Gregory So

In this Chinese name, the family name is So (蘇).

Gregory So Kam-leung
蘇錦樑
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development
In office 28 June 2011 – 30 June 2017 Acting from 13 April 2011 – 27 June 2011
Chief Executive	Donald Tsang Leung Chun-ying
Preceded by	Rita Lau
Succeeded by	Edward Yau
Undersecretary for Commerce and Economic Development
In office 2 June 2008 – 27 June 2011
Secretary	Rita Lau
Preceded by	Position Created
Succeeded by	Vacant
Chief Executive	Sir Donald Tsang
Personal details
Born	(1958-10-12) October 12, 1958 (age 66) British Hong Kong
Political party	Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong
Alma mater	Carleton University University of Ottawa

Gregory So Kam-leung (traditional Chinese: 蘇錦樑; simplified Chinese: 苏锦梁) is the former Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of Hong Kong.

Education

So holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Carleton University and a double degree of Master of business administration and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Ottawa.^[1]

Early years

So moved to Canada at age 16, returning to Hong Kong in the 1980s. He got married and raised his family in Canada.^[2] So left Canada in the late 1990s, after working as a lawyer in Ontario, and returned to work in Hong Kong. As a senior government official, So no longer has Canadian citizenship.

Career

Professional career

So is the senior partner of a solicitor's firm, member of the Hospital Authority, the Council of the Lingnan University, and the Commission on Strategic Development.^[1]

Political career

So was the vice chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong when he was appointed as Under Secretary.^[1] He resigned as the party's vice chairman then, but still maintain his membership.^[3]

Between 2000 and 2003, So served on the Wong Tai Sin District Council and the Tsz Wan Shan Area Committee.^[1]

In 2008 he was nominated Undersecretary for the Commerce and Economic Development under the 2008 Political Appointments System, at the 'cost' of having to renounce his Canadian citizenship.^[4] "It was a tough decision. In doing so, I have also had to give up my legal practice qualification in Canada where I still have friends and relatives," he said^[2]

On 28 June 2011, So was appointed to succeed Rita Lau as Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development after she resigned for health reasons in April 2011.

On 6 May 2014, So's office and home received delivery of faeces after he told Hongkongers to tolerate incidents where Mainland visitors freely defecate and urinate on the streets of Hong Kong. So's comment came after a mainlander become violent to bystanders after they allowed their child to urinate in public in Hong Kong. Since receipt of the faeces delivery, So has also announced threats to the people responsible for stating their actions to be "very unwise."

Family

His brother, Kevin So Kam-wai, was sentenced to more than 6 years in jail for money laundering.^[5]

References

1. Press release, "CE appoints Under Secretaries" (with photos), Government Information Service, 20 May 2008, Retrieved on 21 June 2008.
2. Bonnie Chen (30 May 2008). "Two surrender foreign passports to defuse row". The Standard. Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 4 September 2008.
3. Lee, Diana (21 May 2008). "High hopes for appointees". The Standard. Hong Kong: The Standard Newspapers Publishing Ltd. p. 08. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
4. Asia Times. "Asia Times." Hong Kong deputies disappoint . Retrieved on 21 June 2008.
5. Standard, The. "Brother of former commerce chief sees jail term extended to six years and three months". The Standard. Retrieved 6 September 2022.

Political offices
New title	Undersecretary for Commerce and Economic Development 2008–2011	Vacant
Preceded by Rita Lau	Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development 2011–2017	Succeeded by Edward Yau