Highlights in Chronological Order
1934 Dec 17th Born in Shantou, Guangdong Province, China
1936 During the Japanese invasion of Shantou City my brother
and sister
escaped to Kowloon, Hong Kong
1936-1940 Separated from our parents during the invasion, we
lived with our Aunt Barbara in Kowloon while going to
nursery school in Diocesan Girls’ School
1940 When the Japanese invaded Hong Kong we escaped
back to Japanese occupied Shantou City by boat. Met parents in
Shantou after 4 years of separation. In Shantou I remembered
constant bombing, executions and killing during the Japanese
occupation
1941 During the Japanese occupation our family was doing business with
the US in textile manufacturing (before Pearl Harbor). After Pearl
Harbor in 1941 and when the US declared war on Japan, the
Japanese soldiers arrested my parents and kept them in the
concentration camp. My brother and two sisters escaped the arrest
and went hiding at my aunt Barbara Lim’s house.
1945 Lived under occupation by the Japanese until the 2
nd
World War was
over. I witnessed massive revenge killing of the Japanese
collaborators during the time between when the Japanese soldiers
left the city and before the Chinese Nationalist soldiers came to town
(a period of no law)
1946 China was destroyed by the war and our parents sent
us to Kowloon to study at the Diocesan Boy’s School
1950, I went to Sydney, Australia to study (The entire school
had only one Chinese & one American)
1952, I came to US for advanced flight training and ended up
attending the University of California, Berkeley
During this period Chinatown only had a few restaurants
and we usually went to SF for Chinese food
1954 At UC- Study in Math & Physics, then switched to Aeronautical
Engineering. Unhappy with the major I took an aptitude test. The
result was to study Ministry or be an Artist.
I Switched to Architecture (closest to arts)
1960 Married Constance Poon (met in the Westminster House at UC)
1961 Graduated from UC School of Environmental Design (Architecture)
1961 Worked for Novelli Engineering Co. in Downrown Oakland
1962 Worked for Hugh M. O’Neil Company as an Architect
1966 Designed and built our new home at Piedmont Pines
(Oakland Hills) for $29,000 (Bought land for $2,000)
1968 Lost house to laundry room fire
1969 Rebuilt house
1971 Established my own Architectural practice under- Henry Chang Jr. &
Associates, Inc. in Oakland Chinatown
First project is the Silver Dragon Restaurant in Chinatown 1972
(1
st
new building in Chinatown)
Using of the Palette Knive instead of Brush. Won the Honorary Mention Ribbon at the Berkeley Street Arts Fest in 1954
Dr. Chang
Councilmember-At-Large for 14 years (Retired 2009)
Served as Vice Mayor for 4 terms
December 6, 1994 - Started Term as Councilmember At-Large
Re-Elected for term - January 1, 1997 - 2000
Re-Elected for term - January 1, 2001 - 2004
Re-Elected for term - January 1, 2005 - 2008
Chief of Protocol for the City of Oakland - Present
Education
Shantou - China
Hong Kong- Diocesan Boys School (Kowloon)
Australia- Knox College (Sydney)
U.S.A.- University of California (Berkeley)
Obtained his Bachelor Degree in Architecture in 1961,
University of California, Berkeley
Received his Doctor of Law Degree in 2001
Armstrong University, Oakland
**************************
Owner of Henry Chang, Jr. & Associates in Oakland since 1969
Architecture & Urban Design/Real Estate Development
Owner of Galaxy Travels 1992 - 2006
Owner of Igloo Ice Cream/Sandwich Shop in Oakland Chinatown 1980 - 1985
SERVING IN LOCAL & REGIONAL COMMISSIONS SINCE 1974
1996-2000 Association of Bay Area Governments, Executive Board
1996-2000 Alameda Naval Base Reuse and Redevelopment Authority
1998-2006 Oakland Base Re-Use Authority
Former - East Bay Base Re-Use Commission
Past chair and Former member - Alameda County Transportation Authority
Past chair and Former member - Alameda County Transportation Improvement Authority
Former- A.C. Transit Major Investment Steering Committee
(Bus Rapid Transit / Light Rail System)
Former - Alameda County Lead Poisoning Prevention JPA (Serve as chairman)
1974-1979 Oakland City Planning Commission (5 years)-
Served as Chairman, 1978 & 1979
1980-1990 Oakland Community Development Commission (Served as Chair for 4 terms)
1990-1992 Oakland Board of Port Commission (2 years)
Played an important role in the reorganization of the Port
Served as Chair of Real Estate Committee
Served as Chair of Finance Committee
1993-1995 S.F. Bay Conservation & Development Commission
Appointed by Gov. Wilson to represent the State of California
1993- Board Member of the Oakland Chamber of Commerce
Former Co-Chair of the International Trades Committee for Far East
1994- 1995 Oakland State Building Authority
State appointee to the 3-Member Authority as State Representative
TAKING LEADERSHIP ROLES IN THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1967
1967-1969 Assisted to form the first Minority Contractors Association in Oakland
1970-1973 Board & Founding member of Friends of Parks and Recreation
1970-1975 Founding board member of the Oakland Chinese Businessmen Association
Served as President for two terms
1976-1978 Oakland Cultural Art Committee - As Secretary & Treasurer
1980-1987 Board member of the Lincoln Square Advisory Council
Served as President for two terms
1981-1984 Board member of the Montclair Tennis Association. Served as President
1981-1994 Founding board member of the Oakland/Dalian Society
1983-1984 Member of the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Anti-Crime Committee
Chair of the youth division
1983-1985 Original Team-10 member of the State Crime Commission
1986-1990 Board member of the Northern Calif. U.C. Chinese Alumni Association
Served as President for one term
1986- Original & Board member of the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce
SPONSORED IMPORTANT LEGISLATION
Gun Control: Sponsored Legislation to ban Junk Guns from being sold in Oakland and in the surrounding cities.
Sponsored Legislation to ban Ultra Compact Guns from being sold in Oakland.
Sponsored legislation to require trigger locks on all guns sold. These laws are being adopted regionally.
Sponsored a tax on guns and ammunition sold in Oakland to offset the high cost of violence caused by guns. (this law had closed down all the gun stores in Oakland)
Customer Service is a top priority for Councilmember Chang. Established the Citizens’ Assistance Center to help citizens get the help they need. Initiated the City Management Academy for training neighborhood activists in how the city works. Working to streamline permit processes.
AWARDS:
Inducted into the Multi-Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame - 2011
United States Tennis Association Northern California Captain of the Year Awards - 2008
United States Tennis Association Northern California Diversity Awards - 2008
Older American "Gold & Silver" Awards - 2008
"Immigrant of the Year for 1980" awarded by the International Institute
"Lions of the Year for 1988" –
Past President of the Oakland Chinatown Lions Club
Past Zone Chairman of the Lions Club International D4-C3
Past Deputy District Governor of the International Lions Clubs D4-C3
"Americanism Award for 1990" awarded by the Daughters of American Revolution
"Henry Chang, Jr. Appreciation Day in Oakland" September 27th 1990
"Volunteer of the Year" - Award given by the Chinatown Chamber of Commerce
Others
INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Former Director of the Shenzhen Aero Services, Hong Kong - Hi-Tech Transfer
Former President of Inesscon Asia Pacific, Ltd., with offices in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, China
High Speed Rails & Rapid Transit Systems
Former director of Calmar Saudia, Inc.
Fribourg, Switzerland and Netherlands
To develop project for Abdulaziz Abdullah Almosa at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Former Consultant for Sheik Ali K. Khoja
Trans Orient Development Co., Jeddah, Saudia Arabia
To develop a new city for H.R.H. Prince Fawas Ibn Abdel Aziz near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Former Consultant & Development Team Member for Tevan Arostamian/Azarnia, Teheran, Iran
For Jupiter Trading Co. of Iran (Yervan Tounian)
In cooperation with Bank of Omran, Iran and Rothchild of France
300 Villas at Rashke Behesht, Iran
8 Highrise Buildings in Teheran, Iran
Develop Agro Chemical Master plan for Les Industries Agro Chimiques, Inc., Quebec, Canada; also for Guatemala and Ghana, Africa
Developed a Master Plan for a Hotel and Large Shopping Center in Pago Pago, American Samoa
The future forecast in Asia is for major growth. By the 21st century, the People's Republic of China is projected to be one of the world's leading economic powers. Oakland is located at the Pacific rim and our biggest prospects are trading with China. It is a potentially huge market for us especially for the Port of Oakland. Henry Chang, Jr., a former Oakland Port Commissioner, has more than 38 years of overseas working experience with the Far East. Henry Chang, Jr. is helping to develop trade for Oakland with the Far East. His philosophy of "Make friend first then talk business later" had landed him over 17 Friendship Cities with China.