In this Hong Kong name, the surname is Tsang. In accordance with Hong Kong custom, the Western-style name is Erick Tsang and the Chinese-style name is Tsang Kwok-wai.
Tsang joined the Immigration Department in 1987 and rose through the ranks to Principal Immigration Officer in 2009. He was Assistant Secretary for Security from 2003 to 2006. In 2012, he became Assistant Director of Immigration and then in 2014, Deputy Director of Immigration. In April 2016, he was appointed Director of Immigration.[1]
On October 14, 2020, the United States Department of State released a report on 10 individuals who materially contributed to the failure of the China to meet its obligations under the Sino–British Joint Declaration and Hong Kong's Basic Law. Tsang was on the list.[9]
In September 2020, when pro-democracy organizers planned to hold primaries for the 2020 Legislative Council, Tsang said that candidates could be in breach of the National Security Law.[10]
On 25 November 2020, Tsang was spotted sleeping during Chief Executive Carrie Lam's annual Policy Address. At a press conference two days later, Tsang claimed that medication he took caused the drowsiness.[11]
In January 2021, Tsang commented on forcing district councillors to take an oath to pledge loyalty to the government, and said that under the National Security Law, this would be required.[12][13] After the arrest of 53 pro-democracy figures in January 2021, Tsang said that they had to pay the price for "crossing the red line" by organizing primaries for the Legislative Council.[14]
In February 2021, Tsang announced that under the government's plan to mandate district councillors take an oath of loyalty to the government,[15] four pro-democracy district councillors (Lester Shum, Tiffany Yuen, Fergus Leung and Tat Cheng) would lose their seats.[16] In response, Shum said that the government was crushing dissent.[16] Also in February 2021, Tsang said "You cannot say that you are patriotic but you do not love the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party or you do not respect it - this does not make sense."[17] In addition, on the potential changes to the electoral system from Beijing, Tsang said that "When the central government reaches a concrete decision, we will fully cooperate."[18] In March 2021, Tsang officially introduced the bill that would force district councillors to take an oath, stating that he would like it "passed as soon as possible."[19]
In March 2021, Tsang announced a publicity drive for the legislation that would only allow "patriots" to serve in the government, stating that "The Hong Kong government welcomes and supports the reforms," and that "We have planned for a full-scale programme of explanation, and the entire team of principal officials will participate in promoting this."[20] In less than two weeks, approximately HK $2.5 million was spent on creating some promotional videos.[21]
In April 2021, Tsang, along with Teresa Cheng, announced that the government would be looking into the possibility of banning blank ballots; in response, HKU Professor Johannes Chan Man-mun said that "You can't force people to vote for a particular person, or prevent people from voting for that person, or bar them from performing certain voting acts."[22] Also in April 2021, Tsang defended a proposal that would give the Secretary of Justice the power to suspend lawmakers.[23]
In December 2021, Tsang threatened The Wall Street Journal, after it published an editorial about the upcoming elections in Hong Kong.[24] Tsang said that convincing people to cast blank ballots is illegal "irrespective whether the incitement is made in Hong Kong or abroad. We reserve the right to take necessary action."[24]
In April 2022, Tsang downplayed the record-low turnout of 30.2% in the 2021 Legislative Council elections and said that people should not only look at figures to judge the election.[25]
In July 2022, when asked about changes that would only allow "patriots" to run for office, Tsang claimed that "In fact, democracy has taken a quantum leap forward since the return to the motherland in 1997."[26] Tsang also said that "rest assured that the ultimate aim of attaining universal suffrage... remains unchanged."[27]
In October 2022, Tsang said that the policy of requiring only "patriots" to serve in the government may be expanded from the current policy of requiring civil servants, District Council members, as well as government schoolteachers to pledge loyalty to the government, to also include key employees in statutory bodies and public utilities in the future.[28]
In May 2023, after District Councils had a reduction in democratically elected seats, Tsang defended the new changes and said "Therefore, any talk about elements of democracy, or talk about linking District Councils to the Special Administration Region's democratic progression, are complete misinterpretations of the original intention of the Basic Law, muddling up different concepts..."[29] Tsang said that "anti-China" forces used "loopholes" to "swindle" votes during the 2019 district council elections, where pro-democracy figures won the majority of seats; a change from the previous position, as Chief Executive Carrie Lam said at the time that the government respected the results.[30]
In July 2023, Tsang submitted legislation to ban insults to the flag of Hong Kong, including insults posted online, so that citizens could "consciously respect and love" the flag.[31]
In January 2024, after lawmaker Paul Tse accused the government of prioritizing the complaints of mainland Chinese over local Hong Kong people, Tsang said that "Views on Hong Kong, whether expressed on local or Mainland social media, carry equal weight to the Government of the HKSAR."[32]
In June 2022, Tsang tested positive for COVID-19.[37] Tsang's wife was deemed a close contact, and underwent mandatory quarantine.[37] In July 2022, she was put in quarantine again due to being a close contact with an infected colleague.[38]
According to a declaration of interests from 2023, Tsang owns property outside of Hong Kong.[39]
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