Michael Tien Explained

Native Name Lang:zh-hk
Honorific-Prefix:The Honourable
Michael Tien Puk-sun
Honorific-Suffix:BBS JP
Office:Member of the Legislative Council
Term Start:1 January 2022
Predecessor:New constituency
Constituency:New Territories North West
Term Start1:1 October 2012
Term End1:31 December 2021
Predecessor1:Lee Wing-tat
Successor1:Constituency abolished
Constituency1:New Territories West
Office2:Member of the Tsuen Wan District Council
Term Start2:1 January 2012
Term End2:31 December 2019
Successor2:Adrian Lau
Constituency2:Discovery Park
Office3:Chairman of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation
Term Start3:24 December 2001
Term End3:2 December 2007
Birth Date:26 August 1950
Birth Place:Hong Kong
Residence:Shouson Hill, Hong Kong
Parents:Francis Tien
Children:1 son and 3 daughters
Spouse:Frances Tien
Occupation:Politician
Businessman
Alma Mater:Diocesan Boys' School
Worcester Academy
Cornell University
Harvard Business School
C:田北辰
J:Tin4 Bak1san4
P:Tián Běichén

Michael Tien Puk-sun (; born 26 August 1950) is a Hong Kong politician, businessman and member of the Legislative Council for New Territories North West. He is the founder and chairman of the G2000 and U2 Clothing retail chains and former chairman of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC). He was formerly a member of the Liberal Party, which was led by his elder brother, James Tien, and a member of the New People's Party.

History

Tien was appointed as the chairman of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) in December 2001 amid public criticism on his predecessor, K. Y. Yeung. He proposed and implemented administrative reforms that enhanced KCRC's transparency and accountability; he regularly attended Legco meeting and explained the company's policies and decisions.[1] In 2006, Tien resigned as chairman of the KCRC due to disputes with other directors over his management style.[2]

Tien joined the Liberal Party in 2008 and became District Officer for Kowloon West. He quit the party in 2010 and started the New People's Party with Regina Ip, of which he became the deputy chairman.[3]

In the 2017 Chief Executive election, Tien supported his party chairwoman Regina Ip. He complained the election had "lost its shape" due to the increasing interference of "an invisible hand", referring to the Liaison Office. Tien inclined his support for John Tsang after Ip dropped out, although Ip endorsed Carrie Lam on the last day before the election.[4] [5] Tien eventually quit the party on 10 April with six District Councillors.[6]

In the 2019 District Council elections, Tien lost his Tsuen Wan District Council seat following a rout of pro-Beijing candidates amidst the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests.[7]

In December 2021, it was reported that Tien was eligible to vote four times in the 2021 Hong Kong legislative election, yielding 0.0328896% of the total voting value (elected seats), which is 6618 times more than the value of an average voter's total voting value.[8]

Background and education

Tien attended Diocesan Boys' School and spent a year at Worcester Academy in the United States.[9] Tien has a degree in electrical engineering from Cornell University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Property ownership

According to Tien's January 2022 declaration of assets, he owns property in Hong Kong, mainland China, and the United States.[10]

Current posts

Previous posts

External links

Notes and References

  1. Yeung . Rikkie L. K. . 2005 . Public Enterprise Governance: KCR Corporation and Its Governance Controversies . Public Management Review . 7 . 4 . 580 . 1471-9037 . 10.1080/14719030500362579 . 153715976 .
  2. News: Tien resigns amid feud. 13 March 2006. Michael Ng. Carrie Chan. Wendy Leung. amp. The Standard. 23 April 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110629165919/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=12&art_id=14037&sid=7029099&con_type=3. 29 June 2011.
  3. News: 'Invisible hand' interfering in Hong Kong chief executive race, NPP deputy chair Michael Tien says . Nikki . Sun. . https://web.archive.org/web/20170117050423/http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2062740/invisible-hand-interfering-hong-kong-chief-executive-race . 17 January 2017 . 17 January 2017 . The upcoming race for Hong Kong’s top job has "lost its shape" due to the increasing interference of "an invisible hand", according to New People’s Party deputy chairman Michael Tien Puk-sun [...] Tien said many election committee members, himself included, had received phone calls asking them to nominate certain candidates. This was despite Tien’s party chairwoman Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee being one of the contenders..
  4. News: Carrie Lam aims to 'reignite' Hong Kong as she officially announces candidacy for top job. South China Morning Post. 16 January 2017.
  5. News: 'Don't ask us to quit': Chief executive hopeful Regina Ip stands firm on candidacy in overcrowded field. South China Morning Post. 17 January 2017.
  6. News: zh-hant . zh:【新民黨分裂】直播田北辰宣佈退黨:因了解而分開. http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/realtime/news/20170410/56544841. 14 November 2016. Apple Daily.
  7. Web site: 2019 District Councils Election – Election Results (Tsuen Wan). Government of Hong Kong.
  8. Web site: FactWire. 2021-12-15. Factwire: 41 privileged voters have 7,200 times greater power than a regular Hong Kong voter following election revamp. 2021-12-16. Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. en-GB.
  9. https://archive.today/20130117114613/http://hk.asia-city.com/city-living/article/michael-tien HK Magazine ‘First Person’
  10. Web site: 2022-01-17. How well can Hong Kong's affluent lawmakers represent ordinary residents?. 2022-01-18. South China Morning Post. en.
  11. https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1625456-20211222.htm 'Substance matters' to voters: Michael Tien