Anthony Wong

One of the most respected singers in the Chinese diaspora, with over 15 albums behind him, Anthony Wong has also been supporting Oxfam Hong Kong for over 15 years. His first involvement was a trip to flood-hit Bangladesh in the early 1990s.

Over the past 6 years, he has been one of Oxfam Hong Kong's key Make Trade Fair campaigners. In 2001, he campaigned for better access to affordable medicine; in 2002, he supported publicity for Fair Trade coffee in Hong Kong; and in 2005, his busiest year with Oxfam, Anthony traveled to Ghana to help us document the unfair rice trade, volunteered to be dumped on with milk, and delivered over 18 million Make Trade Fair signatures to Pascal Lamy at the World Trade Organization Ministerial in Hong Kong in December 2005.

"One way Oxfam tries to get rid of poverty is through public education, this includes with me, too! I really try to thoroughly understand the issues; only then can I communicate with others. This process can take a long time, and to change the status quo also takes time. What I do today is a seed for the future. This is how most of the things in life happen: Change does not come with a click. It comes slowly."

Anthony grew up in Kwun Tong, one of Hong Kong's poorest districts, and says that living there as a youth urged him to speak out for justice and fairness whenever he could. "I use music to say what I think.... music is my biggest platform."

In his hometown, and abroad, Anthony is seen as an artist with compassion and leadership. He is affectionately called Brother Ming, as his full name in Chinese is Wong Yiu Ming.

A full interview with Anthony Wong is available in the Oxfam Hong Kong book, "The Possible: 30 Stories."