Vincent Fang (entrepreneur)
Vincent Fang Kang | |
|---|---|
方剛 | |
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| Leader of the Liberal Party | |
| In office 1 December 2014 – 7 October 2016 | |
| Preceded by | James Tien |
| Succeeded by | Felix Chung |
| Member of the Legislative Council | |
| In office 1 October 2004 – 30 September 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Selina Chow |
| Succeeded by | Shiu Ka-fai |
| Constituency | Wholesale and Retail |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 May 1943 Shanghai, Republic of China |
| Political party | Liberal Party |
| Spouse | Patricia Tsang Lai-sheung |
| Relations | Kenneth Fang (Brother) Douglas Fang (Nephew) |
| Alma mater | Wah Yan College North Carolina State University (BSc, MSc) |
| Occupation | Legislative Councillor |
| Vincent Fang | |||||||||||
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| Traditional Chinese | 方剛 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 方刚 | ||||||||||
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Vincent Fang Kang, GBS, JP (born 7 May 1943 in Shanghai) is an entrepreneur in the garment industry. He is the former chairman and leader of the Liberal Party of Hong Kong and former member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, representing the Wholesale and Retail functional constituency.
Early life, family, education and business career
[edit]Fang was born into the Fang family in Shanghai, China on 7 May 1943 during the Second Sino-Japanese War. His younger brother is the billionaire industrialist Kenneth Fang, who is known as the "King of Textiles" and founded Fang Brothers Knitting, one of the world's largest knitwear-manufacturing businesses that is separate from the family's textile operations.[1][2] One of Fang's nephews is Douglas Fang, the current chairman of Fang Brothers Holdings, which manages business interests of the descendants of his late father, Kenneth Fang, and is engaged in electronics, retail, property development, energy storage, and auto parts sectors.[3] Fang's son, Alan Fang, is an entrepreneur serving as Chief Executive of Novo Holdings, China's largest multi-brand fashion retailer.[4] He is also known for bringing Formula Electric Racing to Hong Kong in 2016 and is the principal backer of privately-funded Kaleido Park, a 11-hectare European-style floral cultural garden in Lantau Island.[5][6][7][8]
He moved to Hong Kong and attended Wah Yan College, an eminent Jesuit all-boys secondary school in Hong Kong, graduating in 1962. He later obtained both his bachelor's and master's degrees in Science of Textiles Engineering from the North Carolina State University in 1967 and 1969 respectively. After he returned to Hong Kong, he became the Chief Executive of the Toppy Group, managing over 350 stores and 500 outlets worldwide. [9] Under his leadership, Toppy Group has grown into "the Hong Kong fashion industry's greatest success", and amongst its accolades include the International Award at the Hong Kong Business Awards.[10][11] He was also managing director of Fantastic Garments Limited.[12]
Fang has been an Independent Non Executive Director of The Wharf (Holdings) Limited since July 1993. He also served as honorary advisor of Hong Kong Retail Management Association, chairman of the Association of Better Business & Tourism Services and the Director of The Federation of Hong Kong Garment Manufacturers.[12]
Legislative Councillor
[edit]Fang is a core member of the pro-business Liberal Party. In the 2004 Legislative Council election, he succeeded Selina Chow Liang Shuk-yee to serve as member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong through Wholesale and Retail functional constituency when Chow contested in the geographical constituency direct election in New Territories West.[13]
In 2008 after Chairman James Tien Pei-chun and Vice-chairwoman Selina Chow both resigned from the posts after their defeat in the Legislative Council election, he became the vice-chairman with Tommy Cheung Yu-yan. He acted as Chairman when Miriam Lau Kin-yee resigned as chairwoman after she failed to bid for a seat in Hong Kong Island in the 2012 Legislative Council election. He became the Leader of the Liberal Party in 2014, when James Tien was stripped from the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference after calling for Chief Executive CY Leung to resign during the 2014 Hong Kong protests.[citation needed]
In April 2010, Fang's suggestion that the minimum wage should be set at HK$20 per hour drew fire both from the public and from his own party.[14] His statement made a case for those in the community who criticise functional constituency lawmakers as disconnected from the worries and realities of the public at large. He also had the lowest attendance and voting record among lawmakers in the 2008–2012 Legislative Council.
Fang has been appointed member of the Hong Kong Hospital Authority (2000–2006), Hong Kong Tourism Board (2003–2009) and Hong Kong Housing Authority (2009–2015). He is also a member of the Operations Review Committee of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) and a board member of the Hong Kong Airport Authority (2005–2011). He was awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star (SBS) by the Hong Kong SAR Government in 2008, and later on a Gold Bauhinia Star (GBS).[12]
References
[edit]- ^ "In Memoriam: Dr. Kenneth Fang Hung, GBS, JP | HKBU Foundation". foundation.hkbu.edu.hk. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ Pagano, Margareta (21 September 2009). "Scotland's Fusty Pringle Retakes Fashion". Bloomberg.
- ^ "Named Professorship at HKUST". np.hkust.edu.hk. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "Alan Fang | BoF 500 | The People Shaping the Global Fashion Industry". The Business of Fashion. 8 April 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ simon (7 October 2016). "Alan Fang, the Man Behind Hong Kong's Formula ePrix | bc magazine". www.bcmagazine.net. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "Hong Kong is one step closer to welcoming its first flower-themed park • AIPH". AIPH. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "HK to get European flower park". Hong Kong's Information Services Department (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "European-style floral garden moves step closer as firm submits plan". South China Morning Post. 8 November 2018. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "Apparel and Retail Executives Look to China for Growth". www.apparelnews.net. 29 January 2010. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
- ^ "Introduction/EPISODE/JESSICA". www.gloriaoutlets.com. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "Toppy feels pinch of retail downturn". South China Morning Post. 22 September 1995. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ a b c "Kang Fang SBS, JP". Bloomberg Business.
- ^ "Third Legislative Council (2004-2008)" (PDF). LegCo HK. Hong Kong. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
- ^ Albert Wong, "Young critics heckle Liberal lawmaker", South China Morning Post, 5 April 2010
External links
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- 1943 births
- Living people
- Hong Kong textiles industry businesspeople
- Politicians from Shanghai
- Liberal Party (Hong Kong) politicians
- Businesspeople from Shanghai
- North Carolina State University alumni
- HK LegCo Members 2004–2008
- HK LegCo Members 2008–2012
- HK LegCo Members 2012–2016
- The Wharf (Holdings)
- Recipients of the Gold Bauhinia Star
- Recipients of the Silver Bauhinia Star
- Members of the Election Committee of Hong Kong, 2017–2021