Michael Tien

Michael Tien Puk-sun (Chinese: 田北辰; 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 clothing retail chain 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.

In this Hong Kong name, the surname is Tien. In accordance with Hong Kong custom, the Western-style name is Michael Tien and the Chinese-style name is Tien Puk-sun.
The Honourable
Michael Tien Puk-sun
BBS JP
田北辰
Member of the Legislative Council
Assumed office
1 January 2022
Preceded byNew constituency
ConstituencyNew Territories North West
In office
1 October 2012 – 31 December 2021
Preceded byLee Wing-tat
Succeeded byConstituency abolished
ConstituencyNew Territories West
Member of the Tsuen Wan District Council
In office
1 January 2012 – 31 December 2019
Succeeded byAdrian Lau
ConstituencyDiscovery Park
Chairman of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation
In office
24 December 2001 – 2 December 2007
Personal details
Born (1950-08-26) 26 August 1950
Hong Kong
Political partyLiberal Party (2008–10)
New People's Party (2011–17)
Roundtable (2017–present)
SpouseFrances Tien
RelationsJames Tien (brother)
Children1 son and 3 daughters
ParentFrancis Tien
Residence(s)Shouson Hill, Hong Kong
Alma materDiocesan Boys' School
Worcester Academy
Cornell University
Harvard Business School
OccupationPolitician
Businessman
Websitewww.michaeltien.hk
Michael Tien
Chinese田北辰

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 had a "privileged" vote in the 2021 Hong Kong legislative election, where the vote would count approximately 7,215 times more than an ordinary citizen.[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

References
  1. Yeung, Rikkie L. K. (2005). "Public Enterprise Governance: KCR Corporation and Its Governance Controversies". Public Management Review. 7 (4): 580. doi:10.1080/14719030500362579. ISSN 1471-9037. S2CID 153715976.
  2. Michael Ng; Carrie Chan & Wendy Leung (13 March 2006). "Tien resigns amid feud". The Standard. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  3. Sun, Nikki (17 January 2017). "'Invisible hand' interfering in Hong Kong chief executive race, NPP deputy chair Michael Tien says". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 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. "Carrie Lam aims to 'reignite' Hong Kong as she officially announces candidacy for top job". South China Morning Post. 16 January 2017.
  5. "'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. 【新民黨分裂】直播田北辰宣佈退黨：因了解而分開. Apple Daily (in Traditional Chinese). 14 November 2016.
  7. "2019 District Councils Election – Election Results (Tsuen Wan)". Government of Hong Kong.
  8. FactWire (15 December 2021). "Factwire: 41 privileged voters have 7,200 times greater power than a regular Hong Kong voter following election revamp". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  9. HK Magazine ‘First Person’, 6 December 2012
  10. "How well can Hong Kong's affluent lawmakers represent ordinary residents?". South China Morning Post. 17 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  11. 'Substance matters' to voters: Michael Tien
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