Professor Joseph Yam

Distinguished Research Fellow, Lau Chor Tak Institute of Global Economics and Finance
The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Professor Joseph Yam joined the Lau Chor Tak Institute of Global Economics and Finance as Distinguished Research Fellow on 1 April 2010. He is also the Honorary Professor of the Business School, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Retired in September 2009, Professor Yam was the first Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, an organization which he created and headed for sixteen and a half years.

Professor Yam graduated from the University of Hong Kong in 1970 with first class honours. He started his civil service career in 1971, serving the public for over 38 years. Professor Yam’s involvement in monetary affairs in Hong Kong started in 1982. He helped put together Hong Kong’s Linked Exchange Rate system in 1983. During the sensitive period before the handover of sovereignty, he introduced many strategic and proactive reform measures that helped to ensure monetary and financial stability in Hong Kong. Professor Yam was instrumental in the establishment of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority in 1993 when he left the Civil Service to head the new organization as its Chief Executive until his retirement at end September 2009.

In recognition of his contribution to Hong Kong, Professor Yam was awarded the highest honour of the Grand Bauhinia Medal by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in 2009. In 2001 he had already been awarded the Gold Bauhinia Star.

Over the years Professor Yam has been conferred with a number of honorary doctorate degrees from local and overseas universities, including his alma mater, the University of Hong Kong. Besides, he is also honorary professor of a number of universities.