Michael Yeung Ming-cheung (Chinese: 楊鳴章; 1 December 1945 – 3 January 2019) was the eighth Roman Catholicbishop of Hong Kong. He was consecrated on 30 August 2014.
Early life
Yeung Ming-cheung was born in Shanghai in 1945. He completed his primary and secondary schooling and began working for an import-export company in Hong Kong. In 1972 at the age of 26 he entered the Pontifical Urban University to study theology and philosophy and graduated in 1978.
Priest
He was ordained a priest for the diocese of Hong Kong on 10 June 1978. After his ordination he took a variety of pastoral and administrative roles. From 1978 to 1980 he was vicar in Ha Kwai Chung District, New Territories; from 1980 to 1982 he earned an MA in social communications from Syracuse University in the United States. In 1982 he returned to Hong Kong and was appointed director of the office of Social Communications for the diocese. He held this post until 1986.[2] He was then appointed parish priest of Our Lady of Lourdes parish, where he served until 1989 when he was appointed chaplain at Yu C.K. Memorial College. He returned to the United States to study at Harvard University where in 1990 he earned a Master's in Education (Ed.M.). He returned to Hong Kong in 1990 and held the post of director of the office of education until 2013. He was the head of Caritas Hong Kong and was appointed vicar general of the diocese in 2009.[3] He was later appointed a member of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum.[2]
Throughout his career as a Catholic clergyman, Yeung was at the center of various controversies. He was criticised for comparing participants of the 2014 Hong Kong protests, as well as homosexuals, to those who use drugs.[19][20]
Yeung's close ties with Carrie Lam, the 5th Chief Executive of Hong Kong, were also a source of controversy. Yeung said Lam is a Catholic, and he had good ties with her for years. Yeung also said he knew her on a professional level, during her time as the Director of the Social Welfare Department, and that he had no reasons to reject her, and sever ties.[21][22] Yeung's ties with the rich and powerful in Hong Kong has also been a source of criticism.[20]
Yeung was also criticised for allegedly defending mainland Chinese authorities during a news conference over controversies concerning the removal of crucifixes from church buildings or demolition of churches.[23][24] He also said that, since China has regulations on religion, he will respect their rules.[25]
^"肝硬化致肝衰竭 天主教香港教區主教楊鳴章離世" [Liver failure brought on by cirrhosis, Michael Yeung, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong, has passed away]. Apple Daily 蘋果日報 (in Traditional Chinese). Retrieved 3 January 2019.
^楊鳴章接任主教 過往言論曾受爭議 [Michael Yeung Ming-cheung takes over as Bishop, has attracted controversies over past statements]. Now TV News (in Chinese). 1 August 2017. Retrieved 7 October 2017. 他過往曾發表爭議性言論,包括以吸毒比喻同性戀和參與佔中的人。
^ abLing, Yat-Tak (3 January 2019). "【楊鳴章病逝】言論惹火 吸毒論喻同性戀惹批評" [[Death of Michael Yeung] Comments drew controversy. Criticized over comparing homosexuals to drug use]. hk01.com (in Traditional Chinese). Retrieved 3 January 2019.
^新主教楊鳴章:無理由不與林鄭來往 [New Bishop Michael Yeung Ming-cheung: I have no reasons to cut off ties with Lam Cheng]. Hong Kong Economic Journal (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 2 August 2017. Archived from the original on 9 October 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
^楊鳴章說與林鄭月娥認識多年 無理由不與她來往 [Michael Yeung Ming-cheung said he has known Carrie Lam for years, has no reasons to cut off ties with her]. RTHK (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 2 August 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
^Zhen, Shuji (3 August 2017). 新主教杨鸣章:平反六四"是面铁墙"不会撼头下去 [New Bishop Yeung Ming-cheung: Rehabilitating June 4th "is an iron wall", and will not confront it directly]. Radio France Internationale (in Simplified Chinese). Retrieved 8 October 2017. 谈到惹起纷争的浙江温州拆卸天主堂十字架事件时,杨鸣章似乎还为中共作出袒护,他说内地近年频拆十字架,他认为问题较复杂,"是否关乎建筑物安全,都可能会……"
^楊鳴章稱內地拆十字架的事情複雜 尊重當局訂出的規條 [Michael Yeung Ming-cheung said the destruction of crosses in the Mainland is a complicated issue, will respect the rules set by authorities there]. RTHK (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 2 August 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2017.