Wong Yan-lung

Wong Yan-lung
GBM, SC
黃仁龍
2nd Secretary for Justice of Hong Kong
In office
20 October 2005 – 30 June 2012
Preceded by Elsie Leung
Succeeded by Rimsky Yuen
Personal details
Born 1963
Nationality Hong Kong
Spouse(s) Esther Chan (陳筱茵)
Children Three daughters
Residence Hong Kong
Alma mater Magdalene College, Cambridge (MA)
Profession Barrister, Deputy High Court Judge
Wong Yan-lung
Traditional Chinese 黃仁龍
Simplified Chinese 黄仁龙

Wong Yan-lung, GBM, SC (Chinese: 黃仁龍; born 1963) is a barrister in Hong Kong. He has previously served as the second Secretary for Justice of Hong Kong between 20 October 2005 and 30 June 2012.

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.[1]

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."[2]

Since his retirement from governmental office, Wong has resumed private practice as a barrister for Temple Chambers, with a broad civil and commercial practice.[1] 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.[3]

On the Hong Kong Legislative Council oath-taking controversy, Wong described the National People's Congress Standing Committee interpretation of the Basic Law as a "pity" and "avoidable". He added that “from the constitutional and legal perspective, the National People’s Congress Standing Committee undoubtedly has the power to interpret every single clause of the Basic Law ... but at the same time, there is no doubt that such power must be exercised with extreme restraint and only when it is unavoidable”.[4]

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.[3]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Wong Yan Lung SC". Temple Chambers. Retrieved 2017-07-26.
  2. ↑ Donald truly a 'son of Hong Kong,' Wong Yan-lung says
  3. 1 2 Biodata
  4. ↑ "'Pity' that Beijing interpreted Basic Law during oath-taking saga, former Hong Kong justice chief says". South China Morning Post. 27 October 2017.
Political offices
Preceded by
Elsie Leung		 Secretary for Justice
2005–2012		 Succeeded by
Rimsky Yuen
Order of precedence
Preceded by
Stephen Lam
Recipient of the Grand Bauhinia Medal		 Hong Kong order of precedence
Recipient of the Grand Bauhinia Medal		 Succeeded by
Peter Woo
Recipient of the Grand Bauhinia Medal

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