A Hong Kong-based Internet entrepreneur and IT advocate who represented the Information Technology functional constituency in the Hong Kong Legislative Council from 2012 to 2020, Charles has been actively promoting the industry's development and digital adoption in the region since the early 1990s. He is now a Visiting Scholar at the Global Digital Policy Incubator of the Cyber Policy Center at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies of Stanford University, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Internet Society.
Current Positions
Stanford University | USA
Visiting Scholar, Global Digital Policy Incubator, Cyber Policy Center, Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (Jan 2022 to present)
Internet Society
Member, Board of Trustees (Jun 2022 to present)
Chair, Governance Committee; Member, Election Committee, PIR Nomination Committee
Tech for Good Asia | Hong Kong
Founder and Director (Jan 2021 to present)
Previous Positions
Public Sector
Legislative Council, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Elected to represent the Information Technology Functional Constituency for two terms (2012-2020)
Elected as Chair (2017-2018, 2019-2020) and Vice Chair (2016-2017, 2018-2019) of the Information Technology and Broadcasting Panel (ITBP)
Member, Legislative Council Commission (2012-2019)
Chair, Bills Committee for the Electronic Health Records Sharing System Ordinance (2014-2015) and Bills Committee for Air Pollution Control (Amendment) Bill (2013)
Civil and Technical Society
Internet Society Hong Kong
Founding Chair (2006-2011) and Executive Committee Member (2006 to 2012)
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)
Hong Kong Internet Registration Corporation Ltd. (HKIRC) and Hong Kong Domain Name Registration Co. Ltd. (HKDNR)
Director (2002-2004)
Private Tech Sector
Computancy Limited (2005-2012), Golden Spread Technology Limited (2009-2012), Smoothweb Limited (2009-2012), Globe Techology Development Limited (2005), dots21 Group Limited (2000-2002), Halo Group Limited (2000-2004) | Hong Kong
Director of startup companies
HKNet Co Ltd | Hong Kong
General Manager, Deputy Managing Director (1994-2000)
CIM Technology Development Ltd | Hong Kong
Chief Information Officer and General Manager (1994-1995)
SunSoft Inc. (A Sun Microsystems company) | USA
Systems Engineer, Intercontinental Operations (1993-1994)
Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) | USA
Software Specialist and Consultant (1988 to 1993)
Education
Purdue University | West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (1987)
Bachelor of Science in Computer and Electrical Engineering (1985)
Class of Outstanding Electrical and Computer Engineers 2022, Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Current Services
Global Initiative for Digital Empowerment (GIDE)
Member (Jan 2023 to present)
American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI)
Member, Privacy Experts Advisory Group (Jan 2023 to present)
Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum (APrIGF)
Member, Multi-stakeholders Steering Group (MSG) (2021 to present)
Surrey Law and Technology Hub, School of Law, University of Surrey
Member, Advisory Board (2019 to present)
Previous Services
Hong Kong Information Technology Federation (HKITF)
President (2001-2005)
Hong Kong Internet Service Providers Association (HKISPA)
Chair (1998-2000)
Hong Kong Government
Member, Code of Practice for Recognised Certificate Authority Committee, HKSAR Government (2013-2017)
Member, Digital 21 Strategy Advisory Committee (2005-2011)
Member, Committee on Economic Development and Economic
Cooperation with the Mainland, Commission on Strategic Development (2005-2007)
Member, Hospital Authority (2005-2011); Chair, Clinical Management System III Program Steering Committee (2008-2011); Member, Information Technology Governing Committee (2008-2021)
Member, Transport Advisory Committee (2004-2010)
Member, Consumer Council (2000-2006)
Part-time Member, Central Policy Unit (2000-2001)
Member, Trade and Industry Advisory Board (1998-2005)
Member, Information Infrastructure Advisory Committee, HKSAR Government (1997-2000)
The Women’s Foundation, Hong Kong (TWFHK)
Member, Girls Go Tech Program Steering Committee (2016-2022)
Ranking Digital Rights
Member, Advisory Council (2015-2016)
Creative Commons Hong Kong
Preparatory Executive Committee (2008)
Ranking Digital Rights
Member, Advisory Council (2015-2016)
Professional Membership
Association of Computer Machinery (ACM)
Member
Member, U.S. Technology Policy Committee (USTPC) (2021 to present)
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Senior Member
The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
Member
Hong Kong Computer Society
Fellow
Chair, Health IT Special Interest Division (2007-2011)
Hong Kong Computer Society
Fellow
Chair, Health IT Special Interest Division (2007-2011)
