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{{Infobox officeholder
'''Wong Lam''', [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]], [[Justice of Peace|JP]] ({{zh-t|王霖}}; born 23 July 1919) was an [[unofficial member]] of the [[Legislative Council of Hong Kong]] from 1976 to 1985 as the first member with grassroots background to serve on the council.
|image = Wong Lam MLC.jpg
|imagesize =
|alt =
|honorific-prefix =
|name = Wong Lam
|native_name = {{nobold|王霖}}
|native_name_lang = zh-hk
|honorific-suffix = [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]], [[Justice of Peace|JP]]
|office = Unofficial Member of the [[Legislative Council of Hong Kong]]
|term_start = 6 October 1976
|term_end = 7 August 1985
|predecessor =
|successor =
|appointed = Sir [[Murray MacLehose]]
|birth_date = {{Birth date|1919|7|23|df=yes}}
|birth_place = [[British Hong Kong]]
|death_date = {{Death date and age|2016|3|19|1919|7|23|df=yes}}
|death_place = [[Hong Kong]]
|party =
|occupation =
|alma_mater = Ellis Kadoorie School
|resting_place =
|spouse =
|children =
|religion =
|signature =
|footnotes =
}}


'''Wong Lam''', [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]], [[Justice of Peace|JP]] ({{zh-t|王霖}}; 23 July 1919 – 19 March 2016) was an [[unofficial member]] of the [[Legislative Council of Hong Kong]] from 1976 to 1985 as the first member with grassroots background to serve on the council.
==Biography==

Wong was born in Hong Kong in 1919 and was educated at the Ellis Kadoorie School. At the age of 15, he moved to study in [[Guangzhou]] until the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]] broke out in 1937. He returned to Hong Kong and joined the [[Kowloon Motor Bus]] as a ticket seller in 1937. He was later promoted to operations officer of the Kwun Tong Depot in 1966 to open up new routes in Kwun Tong, the new satellite town dominated by the [[mini-bus]]es at the time. For that, he had to contact with the [[kaifong]] associations, the [[Secretariat for Chinese Affairs]], the [[Social Welfare Department]] and the police. From there he got to know many government officials, including [[Denis Bray]] who later became the [[Secretary for Home Affairs]]. He was asked for advices on the transportation issues in Kwun Tong and was invited to see [[Governor of Hong Kong|Governor]] Sir [[Murray MacLehose]] for advices. He also became the public relations manager for the Kowloon Motor Bus.<ref name="history">{{cite news|title=前立法局元老王霖慨嘆 議員今不如昔|newspaper=香港成報|date=2014-02-11|url=http://www.hkcna.hk/content/2014/0211/243334.shtml}}</ref>
==Early life and career==
Wong was born in Hong Kong in 1919 and was educated at the Ellis Kadoorie School. At the age of 15, he moved to study in [[Guangzhou]] until the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]] broke out in 1937. He returned to Hong Kong and joined the [[Kowloon Motor Bus]] as a conductor in 1937. He was later promoted to operations officer of the Kwun Tong Depot in 1966 to open up new routes in Kwun Tong, the new satellite town dominated by the [[mini-bus]]es at the time. For that, he had to contact with the [[kaifong]] associations, the [[Secretariat for Chinese Affairs]], the [[Social Welfare Department]] and the police. From there he got to know many government officials, including [[Denis Bray]] who later became the [[Secretary for Home Affairs]]. He was asked for advices on the transportation issues in Kwun Tong and was invited to see [[Governor of Hong Kong|Governor]] Sir [[Murray MacLehose]] for advices. He also became the public relations manager for the Kowloon Motor Bus.<ref name="history">{{cite news|title=前立法局元老王霖慨嘆 議員今不如昔|newspaper=香港成報|date=2014-02-11|url=http://www.hkcna.hk/content/2014/0211/243334.shtml}}</ref>


Wong had also been also chairman of the Mutual Aid Committee of the Wing Ying Mansion in [[Ho Man Tin]] and was appointed vice chairman of the Kwun Tong Industrial Area Committee. In 1973, he became member of the [[Mong Kok]] East Area Committee. He was also appointed by the government to the Fight Crime Committee in 1973 as one of the three unofficial members, and chairman of the Kwun Tong Road Safety Campaign Committee in 1974. In 1976, he was made [[Justice of the Peace]].<ref name="history"/>
Wong had also been also chairman of the Mutual Aid Committee of the Wing Ying Mansion in [[Ho Man Tin]] and was appointed vice chairman of the Kwun Tong Industrial Area Committee. In 1973, he became member of the [[Mong Kok]] East Area Committee. He was also appointed by the government to the Fight Crime Committee in 1973 as one of the three unofficial members, and chairman of the Kwun Tong Road Safety Campaign Committee in 1974. In 1976, he was made [[Justice of the Peace]].<ref name="history"/>


==Legislative Councillor==
Wong was appointed [[unofficial member]] of the [[Legislative Council of Hong Kong]] when Sir Murray MacLehose expanded the unofficial membership from 15 to 23 in 1976. He became the first with grassroots background to serve on the Legislative Council, along with labour representative [[Leung Tat-shing]] and church representative Rev. [[Patrick Terence McGovern]]. Unable to speak English, he was the first to be allowed to speak Chinese in the Legislative Council debate and the first to receive allowance for buying suits and hire assistants.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.civicparty.hk/?q=node/486|title=雅虎專欄 - 假如我是王霖|author=余若薇|date=2009-12-23}}</ref> During his service in the council, Wong mainly focused on transport and housing problems. He stepped down when the government introduced [[Hong Kong legislative election, 1985|indirect elections]] in 1985.<ref name="history"/> In 1978, he was made [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) for his public services.
Wong was appointed [[unofficial member]] of the [[Legislative Council of Hong Kong]] when Sir Murray MacLehose expanded the unofficial membership from 15 to 23 in 1976. He became the first with grassroots background to serve on the Legislative Council, along with labour representative [[Leung Tat-shing]] and church representative Rev. [[Patrick Terence McGovern]]. Unable to speak English, he was the first to be allowed to speak Chinese in the Legislative Council debate and the first to receive allowance for buying suits and hire assistants.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.civicparty.hk/?q=node/486|title=雅虎專欄 - 假如我是王霖|author=余若薇|date=2009-12-23}}</ref> During his service in the council, Wong mainly focused on transport and housing problems. He stepped down when the government introduced [[Hong Kong legislative election, 1985|indirect elections]] in 1985.<ref name="history"/> In 1978, he was made [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) for his public services.

In the famous [[Roger Lobo|Lobo's]] motion in 1984 on the [[Sino-British Joint Declaration|Sino-British negotiation]] on the Hong Kong sovereignty, Wong supported the motion and advised the government "to remove the confidentiality of the Sino-British talks imposed." He also used stock exchange as an example to stress the importance of the retention of the underlying concept of freedom instead of "just the superficial elements pertaining to the status quo", he said the "speculation in stocks and shares is not important on the fact of it, what is important is the
underlying concept, i.e. the freedom to raise capital and carry on transactions."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr83-84/english/lc_sitg/hansard/h840314.pdf|page=713|title=OFFICIAL REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS - Wednesday, 14 March 1984|work=Hong Kong Legislative Council}}</ref>


Wong was instrumental in assisting the development of education in his hometown [[Dongguan]]. He helped founding the [[Dongguan University of Technology]] in 1992. In 1990, he was made member of the Dongguan Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. In 1996, he was made honorary citizen of Donggaun.<ref>{{cite news|title=“老顽童”王霖|work=广东侨网|date=2004-02-16|url=http://gocn.southcn.com/gacz/rwjs/200402160013.htm}}</ref>
Wong was instrumental in assisting the development of education in his hometown [[Dongguan]]. He helped founding the [[Dongguan University of Technology]] in 1992. In 1990, he was made member of the Dongguan Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. In 1996, he was made honorary citizen of Donggaun.<ref>{{cite news|title=“老顽童”王霖|work=广东侨网|date=2004-02-16|url=http://gocn.southcn.com/gacz/rwjs/200402160013.htm}}</ref>

==Death==
Wong's last public appearance was in December 2015 when he was invited to a banquet at the [[Legislative Council Complex]] with incumbent and former Legislative Councillors. He died on 19 March 2016 at the age of 96.<ref>{{cite news|title=From bus conductor to lawmaker: First grass-roots councillor Wong Lam dies at age 96|url=http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1932129/bus-conductor-lawmaker-first-grass-roots-councillor-wong-lam|newspaper=South China Morning Post|date=30 March 2016|first=Owen|last=Fung}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:1919 births]]
[[Category:1919 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:2016 deaths]]
[[Category:Members of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Members of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Hong Kong politicians]]
[[Category:Hong Kong politicians]]

Revision as of 18:58, 30 March 2016

Wong Lam
王霖
Unofficial Member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong
In office
6 October 1976 – 7 August 1985
Appointed bySir Murray MacLehose
Personal details
Born(1919-07-23)23 July 1919
British Hong Kong
Died19 March 2016(2016-03-19) (aged 96)
Hong Kong
Alma materEllis Kadoorie School

Wong Lam, OBE, JP (Chinese: 王霖; 23 July 1919 – 19 March 2016) was an unofficial member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong from 1976 to 1985 as the first member with grassroots background to serve on the council.

Early life and career

Wong was born in Hong Kong in 1919 and was educated at the Ellis Kadoorie School. At the age of 15, he moved to study in Guangzhou until the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out in 1937. He returned to Hong Kong and joined the Kowloon Motor Bus as a conductor in 1937. He was later promoted to operations officer of the Kwun Tong Depot in 1966 to open up new routes in Kwun Tong, the new satellite town dominated by the mini-buses at the time. For that, he had to contact with the kaifong associations, the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs, the Social Welfare Department and the police. From there he got to know many government officials, including Denis Bray who later became the Secretary for Home Affairs. He was asked for advices on the transportation issues in Kwun Tong and was invited to see Governor Sir Murray MacLehose for advices. He also became the public relations manager for the Kowloon Motor Bus.[1]

Wong had also been also chairman of the Mutual Aid Committee of the Wing Ying Mansion in Ho Man Tin and was appointed vice chairman of the Kwun Tong Industrial Area Committee. In 1973, he became member of the Mong Kok East Area Committee. He was also appointed by the government to the Fight Crime Committee in 1973 as one of the three unofficial members, and chairman of the Kwun Tong Road Safety Campaign Committee in 1974. In 1976, he was made Justice of the Peace.[1]

Legislative Councillor

Wong was appointed unofficial member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong when Sir Murray MacLehose expanded the unofficial membership from 15 to 23 in 1976. He became the first with grassroots background to serve on the Legislative Council, along with labour representative Leung Tat-shing and church representative Rev. Patrick Terence McGovern. Unable to speak English, he was the first to be allowed to speak Chinese in the Legislative Council debate and the first to receive allowance for buying suits and hire assistants.[2] During his service in the council, Wong mainly focused on transport and housing problems. He stepped down when the government introduced indirect elections in 1985.[1] In 1978, he was made Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his public services.

In the famous Lobo's motion in 1984 on the Sino-British negotiation on the Hong Kong sovereignty, Wong supported the motion and advised the government "to remove the confidentiality of the Sino-British talks imposed." He also used stock exchange as an example to stress the importance of the retention of the underlying concept of freedom instead of "just the superficial elements pertaining to the status quo", he said the "speculation in stocks and shares is not important on the fact of it, what is important is the underlying concept, i.e. the freedom to raise capital and carry on transactions."[3]

Wong was instrumental in assisting the development of education in his hometown Dongguan. He helped founding the Dongguan University of Technology in 1992. In 1990, he was made member of the Dongguan Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. In 1996, he was made honorary citizen of Donggaun.[4]

Death

Wong's last public appearance was in December 2015 when he was invited to a banquet at the Legislative Council Complex with incumbent and former Legislative Councillors. He died on 19 March 2016 at the age of 96.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c "前立法局元老王霖慨嘆 議員今不如昔". 香港成報. 2014-02-11.
  2. ^ 余若薇 (2009-12-23). "雅虎專欄 - 假如我是王霖".
  3. ^ "OFFICIAL REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS - Wednesday, 14 March 1984" (PDF). Hong Kong Legislative Council. p. 713.
  4. ^ ""老顽童"王霖". 广东侨网. 2004-02-16.
  5. ^ Fung, Owen (30 March 2016). "From bus conductor to lawmaker: First grass-roots councillor Wong Lam dies at age 96". South China Morning Post.