List of overseas Chinese

This is a list of notable Chinese people living outside of the Greater China.

Leaders and politicians

Presidents and Prime Ministers

• Arthur Chung: 1st President of Guyana, Guyana
• Abhisit Vejjajiva: Prime Minister of Thailand
• Banharn Silpa-Archa: Prime Minister of Thailand
• Chuan Leekpai: Prime Minister of Thailand
• Corazon Aquino, former President, Philippines
• Chong Kah Kiat, Chief Minister of Sabah, Malaysia
• Goh Chok Tong, Prime Minister, Singapore
• Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister, Singapore
• Lee Kuan Yew, 1st Prime Minister, Singapore
• Leong Yew Koh – first Malacca Governor, Malaysia
• Lim Chong Eu, Chief Minister of Penang, Malaysia
• Lim Guan Eng, Chief Minister of Penang, Malaysia
• Ne Win, President of Burma, Myanmar
• Thaksin Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand
• Yingluck Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand
• Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Tjung Ban Hok), former Governor of Jakarta, Indonesia
• Anote Tong, President of Kiribati, Kiribati

Governors

• Solomon Hochoy, 17th Governor of Trinidad and Tobago
• Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Tjung Ban Hok), Governor of Jakarta, Indonesia
• Gary Locke, Governor of Washington

Australasia

• Jing Lee, politician, Australia
• John So, Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Australia
• Kenneth Wang, politician, New Zealand
• Pansy Wong, former cabinet minister, New Zealand
• Penny Wong, Senator, Australia

Europe

• Steven Dominique Cheung, Young Advisors for Her Majesty's Government and Youngest Candidates For European Parliament
• Michael Chan, Baron Chan, physician and member of the House of Lords
• Lydia Dunn, Baroness Dunn, deputy chairman and senior non-executive director of HSBC (since 1992)
• Anna Lo, social worker and Alliance Party Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of Northern Ireland

North America

• Elaine Chao, United States Secretary of Transportation
• David S. C. Chu, Under Secretary of Defense for Readiness
• Jim Chu, Chief Constable of the Vancouver Police Department
• Steven Chu, United States Secretary of Energy
• Adrienne Clarkson, former Governor General of Canada
• March Fong Eu, Secretary of State of California
• Hiram L. Fong, former US Senator from Hawaii
• Matthew K. Fong, former California State Treasurer
• Edwin M. Lee, former city manager & mayor of San Francisco, California
• John Liu, member of the New York City Council
• Gary Locke, former governor of Washington
• Shien Biau Woo, former attorney general and lieutenant governor of Delaware, current president of the 80-20 Initiative
• David Wu, US Representative from Oregon; first and only Chinese American US Representative

Artists and performers

Actors and actresses

Gemma Chan

• Jackie Chan, actor born in Hong Kong, works internationally, mainly in the United States
• Nadine Chandrawinata, actress, Indonesia
• Rosalind Chao, actress, United States
• Maggie Cheung, actress born in Hong Kong, raised in the UK, works mainly in Hong Kong and Europe
• Michelle Chong, actress, Singapore
• Michael Chow Man-Kin, actor born in Canada, based in Hong Kong
• Joe Taslim, actor, Indonesia
• Kam Fong Chun, actor, United States
• Alexa Chung, TV presenter, England
• Heart Evangelista, actress, Philippines
• Benson Fong, actor, United States
• Jessica Henwick, actress, England
• James Hong, actor, United States
• Takeshi Kaneshiro, actor, Japan
• Burt Kwouk, actor, born in England
• Bruce Lee, actor and martial arts master born in San Francisco, worked in Hong Kong and the United States
• Brandon Lee, actor born in Oakland, California; son of Bruce Lee
• Shannon Lee, actress born in Los Angeles; daughter of Bruce Lee
• Katie Leung, actress, Scotland
• Baim Wong, actor, Indonesia
• Lucy Liu, actress, born in New York City
• Richard Loo, actor, United States
• Keye Luke, actor, United States
• Agnes Monica, actress, Indonesia
• Olivia Munn, actress and TV presenter, United States
• Haing S. Ngor, actor, born in Cambodia, worked in the United States
• Harry Shum, Jr., actor, United States
• Zoe Tay, actress, Singapore
• Garrett Richard Wang, actor, United States
• Benedict Wong, actor, United Kingdom
• Fann Wong, actress, Singapore
• Michelle Yeoh, actress, Malaysia
• Victor Sen Yung, actor, United States

Filmmakers

• Lionel Chok, Singapore
• Tze Chun, United States
• Teguh Karya, born Steve Liem Tjoan Hok, Indonesia
• Ang Lee, United States
• James Lee, Malaysia
• Tsai Ming-liang, Malaysia
• Tan Chui Mui, Malaysia
• Jack Neo, Singapore
• Royston Tan, Singapore
• James Wong, United States
• James Wan, Australia

Musicians

• Jin Au-Yeung, United States
• Gary Cao, Malaysia
• Jose Mari Chan, Philippines
• Kit Chan, Singapore
• Angelica Lee, Malaysia
• Agnez Mo, Indonesia
• Maia Lee, Singapore
• Fish Leong, Malaysia
• Imee Ooi, Malaysia
• JJ Lin, Singapore
• Eric Moo, Malaysia
• Sylvester Sim, Singapore
• Stefanie Sun, Singapore
• Penny Tai, Malaysia
• Vienna Teng, United States
• Nicholas Teo, Malaysia
• Yo Yo Ma, United States
• Michael Wong, Malaysia

Comedians

• Raybon Kan, comedian, columnist, New Zealand
• Nigel Ng, comedian, YouTuber, Malaysia

Video game designers

• Jenova Chen, United States

Voice actors

• Kaiji Tang, United States

Athletes

• Michael Chang, tennis player, United States
• Ang Peng Siong, swimmer, Singapore
• Alan Budikusuma, badminton, Olympic gold medalist, Indonesia
• Chan Chong Ming, badminton player, Malaysia
• Chew Choon Eng, badminton player, Malaysia
• Choong Tan Fook, badminton player, Malaysia
• Rudy Hartono, badminton legend, Indonesia
• Pi Hongyan, badminton player, France
• Goh Tat Chuan, footballer, Singapore
• He Zhi Wen, table tennis, Spain
• Jeremy Lin, NBA basketball player, United States
• Lee Chong Wei, badminton player, Malaysia
• Lee Wan Wah, badminton player, Malaysia
• Li Jiawei, table tennis player, Singapore
• Li Li, badminton player, Singapore
• Liem Swie King, badminton legend, Indonesia
• Lim Eng Beng, basketball player, Philippines
• Samboy Lim, basketball player, Philippines
• Wong Mew Choo, badminton player, Malaysia
• Ng Ser Miang, sailor, Singapore
• Sadaharu Oh, baseball player, Japan
• Remy Ong, bowling player, Singapore
• Poh Seng Song, athlete, Singapore
• Susi Susanti, badminton, Olympic gold medalist, Indonesia
• Ho-Pin Tung, race driver, Netherlands
• Xu Huaiwen, athlete, Germany
• Jiang Yanmei, badminton player, Singapore
• Jing Jun Hong, table tennis player, Singapore
• Wong Choong Hann, badminton player Malaysia
• Yao Jie, badminton player, Netherlands
• Alex Yoong, race driver, Malaysia
• Li Donghua, gymnastics, Switzerland
• Michelle Kwan, figure skater, United States
• Patrick Chan, figure skater, Canada
• Jeremy Ten, figure skater, Canada
• Beatrisa Liang, figure skater, United States
• Caroline Zhang, figure skater, United States
• Tiffany Chin, figure skater, United States
• Christina Gao, figure skater, United States
• Nathan Chen, figure skater, United States
• Karen Chen, figure skater, United States
• Vincent Zhou, figure skater, United States
• Shaoang Liu, speed skater, Hungary
• Shaolin Sándor Liu, speed skater, Hungary
• Emma Raducanu

Businesspeople

• Tan Kah Kee, Entrepreneur, Singapore
• Lee Kong Chian, Entrepreneur, Singapore
• Lee Choon Seng, Entrepreneur, Singapore
• Khoo Teck Puat, Entrepreneur, Singapore
• Lim Goh Tong, Entrepreneur, Malaysia
• Lim Kok Thay, Malaysia
• Sudono Salim (Liem Sioe Liong), Entrepreneur, Indonesia
• Anthoni Salim (Liem Hong Sien), Indonesia
• Chin Sophonpanich, Entrepreneur, Thailand
• Chatri Sophonpanich, Thailand
• Chartsiri Sophonpanich, Thailand
• Choti Lamsam, Entrepreneur, Thailand
• Banthoon Lamsam, Thailand
• Chaleo Yoovidhya, Entrepreneur, Thailand
• Chalerm Yoovidhya, Thailand
• Dhanin Chearavanont (Chia Kok Min), Thailand
• Suphachai Chearavanont, Thailand
• Korawad Chearavanont, Thailand
• Jeffrey Cheah, Malaysia
• William Cheng, Malaysia
• Jimmy Choo, Malaysia
• Robert Kuok, Entrepreneur, Malaysia
• Lucio Tan, Entrepreneur, Philippines
• Wee Cho Yaw, Singapore
• Wee Ee Cheong, Singapore
• Lien Ying Chow, Singapore
• Kwek Leng Beng, Singapore
• Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco Jr., Philippines
• Olivia Lum, Singapore
• Quek Leng Chan, Malaysia
• Low Kiok Chiang, Singapore
• John Gokongwei, Philippines
• Seow Poh Leng, Singapore
• Henry Sy, Philippines
• Vincent Tan, Malaysia
• Tan Kim Ching, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia
• Teh Hong Piow, Malaysia
• Tiong Hiew King, Malaysia
• Lilian Too, Malaysia
• George Ty, Philippines
• Francis Yeoh, Malaysia
• Rebekah Yeoh, Malaysia
• Ruth Yeoh, Malaysia
• Yeoh Tiong Lay, Malaysia
• Tony Tan Caktiong, Philippines
• Jerry Yang, United States
• Alfonso Yuchengco, Philippines
• Loh Boon Siew, Malaysia
• Sondhi Limthongkul, Thailand

Law

• Chan Sek Keong, 3rd Chief Justice, Singapore
• Chang Min Tat, Federal court judge, Malaysia
• Mai Chen, constitutional lawyer, New Zealand
• Denny Chin, District Judge, United States
• Kwa Geok Choo, Singapore
• Ong Hock Thye, Chief Judge, Malaysia
• Woon Cheong Ming Walter, Singapore
• Wee Chong Jin, 1st Chief Justice, Singapore
• Albino SyCip, banker and lawyer, Philippines
• Tan Boon Teik, Attorney-General, Singapore
• Thomas Tang, Federal Judge, United States
• Claudio Teehankee, Chief Justice, Philippines
• Pedro Yap, Chief Justice, Philippines
• Yong Pung How, 2nd Chief Justice, Singapore

Military officers and soldiers

• General Vicente Lim, Philippines
• Rear Admiral John Lie Tjeng Tjoan, Indonesia
• Brigadier General Teddy Jusuf (Him Tek Ji), Indonesia
• Lieutenant General Winston Choo Wee Leong, Singapore
• Captain Francis B. Wai, United States
• Albert Kwok Fen Nam, war hero and leader of the "Kinabalu Guerrillas" against Japanese occupation, Malaysia
• James Yee, military chaplain, United States

Religious leaders

• Buddhādasa Bhikkhu, Prominent Buddhist Reformer, Thailand
• Somdet Kiaw, Acting Supreme Patriarch of Thailand and abbot of Wat Saket, Thailand
• Prayudh Payutto, Well-known intellectual monk and prolific writer, Thailand
• Venerable Prof. KL Dhammajoti, Well-known Buddhist scholar, Malaysia
• Sayadaw U Tejaniya, Theravādin Buddhist monk and famous meditation teacher, Myanmar
• Ashin Jinarakkhita, Key figure in the Revival of Indonesian Buddhism, Indonesia
• Venerable Zhuan Dao, Founder of the KMSPKS and Buddhist leader, Singapore
• Venerable Hong Choon, 2nd president of SBF and Buddhist leader, Singapore
• Venerable Long Gen, 7th president of SBF and Buddhist leader, Singapore
• Jakusho Kwong – Zen Buddhist Master of Shunryu Suzuki lineage and founder of Sonoma Mountain Zen Center, United States
• Venerable Chi Chern, Chan Master of Sheng Yen lineage and principal of the Malaysian Buddhist Institute, Malaysia
• Moy Lin-shin, Taoist monk and founder of Fung Loy Kok Institute of Taoism, Canada
• Chow Yam-nam (白龍王), well-known guru and has been known as a "living saint", Thailand
• Bhante Sujiva – well-known teacher of Vipassana in the Theravāda Buddhist Tradition
• Jaime Sin, Roman Catholic Cardinal Archbishop, Philippines
• Stephen Tong, Indonesian Reformed Evangelist, Indonesia
• Hussein Ye, Islamic preacher and scholar, Malaysia
• Jimmy Yu (Guo Gu), Chan teacher of Sheng Yen lineage, Associate Professor of Religion at Florida State University and founder of Tallahassee Chan Center, United States

Seamen

• Lim Poon BEM, shipwreck survivor

Writers, poets and artists

Asia

• Aaron Lee, Singapore
• Russell Lee, Singapore
• Catherine Lim, Singapore
• Shirley Geok-lin Lim, Malaysia
• Su-Chen Christine Lim, Singapore
• Tan Swie Hian, Singapore

Australasia

• Jack Yan, publisher, author, New Zealand
• Grace Chin, columnist, Malaysia

Europe

• François Cheng, writer, France
• Gao Xingjian, writer, France
• Jung Chang, author, United Kingdom
• Timothy Mo, author, United Kingdom
• Helen Tse, author, United Kingdom
• Xiaolu Guo, author, United Kingdom
• Tash Aw, writer, United Kingdom

United States

• Amy Chua, author and professor of law
• Gish Jen, author
• Ha Jin, author
• Jean Kwok, author
• Laura Ling, journalist
• Lisa Ling, journalist
• Amy Tan, author
• Helen Zia, journalist

Scientists, engineers, medicine

• Min Chueh Chang, reproductive biologist, United States
• Victor Chang, surgeon, Australia
• Steven Chu, scientist, 1997 Nobel Prize winner in Physics, United States
• Kevin Fong, space physiologist, United Kingdom
• David Ho, AIDS researcher, United States
• Wen Ho Lee, scientist, United States
• Ken Yeang, architect, Malaysia
• Chang-Lin Tien, engineer and previous Chancellor of UC Berkeley, United States
• Chern Shiing-shen, mathematician, United States
• Da-Wen Sun, engineer, Ireland
• Terence Tao, mathematician, Fields Medal winner, Australia
• Shing-Tung Yau, mathematician, Fields Medal winner, United States
• An Wang, computer engineer, United States
• Kai-Fu Lee, computer scientist, United States

Art, design, culinary

• Amber Chia, international model, Malaysia
• Jimmy Choo, designer, Malaysia
• Chen Kenichi, chef, Japan
• Ming Tsai, chef, United States
• Ling Tan, model, Malaysia
• Vivienne Tam, fashion designer, United States
• Zang Toi, fashion designer, Malaysia
• Ang Kiukok, artist, Philippines
• Susur Lee, chef/restaurateur, originally from British Hong Kong, based in Toronto, Canada
• Maya Lin, artist and architect, United States
• Justin Quek, chef, Singapore
• John Clang / John C.L. Ang, photographer, Singapore
• Zao Wou Ki, painter, France
• I. M. Pei, architect, United States
• Alexander Wang, fashion designer, United States
• Poh Ling Yeow, celebrity chef, Australia
• Michelle Yeoh, fashion influencer, United Kingdom
• Rachel Yeoh, fashion influencer, United Kingdom

References

See also

• List of Chinese people
• List of Chinese Americans
• List of Chinese Australians
• List of Chinese British
• List of Chinese Canadians
• List of Chinese Filipinos
• List of Malaysian Chinese
• List of Chinese New Zealanders
• Overseas Chinese
• Chinese Singaporean
• Chinese Thai
• Chinese Indonesian
• List of Hokkien people
• List of Cantonese people
• List of politicians of Chinese descent

This page was last edited on 1 November 2023, at 17:17