Vincent Fang (entrepreneur)

For Taiwanese lyricist, see Vincent Fang (lyricist).

In this Hong Kong name, the surname is Fang. In accordance with Hong Kong custom, the Western-style name is Vincent Fang and the Chinese-style name is Fang Kang.

Vincent Fang Kang, GBS, JP (born 7 May 1943 in Shanghai) is an entrepreneur in the garment industry. He is the former chairman and leader of the Liberal Party of Hong Kong and former member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, representing the Wholesale and Retail functional constituency.

Vincent Fang Kang GBS, JP
方剛
Leader of the Liberal Party
In office 1 December 2014 – 7 October 2016
Preceded by	James Tien
Succeeded by	Felix Chung
Member of the Legislative Council
In office 1 October 2004 – 30 September 2016
Preceded by	Selina Chow
Succeeded by	Shiu Ka-fai
Constituency	Wholesale and Retail
Personal details
Born	(1943-05-07) 7 May 1943 (age 82) Shanghai, Republic of China
Political party	Liberal Party
Spouse	Patricia Tsang Lai-sheung
Relations	Kenneth Fang (Brother) Douglas Fang (Nephew)
Alma mater	Wah Yan College North Carolina State University (BSc, MSc)
Occupation	Legislative Councillor

Vincent Fang
Traditional Chinese	方剛
Simplified Chinese	方刚
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Fāng Gāng Yue: Cantonese Jyutping Fong1 Gong1

Early life, family, education and business career

Fang was born into the Fang family in Shanghai, China on 7 May 1943 during the Second Sino-Japanese War. His younger brother is the billionaire industrialist Kenneth Fang, who is known as the "King of Textiles" and founded Fang Brothers Knitting, one of the world's largest apparel-manufacturing businesses that is separate from the family's textile operations.^[1][2] One of Fang's nephews is Douglas Fang, the current chairman of Fang Brothers Holdings, which manages business interests of the descendants of his late father, Kenneth Fang, and is engaged in electronics, retail, property development, energy storage, and auto parts sectors.^[3] Fang's son, Alan Fang, is an entrepreneur serving as Chief Executive of Novo Holdings, China's largest multi-brand fashion retailer.^[4] He is also known for bringing Formula Electric Racing to Hong Kong in 2016 and is the principal backer of privately-funded Kaleido Park, a 11-hectare European-style floral cultural garden in Lantau Island.^[5][6][7][8]

He moved to Hong Kong and attended Wah Yan College, an eminent Jesuit all-boys secondary school in Hong Kong, graduating in 1962. He later obtained both his bachelor's and master's degrees in Science of Textiles Engineering from the North Carolina State University in 1967 and 1969 respectively. After he returned to Hong Kong, he became the Chief Executive of the Toppy Group, managing over 350 stores and 500 outlets worldwide. ^[9] Under his leadership, Toppy Group has grown into "the Hong Kong fashion industry's greatest success", and amongst its accolades include the International Award at the Hong Kong Business Awards.^[10][11] He was also managing director of Fantastic Garments Limited.^[12]

Fang has been an Independent Non Executive Director of The Wharf (Holdings) Limited since July 1993. He also served as honorary advisor of Hong Kong Retail Management Association, chairman of the Association of Better Business & Tourism Services and the Director of The Federation of Hong Kong Garment Manufacturers.^[12]

Legislative Councillor

Fang is a core member of the pro-business Liberal Party. In the 2004 Legislative Council election, he succeeded Selina Chow Liang Shuk-yee to serve as member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong through Wholesale and Retail functional constituency when Chow contested in the geographical constituency direct election in New Territories West.^[13]

In 2008 after Chairman James Tien Pei-chun and Vice-chairwoman Selina Chow both resigned from the posts after their defeat in the Legislative Council election, he became the vice-chairman with Tommy Cheung Yu-yan. He acted as Chairman when Miriam Lau Kin-yee resigned as chairwoman after she failed to bid for a seat in Hong Kong Island in the 2012 Legislative Council election. He became the Leader of the Liberal Party in 2014, when James Tien was stripped from the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference after calling for Chief Executive CY Leung to resign during the 2014 Hong Kong protests.^{[citation needed]}

In April 2010, Fang's suggestion that the minimum wage should be set at HK$20 per hour drew fire both from the public and from his own party.^[14] His statement made a case for those in the community who criticise functional constituency lawmakers as disconnected from the worries and realities of the public at large. He also had the lowest attendance and voting record among lawmakers in the 2008–2012 Legislative Council.

Fang has been appointed member of the Hong Kong Hospital Authority (2000–2006), Hong Kong Tourism Board (2003–2009) and Hong Kong Housing Authority (2009–2015). He is also a member of the Operations Review Committee of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) and a board member of the Hong Kong Airport Authority (2005–2011). He was awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star (SBS) by the Hong Kong SAR Government in 2008, and later on a Gold Bauhinia Star (GBS).^[12]