Laura Cha

Laura Cha
Born	(1949-12-05) December 5, 1949 Shanghai, China
Occupation(s)	Business leader, political figure
Known for	Chairman of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange; Non-Executive Deputy Chairman of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation; Vice-Chairman of China Securities Regulatory Commission (2001–2004)

Laura Cha Shih May-lung, recipient of the GBM, GBS, and appointed as a JP (; born 5 December 1949), is a prominent business leader and political figure in Hong Kong. She holds the position of Chairman at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and serves as Non-Executive Deputy Chairman for The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. Between 2004 and 2022, Cha was a non-official member of the Executive Council of Hong Kong.

Early life and education

Cha was born in Shanghai, China, on 5 December 1949 and relocated with her family to British Hong Kong when she was two years old.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and later obtained a Juris Doctor from Santa Clara University School of Law. Additionally, Cha was affiliated with the Committee of 100, an organization representing Chinese American political and cultural interests.

Career

In 1983, Cha gained admission to the California State Bar under the name Laura May-Lung Cha. She practiced law at Pillsbury Madison and Sutro in San Francisco but discontinued her legal practice in California after 1994.

After returning to Hong Kong, she joined Coudert Brothers before moving to the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) from 1991 until 2001, ascending to deputy chairman in 1998. In 2000, she contemplated changing her professional path following an unexpected offer from the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) for a vice ministerial position—the first time an overseas Chinese attained such a rank within China's government. Though relatively new to working in China, she had established significant relationships with CSRC officials by facilitating listings of mainland state-owned enterprises on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Cha acted as Hong Kong’s representative at the 11th National People's Congress, held the role of Vice-Chairman on the CSRC’s International Advisory Council, chaired Hong Kong’s University Grants Committee, and contributed as a member of Yale University's Millstein Center advisory board.

Between 2001 and 2004, Cha served as Vice-Chairman of the CSRC after being appointed by China's State Council. She became the first individual residing outside mainland China to join the Central People's Government at vice-ministerial level, relinquishing her U.S. citizenship to accept this post.

In recognition of her contributions, she was named an Honorary Fellow by the Hong Kong Securities and Investment Institute in 2012. Since May 2013, she has held a Non-Executive Director role at Unilever.

According to The Standard, during a Paris conference, Cha compared pro-Occupy protesters’ calls for democracy amid the 2014 Hong Kong protests to the historical emancipation of African-American slaves, questioning why Universal Suffrage "could not wait" considering African Americans’ past disenfranchisement. Her comments sparked backlash on social media platforms, including a petition on Change.org addressed to the HSBC board condemning her analogy and opposing actions that could restrict voting rights.

Personal life

Cha is wedded to Victor Cha, a well-known entrepreneur based in Hong Kong, and together they have two children. Prior to taking up her role in China, she voluntarily relinquished her American citizenship.

Awards and recognitions

On 12 May 2011, the Committee of 100 acknowledged Cha’s philanthropic efforts in advancing higher education during their 20th Awards Gala held in New York. In 2017, she was bestowed with the Grand Bauhinia Medal (GBM) by the Hong Kong SAR Government.

External links

• The Hon. Laura Cha, GBS, JP
• HKSI Hon Fellow Interview – Laura Cha
• Laura Cha Shin May-Lung Video by Makers: Women Who Make America
• Laura Cha's profile at HSBC