Wang Minchao
Wong Man‑Chiu (English: Ronnie Wong Man Chiu; born 3 April 1952), originally from Heshang Pootam Village, Shi‑Pai Town, Dongguan, Guangdong Province, is a former Hong Kong swimming representative and member of the Wong family behind China Shipbuilding Company, founded by his father Wong Wah‑Sang (born 1925). His elder brother is Wang Min‑Gang, delegate to the 10th National People’s Congress. In July 2019 he was awarded the Bronze Bauhinia Star.[1]
Background
He was educated at St. Joseph’s College and La Salle College, then earned an Honor’s Bachelor in Business Administration at Armstrong University (Georgia, USA). He later completed an MBA at Florida Institute of Technology and obtained a Diploma in Underwater Mechanics from a professional diving school in Cornwall, UK.[2]
Positions and Honours
Corporate Roles
- Director, Wong’s Investment (Group) Limited
- Executive Director, China Shipbuilding Company Limited
- Executive Director, Agog Enterprises (Group) Limited and Agog Bus Company Limited; Chairman, Nanjing Public Transport Agog Bus Company Limited
Public Service
- Po Leung Kuk: Governor and Vice‑Chairman in various terms, Advisor in 1997 (Chinese calendar year)
- Urban Council: Appointed member 1986; elected member for Ap Lei Chau constituency 1995
- Provisional Urban Council: Appointed member 1997
- Southern District Council: Appointed member 2000
- School board member, Jockey Club Ti Yi Secondary School and Hong Kong Outward Bound School
- Advisor, Hong Kong Schools Sports Federation
- Director, Ap Lei Chau Community Welfare Association
- Executive Committee member, Kwun Tong Community Development Association
- Director, Hong Kong Fisheries Society
- Honorary Advisor, Pok Oi Hospital
- Deputy Secretary‑General, Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China
- Vice‑Chair, Marathon Swimming Technical Committee, FINA
- Secretary‑General, Hong Kong Amateur Swimming Association
- Deputy Secretary‑General, Asia Swimming Federation
- Executive Committee member, Hong Kong Chinese Amateur Swimming Association
- Chairman, Sports Science and Physical Education Advisory Committee, Hong Kong Baptist University
- Adjudicator, Obscene Articles Tribunal
- Chairman, Environmental Campaign Committee 1996–2004
- Member, Hong Kong Sports Development Board 2003–2004
- Councillor, Kwun Tong District Council
- Member, Sentenced Persons Review Board 1981–1992
- Member, Shipbuilding Industry Training Committee, Vocational Training Council
- Council Member, Hong Kong Council of Social Service 1989–1991
- Member, Commission on Youth
- Member, Chinese Temples Committee
- Member, Jubilee Sports Centre Management Board
- Chair, Weights and Measures Decimal Metrication Committee (Mechanical Engineering Subgroup) 1981–1989
- Director, Hong Kong Youth Association
- Board Member, Hospital Authority, Kwong Wah Hospital
Political Roles
- Second Chairman, New Hong Kong Alliance
- Member, Basic Law Consultative Committee 1981–1992
- District Affairs Advisor 1994
Miss Wong’s Disqualification Controversy
In 2003, as Chair of the Swimming Technical Committee, he ordered disqualification of athletes participating in the Hong Kong Life Saving Society’s 28th New Year Winter Swimming Championships, threatening bans of one to two years—sparking outcry over monopolizing the swimming market. Under public pressure he later claimed a misunderstanding.[3]
Breach of Trust Case
In 2005, he was made bankrupt in proceedings brought by Charmaine Cheung, granddaughter of the late tycoon Cheung Chuk‑sham. Cheung and her husband Yuen Pak‑yiu sued Wong Man‑Chi and his brother for selling property interests without their consent, causing losses over HKD 1 million.[4] Wong senior ran alongside Cheung in the 1991 Legislative Council election for Hong Kong Island West under the New Hong Kong Alliance banner, but were not elected.
Swimming Career
A freestyle specialist, he represented Hong Kong in two Olympic Games (1968 Mexico City, 1972 Munich) and three Asian Games (1966, 1970, 1978). At the 1970 Asian Games he placed fourth in the 4×100 m freestyle relay for Hong Kong. After 1972 he also competed in water polo, leading Hong Kong at the 1978 Asian Games. He won the annual cross‑harbour swim three times.
Major Competitions
- 1966 Asian Games (Bangkok)
- 1968 Summer Olympics (Mexico City)
- 1970 Commonwealth Games (Edinburgh)
- 1970 Asian Games (Bangkok)
- 1972 Summer Olympics (Munich)
- 1978 Asian Games (Bangkok)
Munich Massacre
On 5 September 1972, Black September militants attacked the Olympic Village in Munich. Hong Kong’s small delegation was quartered next to the Israeli team; Wong, judo athlete Mok Che‑wing, and a fencer convinced the captors they were Chinese and were allowed to leave safely.[5]
Racehorse Ownership
In 1998–99 he owned the horse "Dragon City Pride" trained by Jonathan Lu, which ran six times without a top‑three finish and earned no prize money, then retired.
References
- ↑ https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%8E%8B%E6%95%8F%E8%B6%85#cite_ref-2
- ↑ https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%8E%8B%E6%95%8F%E8%B6%85#cite_ref-%E9%A6%99%E6%B8%AF%E4%BA%BA%E5%90%8D%E9%8C%84_1-0
- ↑ https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%8E%8B%E6%95%8F%E8%B6%85#cite_ref-3
- ↑ https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%8E%8B%E6%95%8F%E8%B6%85#cite_ref-4
- ↑ https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%8E%8B%E6%95%8F%E8%B6%85#cite_ref-8
- Hong Kong swimmers
- Olympic swimmers of Hong Kong
- Hong Kong businesspeople
- Hong Kong racehorse owners
- Southern District Councillors
- Former Urban Council members
- Hong Kong Ten Outstanding Youth
- La Salle College alumni
- Armstrong University alumni
- Florida Institute of Technology alumni
- Hong Kong people from Dongguan
- Wong surname
- Sportspeople at the 1968 Summer Olympics
- Sportspeople at the 1972 Summer Olympics
- Swimmers at the 1966 Asian Games
- Swimmers at the 1970 Asian Games
- Swimmers at the 1978 Asian Games