John Tsang

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John Tsang Chun-wah, GBM, JP (曾俊華), born April 21, 1951, is a Hong Kong former civil servant who was the city’s Financial Secretary from 2007 to 2017, the longest-serving in that role.

Early life and education
Tsang was born in Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, and grew up in the United States. He studied architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (BS) and earned a Master in Public Administration from Harvard. He returned to Hong Kong in 1982 to join the government.

Career highlights
He held many senior positions, including Commissioner of Customs and Excise (1999), Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology (2003–2006), and Director of the Chief Executive’s Office (2006–2007) before becoming Financial Secretary in 2007 under Donald Tsang. He continued in the role under Leung Chun-ying until his resignation in January 2017 to run for Chief Executive.

Key actions and events
Tsang’s time as Financial Secretary saw steady growth and successive budget surpluses. In 2011 he proposed aHK$6,000 cash handout for all residents, a plan that faced protests but was implemented in another form. He also launched iBond to develop Hong Kong’s bond market. His tenure included an IT procurement controversy in 2011 and a widely discussed 2013 remark about the middle class. In December 2013 he was egged at a public forum, an incident he later commented on with humor.

2017 and beyond
Tsang resigned in 2017 to pursue the Chief Executive election. He led in opinion polls at times but lost to Carrie Lam. Since leaving government, he has been active in public life: he founded Esperanza, served as vice-chairman of Ion Pacific, chaired Benefit Vantage Limited, hosted a weekly music program on Commercial Radio, and coached fencing at La Salle College.

Personal life
Tsang is married to Lynn Wong Tsang and has two children, Terence and Prudence. He is a Roman Catholic, a martial arts and fencing enthusiast, and has been nicknamed "Mr Potato Chips" for his moustache. He survived a coronary artery blockage and angioplasty in 2009.