Gary Chan
Chan Hak-kan BBS, JP | |
|---|---|
陳克勤 | |
 | |
| Member of the Legislative Council | |
| Assumed office 1 October 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Li Kwok-ying |
| Constituency | New Territories East |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 April 1976 Fujian, China |
| Nationality | Hong Kong Chinese |
| Political party | Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong New Territories Association of Societies |
| Alma mater | Syracuse University Chinese University of Hong Kong (Bachelor of Social Science in Government and Public Administration) |
| Occupation | Legislative Councillor |
| Signature |  |
| Gary Chan | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | 陳克勤 | ||
| Simplified Chinese | 陈克勤 | ||
| |||
Gary Chan Hak-kan, BBS, JP (born 24 April 1976) is a current member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong. He represents the New Territories East constituency and is a member of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) political party.
Chan was born in Fujian, People's Republic of China. He graduated from the Department of Government and Public Administration at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and studied in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University. He was a member of Sha Tin District Council from 1999 to 2003. He was appointed as special assistant to the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, Sir Donald Tsang, from 2006 to 2008, with an annual salary of HK$77,000.[1][2]
In 2008, Chan followed Lau Kong Wah in running to represent New Territories East in the Legislative Council elections after resigning as special assistant to the Chief Executive.[3] With about 100,000 votes for their party list, both Chan and Lau were declared elected.[4]
Shortly after the election results were announced, Chan was widely ridiculed for his poor English. He is quoted as saying in response to a reporter's question that the DAB would "try our breast ... to improve people's living hood [sic]".[5]
In February 2021, Chan supported a maximum length of hair for prisoners in Hong Kong, claiming that "If prisoners have long hair, they can hide small blades or weapons in their hair and that could threaten the safety of correctional officers or other inmates ... Discipline is needed in jail."[6]
In 2010, Chan voted to build a cemetery near the mainland China border, but in 2021, became vigorously opposed to it.[7]
Controversies[]
Urine inspection[]
In a pre-election debate on 2008, Chan proposed to impose mandatory drug tests on teenagers returning from Mainland China, so as to fight against the abuse of narcotics by them. The plan was criticised as abusing human rights.[8]
Libel[]
In another pre-election debate on 2008, Chan questioned Leung Kwok-hung regarding his "one-minute attendance" in each LegCo meeting. Leung denied the accusation and considered it a libel on him. He replied with the fact that he had over 95% attendance and asked for an apology.[8]
Inadequate English proficiency[]
Shortly after the result of the Legislative Council was announced and Chan's victory and position as a Legislative Councillor was confirmed, Chan was interviewed by the press on live TV, where he was questioned by one of the English-speaking reporters:
Mr Chan, you were able to get a seat, but the government-friendly camp is losing one seat, is that to your surprise?[9]
Chan replied:
It is a little bit surprise for us, but we will try our breast to….(stuttering with 3 consecutive "ers")…still, er, try our breast to, er, not just, er, criticise the government's policy, but also make some, er, good suggestions in order to improve the people's livinghood. Ok?[9]
His mistake involving the replacement of the word "best" by "breast, in particular, was criticised in the media and the general public in Hong Kong for his lack of English language proficiency despite being a Legislative Councillor.[10][11] A clip from the interview was uploaded on YouTube and subtitled to enhance the stutters and the phrase "try our breast".[12]
References[]
- ^ "Young DAB star set to join Tsang office". Archived from the original on 11 February 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2008.
- ^ Political parties look to young guns
- ^ 29 DAB candidates to contest LegCo Election 9 July 2008
- ^ DAB retains top spot in HK election, 9 September 2008
- ^ "The struggle to keep abreast of it all". South China Morning Post. Hong Kong. 11 September 2008. p. 2.
- ^ "Hong Kong prisons start trimming female inmates' hair just past shoulders". South China Morning Post. 13 February 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
- ^ "Why are pro-Beijing lawmakers attacking the Sandy Ridge super cemetery? | Poon Siu-to ｜ Apple Daily". Apple Daily 蘋果日報 (in Chinese). Retrieved 13 April 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b [1]
- ^ Jump up to: a b Television Broadcasts Limited, 7 September 2008, Legislative Council Election live interview, Hong Kong.
- ^ "克勤叫人試胸？碩士學歷 英文答問出事", Ming Pao, Hong Kong
- ^ "隔牆有耳：網民恥笑陳克勤" Archived 13 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Apple Daily, Hong Kong
- ^ (陳克勤) "er...er...er...try our BREAST"
- 1976 births
- Alumni of the Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Politicians from Xiamen
- District councillors of Sha Tin District
- Living people
- Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs alumni
- New Territories Association of Societies politicians
- Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong politicians
- HK LegCo Members 2008–2012
- HK LegCo Members 2012–2016
- HK LegCo Members 2016–2020
- Recipients of the Bronze Bauhinia Star