Bernard Chan

The Honourable Bernard Charnwut CHAN, GBM, GBS, JP

A graduate of Pomona College in California, Mr Bernard Chan is the Chairman and President of the publicly-listed Asia Financial Holdings Limited and Chairman of Asia Insurance Company Limited. He is also the Chairman of the Hong Kong-Thailand Business Council, and an advisor to Bangkok Bank (China) Company Limited. He sits on the boards of several local and overseas companies in financial services, and is a Director of Bumrungrad Hospital Public Company Limited in Thailand.

Mr Chan has a long record of public service. He is a Steward of The Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service. A patron of the arts, he is the Chairman of Tai Kwun Culture & Arts Company Limited. He is also the Chairman of Our Hong Kong Foundation, and Chairman of the Hong Kong Chronicles Institute.

Mr Chan served as a Hong Kong Deputy to the National People’s Congress of China from 2008 to 2023, and the Convenor of the Non-Official Members of the Executive Council of HKSAR from 2017 to 2022. He was also a Non-Official Member of the Executive Council between 2004-2009 and 2012-2022, he also represented the insurance industry in the Legislative Council from 1998 to 2008.
Mr Chan’s past leadership positions include Chairman of Hong Kong Council of Social Service, Council Chair of Lingnan University, Chairman of the Board of Hong Kong Palace Museum Limited, Chairman of the Council for Sustainable Development, Chairman of the Antiquities Advisory Board, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Revitalisation of Historic Buildings, and Chairman of the two Standing Committees on Disciplined Services and Judicial Salaries and Conditions of Service.

Mr Chan has received honorary degrees by Lingnan University, City University of Hong Kong, Open University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University and Savannah College of Art and Design. He is a Trustee Emeritus of Pomona College.

Mr Chan was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 2002. He was awarded Commander (3rd Class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand in 2004. In 2006, he was awarded the Gold Bauhinia Star by the HKSAR Government, and in 2020 he received Hong Kong’s highest honour, the Grand Bauhinia Medal.