Vincent Cheng

For other people named Vincent Cheng, see Vincent Cheng (disambiguation).

Vincent Cheng GBS JP OBE
Chairman of the Council of the Chinese University of Hong Kong
In office 24 October 2009 – 24 October 2015
Preceded by	Edgar Cheng
Succeeded by	Norman Leung
Chairman of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited
In office 25 May 2005 – 1 Feb 2010
Preceded by	David Gordon Eldon
Succeeded by	Michael Geoghegan
Unofficial Member of the Legislative Council
In office 1991–1995
Appointed by	Sir David Wilson
Personal details
Born	(1948-07-16)16 July 1948 Hong Kong
Died	28 August 2022(2022-08-28) (aged 74)
Alma mater	Kowloon Technical School Chinese University of Hong Kong University of Auckland

Vincent Cheng
Traditional Chinese	鄭海泉
Simplified Chinese	郑海泉
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Zhèng Hǎiquán Wade–Giles Cheng Hai-ch'üan IPA [ʈʂə̂ŋ xàɪtɕʰɥɛ̌n] Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Jehng Hoí Chyùhn Jyutping Zeng6 Hoi2cyun4 IPA [tsɛ̀ːŋ hɔ̌ːi tɕʰy̏ːn]

Vincent Cheng Hoi-Chuen GBS OBE JP (Chinese: 鄭海泉, 16 July 1948 – 28 August 2022) was a Hong Kong banker who was an executive director of HSBC Holdings plc. He was also chairman of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, the Asia-Pacific branch of HSBC, and founding member of the group, from 2005 to 2010.

Early years and education

Cheng grew up in a poor family of six, despite difficult circumstances and having been crippled by polio at a young age. He was educated in Hong Kong and in New Zealand, receiving his Bachelor of Social Science in Economics from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and a Master of Philosophy in Economics from the University of Auckland.

Career

Cheng joined The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation in 1978, when he worked in the Group Finance department. In 1982 he moved to the Bank's Group Planning department, before he was appointed Chief Economist in 1986. From April 1989 to April 1991, he was seconded to the Hong Kong Government's Central Policy Unit and acted as an adviser to the Governor of Hong Kong. He took up the post of general manager in June 1995 and then the first ethnic Chinese Executive Director of the Bank in November that same year.

He was appointed vice-chairman and Chief Executive of Hang Seng Bank, a bank which The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation holds majority stake, in 1998. On 25 May 2005, he became Chairman of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, taking over from David Eldon. He also became the managing director of HSBC Group and the Director of HSBC Bank Australia Limited. On 1 April 2007, he became Chairman of the HSBC Bank (China) Company Limited. He has also been appointed the first ethnic Chinese Executive Director of HSBC Holdings on 1 February 2008.

In January 2008, he was appointed a member of the National Committee of the 11th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and a senior advisor to the 11th Beijing Municipal Committee of the CPPCC.

His previous government advisory roles have included Member of the Executive Council from 1995 to 1997 and a Hong Kong Affairs Adviser to the People's Republic of China from 1994 to 1997.

He was also a Member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong from 1991 to 1995.

His public service duties included serving as Chairman of the Standing Committee on Directorate Salaries and Conditions of Service for the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Member of the Exchange Fund Advisory Committee of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. He was also Honorary President of the Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation.

Cheng had been appointed the Justice of the Peace, Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) (1994), and Gold Bauhinia Star (GBS) (2005).

Death

Cheng died on the night of 28 August 2022, aged 74.