Martin Liao

Leadership at The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Martin Liao’s extensive involvement with the HKJC culminated in his election as Deputy Chairman of the Club on May 23, 2023. This appointment followed a lengthy tenure of service, including his role as a Steward since 2013.

His initial association with the institution began in 1988, and he became a Voting Member in 2002. Demonstrating a direct commitment to the core activity of the Club, he is a member of the 22/23 John Size Trainer Syndicate, which currently owns the horse MAGNIFICENT NINE.

Key Roles in Government and Public Service

Mr. Liao holds pivotal roles within Hong Kong’s governance structure, reflecting his deep involvement in the territory’s political life. He has served as a non-official member of the Executive Council of Hong Kong since 2016, following his appointment by the then-Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying.

Prior to this, he was first elected to the Legislative Council of Hong Kong in 2012, representing the Commercial (Second) functional constituency, and has retained this seat, having been elected unopposed in both the 2012 and 2016 elections.

Furthermore, his connection to national affairs is underscored by his position as a Standing Committee Member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

Extensive Public Service

Throughout his career, Mr. Liao has made significant contributions to various public institutions. He served as a Hong Kong Deputy to the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China from 2008 to 2023.

He has also held key positions focused on governance and financial integrity, including Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Corruption of the Independent Commission Against Corruption and Chairman of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing (Financial Institutions) Review Tribunal. Other roles include serving as a Council Member of The University of Hong Kong and as a Part-time Member of the Central Policy Unit.

Legal Foundations and Earlier Career

Mr. Liao established his professional reputation as a distinguished barrister. His legal career began with being called to the Bar in England and Wales in 1984, followed by his call to the Bar in Hong Kong in 1985.

He also expanded his practice internationally, being admitted as an Advocate and Solicitor in Singapore in 1992. Earlier in his public life, he served a term as a member of the Copyright Tribunal from 2001 to 2005.

Academic Achievements, Honors and Awards

Martin Liao’s academic success was achieved in the United Kingdom at University College London (UCL). He holds a Master of Laws (LLM) degree and had previously completed a Bachelor of Economic Science with Honours (BS) degree at the same institution.

His dedicated service to Hong Kong has been recognized with the highest civic honors bestowed by the territory. The most recent of these is the Grand Bauhinia Medal (GBM), awarded in 2024. He was previously honored with the Gold Bauhinia Star (GBS) in 2019 and the Silver Bauhinia Star (SBS) in 2014. His first official recognition was his appointment as a Justice of the Peace (JP) in 2004.