Paul Tse Explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Honourable
Paul Tse Wai-chun
Native Name Lang:zh-hk
Honorific-Suffix:JP
Office:Member of the Legislative Council
Term Start:1 January 2022
Predecessor:New seat
Constituency:Election Committee
Term Start1:1 October 2012
Term End1:31 December 2021
Predecessor1:New seat
Successor1:Seat abolished
Constituency1:Kowloon East
Term Start2:1 October 2008
Term End2:30 September 2012
Predecessor2:Howard Young
Successor2:Yiu Si-wing
Constituency2:Tourism
Spouse:Pamela Peck
Birth Date:1959 1, df=yes
Birth Place:Hong Kong
Alma Mater:Wah Yan College, Kowloon
University of New South Wales
University of Hong Kong
City University of Hong Kong
Renmin University
Occupation:Solicitor
T:謝偉俊
S:谢伟俊
P:Xiè Wěijùn
Y:Jeh Wáih-jeun
Showflag:y

Paul Tse Wai-chun, JP (born 1959) is a Hong Kong solicitor, who claims himself as the "Superman of Law". He also owns a small travel agency and was elected to the Legislative Council of Hong Kong for the tourism functional constituency in the 2008 legislative election. Tse is of Hakka ancestry.

Career

Tse practised law as a barrister in Australia for seven years after graduating from University of New South Wales.

Tse then finished his pupillage in Hong Kong under Justice Peter Nguyen. Tse was called to the bar in 1992 and set up his own firm in 1997.

His media stunts and quest for self-publicity have caused controversy. From 1997 to 1999, Paul posed in his underpants only for magazines to spread the message that "laws are inherent to every people". After disciplinary hearings which lasted for nearly a decade, the Law Society of Hong Kong suspended his solicitor's license for 12 months for this stunt, but his firm could continue because there were other partners.[1]

In 2010, Tse was the sole legislator to vote against the introduction of a minimum wage in Hong Kong.

In February 2021, Tse said that Sinopharm vaccines should be administered in Hong Kong, despite the fact that the trial data had not been released.[2]

Also in February 2021, Tse announced potential reductions of power held by Legislative Council members, claiming that the reductions would create a "balance between the effective operation of the council and the right of speech of legislators."[3] In response, Andrew Wan said that such changes would serve only to minimize any antigovernmental opposition within the legislature. Tse also said that lawmakers could be banned for a week if they violated any of the new rules, and that the new rules could take effect as soon as 24 March 2021.[4]

In April 2021, Tse said that people who urge others to cast blank ballots may commit the crime of "inciting subversion" under the National Security Law.[5]

In January 2022, Tse said that he would try to introduce legislation to block the "yellow economic circle", where pro-democracy supporters boycott shopping at pro-government businesses.[6]

In June 2023, Tse introduced legislation that would give lawmakers a summer break.[7]

In January 2024, Tse criticized the government and said that "Law enforcement forces have seemingly given the public the impression that they value the online opinions of Xiaohongshu users, who are not taxpayers, more than Hong Kong citizens, who actually pay tax."[8] Tse said earlier that government actions to placate mainland Chinese netizens would lead to "Xiaohongshu administering Hong Kong," a pun on "patriots administering Hong Kong."[9] Chief Executive John Lee criticized Tse and said that his words reminded him of "soft resistance", whereas other agreed that Lee had "overreacted."[10] In late March 2024, after the passing of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance earlier that month, Tse said he had deleted his Facebook page due to his concern that comments he had made on Xiaohongshu and other matters violated the ordinance. His page was up again before the end of the month, but with all posts invisible or hidden.[11]

Personal life

Tse was born in Shap Pat Heung, Yuen Long, New Territories, Hong Kong, into a working-class family. His family lives in New Jersey, United States.

Property

Out of all 90 legislative council members in the 2022-2025 term, Tse owned the most properties, with 15 residential units in Hong Kong and one in Beijing.[12]

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://news.sina.com.hk/cgi-bin/nw/show.cgi/2/1/1/668642/1.html 謝偉俊停牌1年 ("Paul Tse suspended for 1 year")
  2. Web site: We can't let vaccinations be politicised: Carrie Lam - RTHK. 2021-02-04. news.rthk.hk. en-gb.
  3. Web site: 2021-02-04. Hong Kong pro-establishment lawmakers seek to amend legislature's house rules, in move set to further restrict their power. 2021-02-06. Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. en-GB.
  4. Web site: In absence of filibustering opposition, pro-Beijing camp plans ban on filibustering | Apple Daily. 2021-02-24. Apple Daily 蘋果日報. zh-hk. 22 February 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210222233648/https://hk.appledaily.com/news/20210223/DWY3SNRGHREWPOVKYKZZG4XBEE/. dead.
  5. Web site: Kwan. Rhoda. 2021-04-06. Calling on others to cast blank protest votes in elections may be illegal, says Hong Kong lawmaker. 2021-04-07. Hong Kong Free Press. en-GB.
  6. Web site: Standard. The. Lawmakers mull legislation to stop 'yellow economic circle'. 2022-01-26. The Standard. en.
  7. Web site: Chau . Candice . 2023-06-30 . Hong Kong legislature amends rules to allow lawmakers to take a 'summer break' . 2023-06-30 . Hong Kong Free Press HKFP . en-GB.
  8. Web site: Chan . Irene . 2024-01-26 . Hong Kong's John Lee rebuts lawmaker's criticism as 'dangerous' . 2024-02-17 . Hong Kong Free Press HKFP . en-GB.
  9. Web site: Lee . James . 2024-01-17 . Hong Kong says it listens to locals, as well as mainland tourists . 2024-02-17 . Hong Kong Free Press HKFP . en-GB.
  10. Web site: 2024-04-21 . Hong Kong lawmaker Paul Tse adds Facebook page disclaimer over Article 23 law . 2024-05-22 . South China Morning Post . en.
  11. Web site: Hong Kong lawmaker deletes Facebook posts under new security law. Sam. Yuen. Radio Free Asia. 2024-03-29. 2024-04-15.
  12. Web site: 2022-01-17. How well can Hong Kong's affluent lawmakers represent ordinary residents?. 2022-01-18. South China Morning Post. en.