken pains to build between the central government and ourselves, the trust we need to take our democratization forward, will dissipate.
I suggest we work on all these elements and reach the final destination of universal suffrage as quickly as possible.
This is the busiest time for national leaders. What I am going to do on this occasion are practical things, which may bring greater benefits to Hong Kong people and bring new opportunities for economic development, and help further modernization of the nation as a whole.
Our connections with the mainland have given us an obvious edge over our competitors in servicing the financing and investment needs of mainland enterprises.
I understand it is bad politics to cut spending or raise taxes. So you pray and pray that this is not dangerous, and as long as nothing happens in your term, it's okay.
I understand that the matter is being actively looked into and the case will be referred to the prosecution department before January 6.
We have discussed this development for a long time. We should be able to spend and not drag our feet anymore because thousands of construction workers are waiting for work from the project.