Wong Kam-sing

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Wong Kam-sing, GBS, JP (Chinese: 黃錦星; born 1963) is a Hong Kong architect and former Secretary for the Environment, serving from 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2022. He worked under Chief Executives Leung Chun-ying and Carrie Lam and was followed by Tse Chin-wan (as Secretary for the Environment and Ecology). Before joining the Government, Wong held several public roles, including the first Chairman of the Environment and Sustainable Development Committee of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects, the Chairman of the Professional Green Building Council, and the Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Green Building Council. He has worked to promote standards for a sustainable built environment in Hong Kong’s high-density city.

Early life and family: Wong grew up in Sham Shui Po in a subdivided flat and later moved to Shatin Pass Estate. He has five siblings. He supported his family by working as a tutor, making artificial flowers, and working in factories during summer vacations. He is married to Susan Leung So-wan, who is also an architect, and they have a daughter.

Policies and achievements: As Environment Secretary, Wong introduced blueprints to guide air quality, waste reduction and recycling, nature conservation, climate change, and energy policies. In June 2022, he released the Hong Kong Environmental Report 2012-2022, highlighting six I’s: interaction, innovation, integration, improvement, investment, and infrastructure. Major air-quality improvements included new air quality objectives and the Air Quality Health Index. From 2010 to 2020, ambient levels of key pollutants declined by about 37%–58%, with roadside levels dropping around 40%–50%.

Public engagement: In 2017, Wong started the SEN’s Blog to explain policy progress with videos and images, and he later used Facebook and Instagram to communicate more with the public.

Education: He studied at CCC Kei Tsz Primary School, St Bonaventure College and High School, and Po Leung Kuk No.1 College. He earned a Architecture degree from the University of Hong Kong in 1988 and studied sustainable built environments at the University of British Columbia in the 1990s.