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Paul Tse

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"Tse Wai Chun" redirects here. For the footballer of the same name, see Tse Wai Chun (footballer).

In this Hong Kong name, the surname is Tse. In accordance with Hong Kong custom, the Western-style name is Paul Tse and the Chinese-style name is Tse Wai-chun.
The Honourable
Paul Tse Wai-chun
JP
謝偉俊
Member of the Legislative Council
Incumbent
Assumed office
1 January 2022
Preceded byNew seat
ConstituencyElection Committee
In office
1 October 2012 – 31 December 2021
Preceded byNew seat
Succeeded bySeat abolished
ConstituencyKowloon East
In office
1 October 2008 – 30 September 2012
Preceded byHoward Young
Succeeded byYiu Si-wing
ConstituencyTourism
Personal details
Born (1959-01-21) 21 January 1959 (age 65)
Hong Kong
SpousePamela Peck
Alma materWah Yan College, Kowloon
University of New South Wales (BBA, LL.B.)
University of Hong Kong(PCLL)
City University of Hong Kong(LL.M.)
Renmin University
OccupationSolicitor
Paul Tse
Traditional Chinese謝偉俊
Simplified Chinese谢伟俊
Cantonese YaleJeh Wáih-jeun
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinXiè Wěijùn
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationJeh Wáih-jeun

Paul Tse Wai-chun, JP (Chinese: 謝偉俊, 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.[citation needed] Tse is of Hakka ancestry.

Career

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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.[1]

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.[2]

In 2010, Tse was the sole legislator to vote against the introduction of a minimum wage in Hong Kong.[3]

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.[4]

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."[5] In response, Andrew Wan said that such changes would serve only to minimize any antigovernmental opposition within the legislature.[5] 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.[6]

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.[7]

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.[8]

In June 2023, Tse introduced legislation that would give lawmakers a summer break.[9]

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."[10] 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."[11] Chief Executive John Lee criticized Tse and said that his words reminded him of "soft resistance", whereas other agreed that Lee had "overreacted."[12] 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.[13]

Personal life

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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

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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.[14]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Ng, Kang-chung (6 July 2015), "Lawmaker who courts controversy", South China Morning Post, retrieved 7 July 2015
  2. ^ 謝偉俊停牌1年 ("Paul Tse suspended for 1 year"), Sina.com, 14 March 2008 (in Chinese)
  3. ^ Siu, Beatrice (16 July 2010), "Minimum wage bill on verge of becoming law", The Standard, archived from the original on 14 August 2010, retrieved 21 July 2010
  4. ^ "We can't let vaccinations be politicised: Carrie Lam - RTHK". news.rthk.hk. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Hong Kong pro-establishment lawmakers seek to amend legislature's house rules, in move set to further restrict their power". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. 4 February 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  6. ^ "In absence of filibustering opposition, pro-Beijing camp plans ban on filibustering ｜ Apple Daily". Apple Daily 蘋果日報 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Archived from the original on 22 February 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  7. ^ Kwan, Rhoda (6 April 2021). "Calling on others to cast blank protest votes in elections may be illegal, says Hong Kong lawmaker". Hong Kong Free Press. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  8. ^ Standard, The. "Lawmakers mull legislation to stop 'yellow economic circle'". The Standard. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  9. ^ Chau, Candice (30 June 2023). "Hong Kong legislature amends rules to allow lawmakers to take a 'summer break'". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  10. ^ Chan, Irene (26 January 2024). "Hong Kong's John Lee rebuts lawmaker's criticism as 'dangerous'". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  11. ^ Lee, James (17 January 2024). "Hong Kong says it listens to locals, as well as mainland tourists". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  12. ^ "Hong Kong lawmaker Paul Tse adds Facebook page disclaimer over Article 23 law". South China Morning Post. 21 April 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  13. ^ Yuen, Sam (29 March 2024). "Hong Kong lawmaker deletes Facebook posts under new security law". Radio Free Asia. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  14. ^ "How well can Hong Kong's affluent lawmakers represent ordinary residents?". South China Morning Post. 17 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
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Legislative Council of Hong Kong
Preceded by Member of Legislative Council
Representative for Tourism
2008–2012 		Succeeded by
New seat Member of Legislative Council
Representative for Kowloon East
2012–2021 		Seat abolished
New seat Member of Legislative Council
Representative for Election Committee
2022–present 		Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Member of Wan Chai District Council
Representative for Broadwood
2016–present 		Incumbent
Order of precedence
Preceded by
Priscilla Leung
Member of the Legislative Council
 Hong Kong order of precedence
Member of the Legislative Council 		Succeeded by
Claudia Mo
Member of the Legislative Council
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