Xu Shiren

Rafael Hui Si‑yan (born 8 February 1948) is a former senior Hong Kong official who served as National Committee member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, non‑official member of the Hong Kong Executive Council, Chief Secretary for Administration and founding Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury. Nicknamed “Fat Dragon” by the media and once dubbed the “King of Bridges,” he was widely recognized within government circles for his close ties to the property sector.

In 2000, Hui became the first Chief Executive Officer of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority, overseeing the design and launch of Hong Kong’s mandatory retirement plan and earning the title “Father of MPF.” He returned to government in 2005 as Chief Secretary before being charged with misconduct in public office and conspiracy to offer advantage to public servants. In December 2014, the Court of First Instance convicted him on five counts and sentenced him to seven and a half years’ imprisonment. He was released on 18 December 2019. In March 2018, the Hong Kong Government officially revoked his Grand Bauhinia Medal and Gold Bauhinia Star and stripped him of his Justice of the Peace status.

Early life

Rafael Hui was born on 8 February 1948 in Hong Kong into a Tai O indigenous New Territories family and raised as a Roman Catholic. He attended Precious Blood Kindergarten (graduated 1954), Morrison Hill Primary School Morning Section (graduated 1960), then Queen’s College (graduated 1967 with one distinction and three credits). He earned a Bachelor of Arts (2nd Class Honours) in English Literature from the University of Hong Kong in 1970, serving as editor‑in‑chief of the student journal Scholar and publication editor of the HKU Students’ Union. In 1968 he also directed a theatrical production for the Inter‑University Drama Festival. In 1979–82, he studied for a Master of Public Administration at Harvard University.

Government career

Hui joined the Hong Kong Civil Service in September 1970 as Assistant Education Officer and taught at Ho Tung Secondary School before becoming Administrative Officer in August 1971. He rose through the ranks across departments including Home Affairs, Security, Economic Services and Transport. Seconded to the Independent Commission Against Corruption 1977–79, he later served as Deputy Secretary for Economic Services and Deputy Secretary for Works. From 1990 to 1991 he was Director of the Airport Projects Coordinating Office.

In November 1992, he was appointed Director of Marine until May 1995, then became Secretary for Financial Services (retitled Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury after 1997), serving until 2000 under Governor Tung Chee‑hwa. During the 1998 Asian financial crisis, he worked with FSTB colleagues and the Monetary Authority to deploy over HK$100 billion of foreign reserves to defend the Hong Kong dollar, and later launched the Tracker Fund to recycle stock holdings.

Outside government

After leaving government in June 2000, Hui was CEO of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority, rolling out the MPF system. He served as Vice‑Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Festival Society (2001), then joined the board of Kowloon Motor Bus Holdings in 2004. He left MPFA in 2003 and KMB in 2005.

Chief Secretary

In June 2005, newly inaugurated Chief Executive Donald Tsang nominated Hui as Chief Secretary for Administration. Hui swore in on 30 June 2005, becoming the head of the Hong Kong SAR’s policy‑making administration. He pledged to serve a two‑year term and left office on 1 July 2007, thereafter serving as a non‑official Executive Council member. He received an Honorary Doctor of Social Sciences from HKU in April 2007 and was appointed a National Committee member of the CPPCC in 2008.

Corruption arrest and conviction

In March 2012, the Independent Commission Against Corruption charged Hui with misconduct in public office and related offences. He and property tycoons Peter and Thomas Kwok were arrested, marking the highest‑ranked government official ever detained. In November 2013, the High Court declared him bankrupt over HK$50 million of credit card debts. His high‑profile trial began in May 2014, hearing testimony from 82 witnesses. In September 2014, Hui admitted to receiving secret payments of HK$11 million from Beijing. On 3 December 2014, the Court of First Instance convicted him on five counts, sentencing him to 7½ years’ imprisonment and ordering forfeiture of HK$11.182 million in benefits. He was remanded at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre before transfer to Stanley Prison.

In July 2016, his application for leave to appeal to the Court of Final Appeal on one charge was granted, but his appeal was dismissed in June 2017. Hui became the first former No. 2 official to serve a prison term since 1997.

Medal revocation

On 2 March 2018, the Hong Kong Government gazetted the cancellation of Hui’s Gold Bauhinia Star and Grand Bauhinia Medal and the revocation of his Justice of the Peace appointment.

Release

Hui was released upon completing his sentence on 18 December 2019.

Debts

By April 2013, HSBC sought HK$60 million from him; later, four more creditors including Standard Chartered and Sun Hung Kai Properties pursued amounts totalling over HK$20 million. On 24 September 2013, the High Court granted a bankruptcy order against him, making him the first Grand Bauhinia Medal recipient to be declared bankrupt. The Official Receiver took control of his assets and monthly pension.

Racehorses

A Hong Kong Jockey Club member and former HKJC director, Hui owned horses from the 1995–96 season including “You Can” (co‑owned with David Zam), “Colors of You,” “Encore Encore,” “Be Truly,” “Master,” and “Know Yourself” (co‑owned with Henry Tang). In late 2011 he sold his popular horse “All in All” to the Red Rich Group for HK$2.61 million.

Honours

• Appointed Justice of the Peace, 1986 (revoked 2018)
• Awarded Gold Bauhinia Star, 1998 (revoked 2018)
• Awarded Grand Bauhinia Medal, 2007 (revoked 2018)