Robert Chow

Robert Chow Yung (Chinese: 周融; Sidney Lau: Jau1 Yung4; born 22 April 1950),[1][2] BBS,[3] is a Hong Kong journalist and media personality who is a former RTHK radio host.[4] He is currently the spokesman of the pro-Beijing conservative Alliance for Peace and Democracy and founder and leader of the Beijing-approved Silent Majority for Hong Kong movement.[5]

In this Chinese name, the family name is Chow.
Robert Chow Yung
BBS
周融
Robert Chow at the Anti-"Occupy Central" Signature Campaign, 20 July 2014
Convenor of Silent Majority for Hong Kong
Assumed office
8 August 2014
Preceded byOffice established
Personal details
Born (1950-04-22) 22 April 1950
Hong Kong
NationalityHong Kong Chinese
British
Political partySilent Majority for Hong Kong
Alliance for Peace and Democracy
ResidenceHong Kong
Websitechowyung.com
Robert Chow
Traditional Chinese周融
Simplified Chinese周融

Early life

Chow studied up to the Form Five level of school education.[6][7]

In 1967, at the age of 17, Chow started his career as a reporter for the now-defunct local tabloid The Star where his senior colleague Kevin Sinclair described him as a "mere boy".[8]: 20  In 1970, he was made a news editor at The Star.

Media and communications career

In 1974, Chow started working in the Independent Commission Against Corruption, and became chief information officer in 1980.

In 1985, he became the editor-in-chief of The Standard, and worked there until the 1990s.[1]

Chow began to attract attention from the Hong Kong media when he was appointed as a programme-host in RTHK in 1999,[1] and was awarded the Bronze Bauhinia Star by the Hong Kong Government in 2006 for his contributions to public and community service, especially in the media sector.[9] He was asked to leave RTHK in 2011 together with Ng Chi Sum, another media personality.[10][11]

Political activism

Silent Majority for Hong Kong

In August 2013, Chow founded the Silent Majority for Hong Kong organisation as a focus of opposition to the Occupy Central democratic movement and is the organisation's leader.[12]

The Anti-Occupy Central Parade

In July 2014, Chow, as the Spokesperson of the Alliance for Peace and Democracy, was accused of offering people free meals and other treats in an attempt to boost the turnout of the Anti-Occupy Central Parade. "We want to tell the world that there is another voice in Hong Kong, other than just that of the Occupy Central protesters," Chow said. "Some people may not like the government policies … but most still want peace and harmony. They don't want to see violence, chaos and turmoil."[13] He also maintained that it was acceptable to distribute lunch boxes to groups joining the parade as a token of gratitude.[13][14]

British right of abode

In 2014, Chow was found to be in possession of right of abode in the United Kingdom, though he held no British passport.[15] Some considered this in conflict with his frequent claims of being a patriotic Chinese citizen.[1][16] He initially stated that it was not possible to voluntarily renounce the right of abode, acquired in the 1990s as part of the British Nationality Selection Scheme,[17] but later backtracked, saying that he was working with a lawyer to abandon it.[18]

"White terror" tactics

In September 2014, Chow announced that his organisation had set up a telephone hotline for informants to report the names of schools permitting students to be absent from class during the Occupy Central protests. It was widely condemned by the public of Hong Kong and portrayed as white terror, a persecution tactic similar to those employed by the Kuomintang in Taiwan, including asking people to betray their close friends or family members.[19][20]

References
  1. Kang-chung, Ng (28 July 2014). "Robert Chow Yung: There is another voice in Hong Kong". South China Morning Post. Hong Kong. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  2. 港電台電台公共事務組 基本資料 (in Chinese). Hong Kong: RTHK. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  3. "Recipients of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Honours and Awards". Civil and Miscellaneous Lists. Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. 1 July 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  4. "Chow doesn't want broadcasting job". The Standard. Hong Kong. 15 August 2014. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  5. Lo, Alex (1 December 2016). "Silent Majority have ears in high places". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  6. Gary, Cheung (8 August 2008). "Robert Chow claims victory despite losing out". South China Morning Post. Hong Kong. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  7. Peter, So (24 December 2011). "Fired radio host tells RTHK to 'show more respect'". South China Morning Post. Hong Kong. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  8. Sinclair, Kevin (December 2007). Tell Me a Story: Forty Years Newspapering in Hong Kong and China. SCMP Book Publishing Ltd. ISBN 9789621794000.
  9. "2006 Honours List". info.gov.hk. 30 June 2006.
  10. 港台烽煙「叮走」吳志森周融 Archived 27 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine 24 November 2011, Ming Pao. (In chinese). Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  11. 港台清洗吳志森周融 Archived 25 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine 24 November 2011, Oriental Daily News. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  12. Ng, Kang-chung (28 July 2014). "Robert Chow Yung: There is another voice in Hong Kong". South China Morning Post. Hong Kong. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  13. Joyce, Ng (10 August 2014). "Free meals and other treats for anti-Occupy Central marchers defended". South China Morning Post. Hong Kong. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  14. 派飯誘8.17遊行 周融稱無問題. Apple Daily (in Chinese). Hong Kong. 30 July 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  15. "When right to occupy met right of abode". South China Morning Post. Hong Kong. 31 July 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  16. "One man's alliance with Britain severed". The Standard. Hong Kong. 29 July 2014. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  17. 金世傑 (27 July 2014). 周融承認有居英權 稱不可放棄疑說謊 (in Chinese). Hong Kong: 852 Mail Post. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  18. 周融：完全放棄居英權. Apple Daily (in Chinese). Hong Kong. 28 July 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  19. "Champions of Beijing's camp losing public opinion war on political reform". South China Morning Post. 18 September 2014.
  20. "'Snitch' Hotline for Striking Students May Breach Privacy Rules". Hong Wrong.
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