Jack So Chak-kwong, GBM, GBS,

OBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

, JP () is the chairman of the Board of

Airport Authority Hong Kong The Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA or AAHK) is the statutory body of the government of Hong Kong that is responsible for the operations of the Hong Kong International Airport. It is governed by the Airport Authority Ordinance (Cap. 483). His ...

from June 2015. He is a former chairman and executive director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), former chairman and Chief Executive of the

MTR Corporation MTR Corporation Limited is a majority government-owned public transport operator and property developer in Hong Kong which operates the Mass Transit Railway, the most popular public transport network in Hong Kong. It is listed on the Hong K ...

, and former deputy chairman and Group managing director of PCCW. In October 2013, he was appointed Chairman of the Consultative Committee on Economic and Trade Co-operation between Hong Kong and the Mainland. In January 2013 he was appointed a non-official member of the Economic Development Commission, and Convenor of its Working Group on Convention and Exhibition Industries and Tourism. He was the Chairman of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Society, Chairman of Harrow International School Hong Kong, member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Honorary Consultant to the Mayor of San Francisco, International Business Advisor to the Mayor of Beijing, and a member of Lantau Development Advisory Committee of Hong Kong Government. He is an independent non-executive Director of

AIA Group AIA Group Limited, often known as AIA (), is a Hong Kong–based multinational insurance and finance corporation. It is the largest publicly traded life insurance group in the Asia-Pacific region. It offers insurance and financial services, ...

and China Resources Power, and senior advisor to

Credit Suisse Credit Suisse Group AG (, ) was a global Investment banking, investment bank and financial services firm founded and based in Switzerland. According to UBS, eventually Credit Suisse was to be fully integrated into UBS. While the integration ...

, Greater China. So is a former independent director of

HSBC HSBC Holdings plc ( zh, t_hk=滙豐; initialism from its founding member The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation) is a British universal bank and financial services group headquartered in London, England, with historical and business li ...

and

Cathay Pacific Cathay Pacific Airways Limited, or simply Cathay Pacific, is the flag carrier of Hong Kong, with its head office and main airline hub, hub located at Hong Kong International Airport. The airline's operations and its subsidiaries have schedule ...

. A Justice of Peace, So were awarded the

Gold Bauhinia Star The Gold Bauhinia Star (, GBS) is the highest rank in Order of the Bauhinia Star, under the Order (distinction), honours system of Hong Kong, created in 1997 to replace the British honours system after the Handover of Hong Kong, transfer of sovere ...

in 2011 and the

Grand Bauhinia Medal The Grand Bauhinia Medal () is the highest award under the Decorations and medals of Hong Kong, Hong Kong honours and awards system; it is to recognise the selected person's lifelong and highly significant contribution to the well-being of Hong ...

in 2017.

Early years

So was born in

Guangzhou Guangzhou, Chinese postal romanization, previously romanized as Canton or Kwangchow, is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Guangdong Provinces of China, province in South China, southern China. Located on the Pearl River about nor ...

, China on 1945. He went to

La Salle College La Salle College (LSC; zh, t=喇沙書院, j=laa3 saa1 syu1 jyun2) is a boys' secondary school located in Kowloon City District, Hong Kong. It was established in 1932 by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, a Catholic re ...

and the

University of Hong Kong The University of Hong Kong (HKU) is a public research university in Pokfulam, Hong Kong. It was founded in 1887 as the Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese by the London Missionary Society and formally established as the University of ...

and obtained a diploma in economics from

Cambridge University The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...

, UK.

Career

So began his career with the

Hong Kong Government The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (commonly known as the Hong Kong Government or HKSAR Government) is the Executive (government), executive authorities of Hong Kong. It was established on 1 July 1997, following the ...

. He then joined the

private sector The private sector is the part of the economy which is owned by private groups, usually as a means of establishment for profit or non profit, rather than being owned by the government. Employment The private sector employs most of the workfo ...

in 1978 and held various senior positions in

stockbroking A stockbroker is an individual or company that buys and sells stocks and other investments for a financial market participant in return for a commission, markup, or fee. In most countries they are regulated as a broker or broker-dealer and ma ...

, banking and

property development Real estate development, or property development, is a business process, encompassing activities that range from the renovation and re- lease of existing buildings to the purchase of raw land and the sale of developed land or parcels to oth ...

. He served as executive director of the

Hong Kong Trade Development Council The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 for international marketing dedicated to creating opportunities for Hong Kong's businesses. The organisation has 51 offices around the world, including 1 ...

(TDC) from 1985 to 1992, and the chairman from 2007 to 2015. So was the chairman and Chief Executive of the

from 1995 to 2003. He was deputy chairman and Group managing director of

PCCW PCCW Limited (formerly known as Pacific Century CyberWorks Limited) is a Hong Kong–based information and communication technology (ICT) and telecommunications company. The company is the major owner of telecommunications company HKT Limited, ...

from 2003 to 2007. He is a non-executive Director of American International Assurance and China Resources Power, and senior advisor to

, Greater China. So was an independent director of

from 2000 to 2007 and

from 2002 to 2015. In the political aspect, So is a member of the

Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is a political advisory body in the People's Republic of China and a central part of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s United front (China), united front system. Its members adv ...

from 2008 to 2018. He was an International Business Advisor to the Mayor of Beijing, and was appointed Honorary Consultant to the Mayor of San Francisco in 2013. He was also appointed by the HKSAR Government as Chairman of the Film Development Council from April 2007 to March 2013. So is an Honorary Doctorate in Social Sciences at the University of Hong Kong (HKU). He was appointed Member of The University Council in 2000 and served as the Chairman of The university's Campus Development & Planning Committee from 2006 to 2012, and was responsible for the building of HKU's new Centennial Campus.

Awards and honours

* Honorable Decorations in Social Science from the University of Hong Kong (2011) *

(Hong Kong/2011) *

(Hong Kong/2017)

Controversies

Panama Papers

So's name is found among the

Panama Papers The Panama Papers () are 11.5 million leaked documents (or 2.6 terabytes of data) published beginning April 3, 2016. The papers detail financial and attorney–client information for more than 214,488 offshore entities. These document ...

, including as an owner of an offshore company Jaderich Limited and as a stock holder of Solid Foundation Limited (SFL). He refused to reveal the business nature of Jarderich Ltd, when he was enquired by the local media. He only stated the company has been inactive for year.

References

External links

HKTDC farewells Jack So Chak-kwong
on YouTube {{DEFAULTSORT:So, Jack 1945 births Living people Hong Kong chief executives Government officials of Hong Kong MTR Corporation Alumni of the University of Hong Kong Businesspeople from Guangzhou Members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference District councillors of Wan Chai District Members of the Selection Committee of Hong Kong Members of the Election Committee of Hong Kong, 1998–2000 Members of the Election Committee of Hong Kong, 2000–2005 Members of the Election Committee of Hong Kong, 2007–2012 Members of the Election Committee of Hong Kong, 2012–2017 Members of the Election Committee of Hong Kong, 2021–2026 Recipients of the Grand Bauhinia Medal Recipients of the Gold Bauhinia Star Officers of the Order of the British Empire