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Leung Chun-ying (CY Leung)

Green-fingered convert to the cause

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Executive Council convenor Leung Chun-ying stands out among his Peak district neighbours for reasons beyond his high profile in politics and business.

The patron chairman of the new Climate Change Business Forum personally tends a 200 sq foot vegetable patch in his garden. 'It arouses a lot of curiosity among my neighbours,' he said. 'We are nearly self-sufficient.'

Mr Leung said he had a love of nature that stretched back to his childhood when his police constable father was on duty in Government House and would let him roam the gardens. 'My parents have green fingers and I picked up gardening tricks and skills from them,' he said. 'In my personal life and public responsibilities, I've always taken a keen interest in issues related to the environment.'

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Born in Hong Kong in 1954, he attended the Hollywood Road Police Primary School where he topped his year in all six years. He won a scholarship to King's College, studied surveying at the Hong Kong Polytechnic and estate management at Bristol Polytechnic in Britain, working 20 hours a week in a Chinese takeaway shop, he said, to cover his expenses.

In 1977, Mr Leung joined the Hong Kong office of British real estate consultancy Jones Lang Wootton, becoming its youngest partner after five years.

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In 1993, he co-founded CY Leung & Co, before later becoming Asia-Pacific chairman at DTZ Debenham Tie Leung.

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