Bernard Charnwut Chan[a]GBMGBSJP (Chinese: 陳智思; Jyutping: Can4 Zi3 Si1; 11 January 1965), is a Hong Kong politician and businessman. He served as Non-official Convenor of the Executive Council from 2017 to 2022.
He held American and Thai citizenship until 2004, when he was appointed member of the Executive Council and was required to relinquish all other nationalities.[13]
In April 2021, he wrote an opinion piece, claiming that the NPCSC's decision to reform elections and only allow "patriots" to serve in the government was good and that "Taxpayers should welcome the revamp."[14]
In December 2021, it was reported that Chan was eligible to vote four times in the 2021 Hong Kong legislative election, yielding 0.0411561% of the total voting value (elected seats), which is 8280 times more than the value of an average voter's total voting value.[15]
In October 2022, Chan admitted that Singapore's government was the "winner" over Hong Kong's, in COVID-19 pandemic measures.[16] Chan also said that Hong Kong's talent acquisition was hurt by its COVID-19 measures, and that the city was "too confident" in the past.[17]
In November 2022, after the government sent a delegation to Thailand, Chan said "It sent a message to both locals and the outside world that Hong Kong is returning to normalcy."[18]
He is married to Singaporean Yeo Peck Leng and has two children.[citation needed]
In 2011, Chan's wife, Yeo Peck Leng, founded an "alternative" private primary school, the Almitas Academy, with the couple's two sons as the only pupils. A year later the strongly Christian school, which operates in a commercial building in North Point, had 12 pupils aged from six to 12, about a third of whom have special needs. The academy works closely with parents to nurture their children to their fullest potential. Effective 1 January 2013, the academy changed its status to a not for profit organisation and also took the opportunity to change the English name of the school to Grace Christian Academy.
According to his 2021 Declaration of Registrable Interests, he owns one residential property in Wan Chai, one in San Francisco, one in Bangkok, 3 in Sai Kung, and 2 parking lots in Sai Kung.[19]
He is also a member of the American Club, Hong Kong Club, Hong Kong Country Club, and others.[19]