The Hon CHEUNG Kin-chung Matthew, GBM, GBS, JP

The Hon Matthew CHEUNG Kin-chung, GBM, GBS, JP was the Chief Secretary for Administration (CS) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government until June 2021 when he left the government after serving the people of Hong Kong for nearly 50 years, making him the longest serving senior government official in Hong Kong’s history. 

Mr Cheung joined the Hong Kong Government as an Information Officer in Government Information Services (GIS) in July 1972 immediately after graduating from The University of Hong Kong. He served in GIS for seven years during which he spent a 15-month stint in London on training-cum-attachment. He received two rapid promotions to Senior Information Officer and was appointed Overseas Liaison Editor. 

Mr Cheung transferred to the Administrative Service in 1979 in search of greater challenges and wider opportunities for serving the community and contributing to the good governance of Hong Kong. He rose to Administrative Officer Staff Grade A1 in 2004. 

Among his earlier postings were Assistant District Officer (Eastern); Assistant Private Secretary to the Governor; Secretary, Industry Development Board; District Officer (North); Assistant Director-General of Trade; and Administrative Assistant to the Financial Secretary. 

As a senior directorate officer, Mr Cheung served as Deputy Judiciary Administrator; Deputy Head, Central Policy Unit; and Deputy Secretary for Education and Manpower. He became Commissioner for Labour in 1999, Director of Education in 2000, and Permanent Secretary for Economic Development and Labour in 2002. 

Mr Cheung took up the political appointment of Secretary for Labour and Welfare in July 2007 and served for almost 10 years until January 2017 when he was appointed Chief Secretary for Administration (CS). He served as CS till June 2021. During his tenure as CS, he served as the Chief Executive on 68 occasions (totalling 205 days).