Philip Wong Yu-hong, GBS (Chinese: 黃宜弘; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: N̂g Gî-hông; 23 December 1938 – 6 June 2021)[1] was a politician in Hong Kong who served as a member of the legislative council (Functional constituencies, Commercial [Second]), a deputy to the National People's Congress and vice-chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong. He was also a recipient of the Gold Bauhinia Star award.

Philip Wong Yu-hong
黃宜弘
Wong in 2008
Member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong
In office
9 October 1991 – 30 June 1997
Preceded byNew constituency
Succeeded byReplaced by Provisional Legislative Council
ConstituencyCommercial (Second)
In office
21 December 1996 – 30 June 1998
(Provisional Legislative Council)
In office
1 July 1998 – 30 September 2012
Preceded byNew parliament
Succeeded byMartin Liao
ConstituencyCommercial (Second)
Personal details
Born(1938-12-23)23 December 1938
Quanzhou, Fujian, China
Died6 June 2021(2021-06-06) (aged 82)
United States
Political partyNew Hong Kong Alliance (1990s)
Spouse(s)Josephine Tan (divorced)
Anita Maria Leung Fung-yee
ChildrenIan Joseph Wong
Kirk Landon Wong
Mark Nathan Wong
ParentWong Ker-lee (father)
Alma materUniversity of California, Berkeley (M.Sc.)
Southland University (J.D.)
California Coast University (Ph.D.)
OccupationBusinessman

Criticism edit

Academic credentials edit

On the Legislative council website, Wong was listed to have an M.Sc. degree from the University of California, Berkeley, a Ph.D. degree in engineering from the California Coast University, and a J.D. degree from Southland University.[2]

Share market analyst and Hong Kong activist, David Webb, requested an investigation be launched to check for his possible improper academic credentials. Nothing has come from Webb's request.

The University of California credentials passed muster as well as California Coast University's. California Coast University's bulletin states that it "does not require formal, on-campus residence or classroom attendance" because it is an online-only school accredited by the DEAC. Wong did receive the engineering degree from California Coast University on 27 August 1984, nearly 21 years before the CCU was accredited by the DEAC in January, 2005 (and the PhD programs were dropped as a condition of the school's accreditation); however, California Coast University had full state approval of all academic programs from the State of California which made the degrees legal and academically legitimate nearly everywhere in the world. Southland University is no longer in existence.

Middle finger incident edit

During the July 2003 Article 23 march, Wong was filmed to be giving demonstrators the middle finger gesture.[3] Hong Kong Canadian politician Albert Cheng asked in a meeting in October 2004 whether his middle finger gesture has been referred to a committee for consideration. Jasper Tsang, a colleague of Wong, replied that Wong had already apologised the previous day.[4]

Death edit

On 6 June 2021, Wong died at the age of 82 after a six-month battle with brain cancer in a hospital in the United States.[5][6] A memorial was held at AL Moore-Grimshaw Mortuaries Bethany Chapel in Phoenix, Arizona.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ "澳門城市大學 - 商學院".
  2. ^ "Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region - Register of Members' Interests". www.legco.gov.hk. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
  3. ^ The Standard article "Legislator escapes probes" Archived 2009-08-05 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 24 December 2007.
  4. ^ LegCo minutes re middle finger controversy
  5. ^ a b "Ex-lawmaker Philip Wong, who stirred controversy amid 2003 security law battle, dies at 82". South China Morning Post. 2021-06-09. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
  6. ^ "Former lawmaker Philip Wong, 82, dies of cancer". The Standard. 9 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.

External links edit

Legislative Council of Hong Kong
Preceded by Member of Legislative Council
Representative for Commercial (Second)
1991–1997
Replaced by Provisional Legislative Council
New parliament Member of Provisional Legislative Council
1997–1998
Replaced by Legislative Council
Member of Legislative Council
Representative for Commercial (Second)
1998–2012
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chairman of Finance Committee
2000–2004
Succeeded by