Albert Cheng Jing Han(鄭經翰), nicknamed Tai-Pan (大班) (born July 3 1946), is currently a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. He was formerly a popular current affairs commentator in Commercial Radio Hong Kong, and has left the job after an incident of alledged intimidation against him and a serious dispute with his former employer.

Private life

Cheng was born in a family without notable political background. He studied in Kowloon Techical School (九龍工業中學), a government-funded vocational school. He later pursued his undergraduate degree in engineering and first worked as an aeroplane engineer .

Cheng left Hong Kong for Canada in 1968 after witnessing the Cultural Revolution in China. In 1971, he married popular Hong Kong singer, Paula Tsui (徐小鳯) secretly but divorced later. In 1990, he married Irene Lo Kam-sheung (勞錦嫦), a former winner of Miss Hong Kong Pageant contest.

Starting career in the fourth estate

When Albert came back to Hong Kong, he turned his career to publishing business. He was then the chief director San Si Broadcasting Company Limited of (三思傳媒有限公司) from 1986 to 1991and the Chief Executive Officer of Pak Lok Mun Entertainment Company Limited (百樂門出版集團) from 1991 to 1994. He also published magazines like Chinese-language version "Playboy" (花花公子)and business magazine "Capital" (資本雜誌), and established 36.com , which provides media services on the internet.

Cheng started working as a commentator since the mid 90's. At that time, he hosted a late night talk show program on ATV, called Long Mun Zhen (龍門陣), literally means a forum before Dragon Gate, with Raymond Wong Yuk-man (黃毓民), then a Journalism professor at Chu Hai College Hong Kong and an outspoken commentator, and Chan Yiu-nam (陳耀南), a retired professor of HKU' s Department of Chinese.

Cheng was invited by Ms Winnie Yu (俞崢), the director of Commercial Radio Hong Kong, to join the Commerical Radio, a popular radio station in Hong Kong, to co-host a phone-in current-affair program with Mr.Lam Yuk-wa (林旭華). The programme was named "Teacup in the Storm" (風波裡的茶杯) by Miss Yu.

"Chief Executive before Ten"

Albert Cheng was particularly concerned with social injustice and government incompetence. In his programme, he used to take following actions after receiving complaints from audiences over public affairs. He called the person-in-charge, be them important government officials or officers of private companies, to ask for response and press them to take remedial measures.

After reunification of Hong Kong with the People' s Republic of China , he was unsatisfied with many policies of the HKSAR government . He was widely regarded as one who never compromised with the wrong-doings of government officials. He often left little or no room for the accused to rebut. As the HKSAR government was not performing satisfactorily over the past 6 years, his comments became more assertive and aggressive. He did not cease calling on the Chief Executive Mr.Tung Chee-hwa and his hand-picked principal officials to resign.

His loud voice and uncomprising attitude was applauded by audience, especially the grassroot people. They found him their spokesman who helped vent their anger and discontent onto the government. This manifests why he was rated as one of the 25 most influential Hong Kong people in 1997' s Time magazine poll and named as one of the Asia's Stars by Businessweek in 1998. He was informally entitled as "Chief Executive before Ten" (十點前特首) as "Teacup in the Storm" was broadcast from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Standing up after a deadly attack

Though Cheng's commemts was notable, some of his comments nearly claimed his life. On 19 August 1998, Cheng was attacked by two assailants wielding a meat cleaver and carving knife. He received seven deep knife wounds outside the Commercial Radio Headquarters. The six deep wounds were on his arms, back, and right leg. It required eight hours of surgery to reconnect muscle, bone and nerve tissue. Doctors said if the ambulance had arrived 10 minutes later, or the cut had been any deeper, he would have died.

After the surgery, Cheng walked with a limp without any feeling in his foot. He could no longer grip with his left hand. Although his fingers in his right hand could exert strength, he cannot fully extend them. An $800,000 reward was still posted for any relevant information reported about the case. Police caught the driver of the getaway car, who served five months in jail, but he refused to identify Cheng's attackers.

Many believed that Cheng's frequent criticism of certain individuals, especially those with triad connections or underground power, caused his being brutally chopped to half death. Fortunately, he survived despite of losing a lot of blood before help arrived.

The life-claiming attack did not drive Albert off his beloved job. After undergoing intensive physiotherapy and necessary medical treatment, he stood up and went back to the Commercial Radio with a wounded leg. His voice reappeared in the airwave . While fans was happy about his return, he was the only one who could see and feel the shadow behind. Cheng admitted that this deadly experience have haunted him from time to time.

Cheng was said to be determined to safeguard speech freedom and public interests. Nothing, he once said, could have changed his life and he would not be intimidated by cowardly acts of violence.

Criticisms invited criticisms

In April 2003, there was a SARS outbreak in Hong Kong. Cheng harshly condemned Dr Ko Wing Man (高永文), then acting Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority , as failing to take effective actions to protect the public from the deadly disease. Dr Ko bursted into tears while the programme was still on air. After that, numerous medical professionals wrote to the Broadcasting Authority, complaining that Cheng had been too unfair and biased towards Dr. Ko. This had then highlighted the controversy over Cheng' s sensational hosting style, which many people accused him of spending most of the air time talking, and not letting other people enough air time to defend or explain themselves.

Serving the community

Though he sometimes seemed to be rather dominant in his show, he certainly has contributed a lot to the society. For examples, he was the one who initiated the "Do wear mask" (一人一口罩)activity for fund-raising and collected materials for the medical professionals, SARS victims and their families. He also reflected the demand of the medical professionals, urged the government to solve the problem,and strengthen the communication between the government officials and the citizens. Therefore, he got the "Against SARS award" (抗SARS傑出獎)in August 2003.Besides, he participated actively in the campagin of "Protecting Victoria Habour " (保護維港)and helped a lot of the elderly to get the Emergency Alarm System (平安鐘).

Mystery on suppression of freedom of speech

There was rumour that Cheng obsessed too much power to control the public through his phone-in programme. In early 2004, Cheng's show went on hiatus, with Cheng claiming that he was threatened by certain people with connections to the People's Republic of China government, so were two other political talk show hosts - Wong Yuk-man and Allen Li Peng-fei. The hiatus of the three most famous political talk show hosts in Hong Kong stirred waves of controversies both in Hong Kong and abroad. After the initial waves of controversy died down, another wave started when the President of the Commercial Radio, Winnie Yu, decided to terminate Cheng' s contract and calling Allen Li Peng-fei a coward.

Mystery on suppression of freedom of speech again

In April 2004, Albert Cheng claimed that he was pressured by people with obscure backgrounds over the past four years, telling him to stop criticizing the government, and that scared not only him but also his family. He thus finally asked for a five-month vacation.

However, in July 2004, Ms Winnie Yu revealed an early settlement of Cheng's contract. She criticized that Cheng always took leave at his convenience, and Cheng could not promise that the same thing would not happen again. She therefore concluded that it was a violation of the contracted terms. In addition, she said the fact that the hosts were running away one after another woud destroy the freedom of speech. She could not accept it because it would have ruined the image of Hong Kong. Hence she finally determined to terminate Cheng's contract early.

In spite of the cease of their working relationship, Albert Cheng said that he has been very happy in his 10 years as a radio host in the Commercial Radio. This affair has not affected his friendship with Winnie Yu.

Surmounting election barrier

Cheng' s departure exacerbated a wide-spreading rumour that he was planning ahead to contest for a directly-elected seat in LegCo Election 2004. He was reported to have been applying a cancellation of his Canadian passport for election purpose (Legislators are not allowed to have dual nationalities).

Later on, the truth was unveiled and the rumour verified. Cheng announced his decision to run for the election. There were, however, obstacles to this decision.

A lot had happened before his election in Legco. His former employer Commercial Radio questioned whether it was appropiate for him to be a Legco candidate given he was a former media worker. Most seriously, Cheng disclosed that he was prevented by Winnie Yu from participating in the election. He told the media that she approached him, telling that he could have his contract renewed if he droped the decision to enter the election. "They didn't want me to host the programme and they would pay me every month. But there was one condition: I could not stand for Legco elections." Cheng said.

Winnie Yu had denied the accusation. She said the radio station did not receive any political pressure. "That is a big misunderstanding", she commented on the allegation. Nevertheless, Cheng had reported the case to Independent Corporation Against Corruption (ICAC) . Ms Winnie Yu said Cheng had told Mr Tsoi Tung Ho, Tony (蔡東豪), the then chief operating officer, in mid-June that he was considering standing for election. She said that he had to choose whether to keep the contract or stand for election. "I didn't want to delay his election timetable. We didn't mean to block him from standing, but the contract won't be valid if he stands." Then, Cheng's contract was formally terminated on June 25. It was alleged to be issued by a law firm on behalf of the Commercial Radio station and delivered to Cheng while he was still in Canada.

Ms Yu said it was fair that the contract would become invalid if Cheng stood for elections. "Many people will agree a Legco member should not have the most popular airtime programme as his platform at the same time."

Cheng said in his regular column in Ming Pao Weekly that Teacup would no longer be the "cup of tea of ordinary people" if it was full of rational analysis and without emotional input. No matter what the programme's new approach is, Cheng's Teacup has come to an end.

Passion in politics

Cheng promised his voters that he walked with you, no matter whether it is a sunny, cloudy or rainy day. There were certain issues, which were quite important to the livelihood of lower income group, like promising to improve conditions for public housing tenants and push through development project. He proposed the prompt urban renewal of Yu Man Square in Kwun Tong, first proposed in 1981, and the relocation of the residents to vacant public housing flats in the area. In addition, he proposed that the former Kai Tak airport site should be turned into the largest urban park in Kowloon, while a Fisherman's Wharf should be built at Lei Yue Mun to attract tourists and stimulate the Kowloon East economy. The most important thing is that he would continue his tough-talking style. He was elected mainly because he is a fresh element that will increase interest and the motivation of voters to participate, as referred by political scientist Ivan Choy , who taught at Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Seizing real political power

Media attention was then directed to speculation on which constituency Cheng would compete in. As a matter of fact, even Cheng himself was swinging between New Territories West or Kowloon East constituency.

At the beginning, Albert Chan Wai-yip (陳偉業), a veteran local politician, was reportedly found to approach Cheng, discussing about a possible election partnership in New Territories West. But politics changed very quickly. Cheng was then determined to contest in Kowloon East constituency, where he partnered with Andrew To Kwan-hang (陶君行), a district councillor of Wong Tai Sin constituency and a member of The Frontier(前綫).

Albert Cheng not only had to compete hard against pro-Beijing candidates but also pro-democracy ones. In Kowloon East Constituency, there were two pro-Beijing lists, one headed by unionist Chan Yuen-han and another by Chan Kam-lam , both were influential members of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB). Democrat Fred Li Wa-ming (李華明) led Wu Chi-wai (胡志偉) and Ho Wai-to (何偉途)to contest in the constituency. Apart from Fred Li' s list, Cheng also faced with the challenge from Alan Leong Ka-ki , a senior counsel rose to popularity during the Basic Law Article 23 controversy.

During his campaign in Sau Mau Ping , he encountered threats of violence and offensive statements about him by more than 100 elderly people. He criticized the behavior of those people and said it was "the darkest day in Hong Kong".

Even though competition within the pro-democracy camp was fierece, Albert Cheng won overwhelmingly on the election day. Of a total of 293,702 valid votes in the Kowloon East constituency, Cheng' s list received 73,424, accounted to around 40%. His triumph was believably attributable to his populist campaign platform and possession of a strong grassroot support. His principles include championing social justice, supervising government to prevent corruption and upholding freedom of speech and human rights.

On September 21, 2004, he told the reporters that he will retire at the end of LegCo 2007.

Life as a columnist

Albert Cheng also writes a column in the South China Morning Post. His column can be found in the Insight page of the Post. The content of the column is normally related to current affairs in Hong Kong. The readers can even have a live interactive internet session with him at certain time.

External links

• Official website of Hong Kong Legislative Council
• Homepage of Albert Cheng