Rafael Hui
Rafael Hui Si-yan | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 8, 1948 Hong Kong |
| Occupation(s) | Civil servant, politician |
| Known for | Former Chief Secretary for Administration of Hong Kong; convicted of misconduct and bribery |
Rafael Hui Si-yan (born 8 February 1948) is a former Chief Secretary for Administration of Hong Kong and a veteran civil servant. Known by the nicknames "Old Master Hui" () and "Fat Dragon" (), Hui was appointed as a Justice of the Peace in 1986 and received the Gold Bauhinia Star in 1998. In December 2014, he was found guilty of misconduct in public office and bribery, which led to his imprisonment and the subsequent annulment of his honours in March 2018. Hui was released from custody in December 2019.
Early life
Born on 8 February 1948 in Hong Kong, Hui’s father was a native resident of Tai O on Lantau Island.
Education
Hui completed his secondary education at Queen's College before obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Hong Kong in 1970.
Government service
Hui began his career in Hong Kong’s civil service in 1970 as an administrative officer. His early assignments included a secondment to the Independent Commission Against Corruption between 1977 and 1979, followed by executive training at Harvard Kennedy School where he earned an MPA from 1982 to 1983.
He held various senior positions such as Deputy Secretary-General of UMELCO (1985–1986), Deputy Secretary for Economic Services (1986–1990), Deputy Secretary for Works (1990–1991), and Director of the New Airport Projects Coordination Office. From 1992 to 1995, he acted as Commissioner for Transport.
In 1995, Hui was appointed Secretary for Financial Services. He left the civil service in June 2000 to assume the role of managing director at the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority.
Beyond government roles, Hui took on leadership positions within major cultural institutions, serving as Vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Festival Society and Honorary Secretary of the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society. He relinquished these responsibilities when appointed Chief Secretary for Administration.
In 2005, upon nomination by Donald Tsang and approval from the Central People's Government, Hui became Chief Secretary for Administration. He retired from this post in 2007 and continued as an unofficial member of Hong Kong’s Executive Council until 2009.
Arrest and conviction
On 29 March 2012, the Independent Commission Against Corruption detained Hui on allegations of corruption linked to property tycoons Thomas and Raymond Kwok and Sun Hung Kai Properties.
Following a trial lasting 128 days, Hui was convicted in December 2014 on five charges related to misconduct in public office. He was sentenced to seven and a half years’ imprisonment and ordered to return HK$11.182 million received as bribes. Hui served his term at Stanley Prison, with subsequent appeals rejected by Hong Kong’s highest judicial authorities.
As a result, his Grand Bauhinia Medal, Gold Bauhinia Star, and Justice of the Peace status were officially revoked by the government in 2018.
Due to good conduct, he was granted early release after serving five years in December 2019.
In television
- The character James Kan Tung-yiu, portrayed by Kent Cheng in the 2019 TVB miniseries ICAC Investigators 2022, is inspired by Hui.