Henry is the 2nd of 4 children born in Dec. 17, 1934  in Shantou, Guangdong Province, China. During the Japanese invasion of Shantou City, Henry and his siblings escaped to Kowloon, Hong Kong in 1936. There he lived with his Aunt Barbara separated from his parents until 1940. In 1940 he was reunited with his parents when the Japanese invaded Hong Kong. Henry and his siblings escaped the invading army by boat returning to Shantou City. During that time Henry remembers witnessing constant bombings, executions of Chinese Citizens and killings by the Japanese occupiers. In 1941 during the Japanese occupation Henry’s father Henry Sr. did business with the US in textile manufacturing (before Pearl Harbor). After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 the US declared war on Japan, and the Japanese army arrested Henry’s parents and kept them in a concentration camp. Henry and his siblings escaped the arrest and went into hiding at a relative’s house. They remained in hiding until the war was over in 1945. During this time Henry witnessed the revenge killings 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). With China left in shambles by the war Henry’s parents sent him to Hong Kong to study at the Diocesan Boy’s School. Henry then went to Sydney Australia in 1950 where he attended Knox College. In 1952 Henry then went to the US for advanced flight training and ended up attending the University of California, Berkeley, where he studied Math & Physics, then switched to Aeronautical Engineering. Henry eventually graduated with a Bachelors in Architecture in 1961 and received his Doctor of Law Degree in 2001 at Armstrong University, Oakland. In 1960 Henry married Constance Poon (met in the Westminster House at UC). He began working with Novelli Engineering Co. in Downtown Oakland and then in 1961 Henry worked for Hugh M. O’Neil Company as an Architect. In 1966 Henry designed and built our new home at Piedmont Pines (Oakland Hills) for $29,000 (Bought land for $2,000). In 1968 they lost their house to a laundry room fire, and rebuilt the house a year later.  In 1971 Henry established his own Architectural practice under- Henry Chang Jr. & Associates, Inc. in Oakland Chinatown, with his first project, the Silver Dragon Restaurant in Chinatown 1972. Henry became a well-respected member of the Oakland Community and in 1994 he was appointed as a Councilmember At-Large in the City of Oakland.  He served for 4 terms totaling 14 years of public service. He then served as the Vice-Mayor of Oakland for 4 terms.  Henry has 4 children, Harrison who is married to Rita, Betsy who is married to Georgio Borruso, Evie who is married to Andy Felton, and Maria.  He has 6 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. He was awarded Captain of the Year by United States Tennis Association North Cal (2008), Immigrant of the Year Award in 1980, the Americanism Award in 1990, Volunteer of the Year award and is even honored by a Henry Chang Jr. Appreciation Day in the City of Oakland on September 27, 1990.     

Timeline

1934    Born on Dec 17th in Shantou, Guangdong Province, China

1936    During the Japanese invasion of Shantou City escaped to Kowloon, Hong Kong with brother and sister. 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 fled back to Japanese-occupied Shantou City by boat.  I was reunited with my 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 numerous revenge killings 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 lawlessness)

1946    With China destroyed by the war 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). Worked for Novelli Engineering Co. in Downtown Oakland. Harrison is born.

1962    Worked for Hugh M. O’Neil Company as an Architect.

1963    Elizabeth is born.

1966    Designed and built our new home at Piedmont Pines (Oakland Hills) for $29,000 (Bought land for $2,000), Evelyn is born.

1968    Lost house to laundry room fire. Maria is born.

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 1971 (1 st new building in Chinatown)

Education

·        Diocesan Boys School (Kowloon, Hong Kong)

·        Knox College (Sydney, Australia)

·        University of California at Berkeley (Berkeley, California)

·        Armstrong University (Oakland, California)

Business Started

·        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

Political Career

·        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   

Community Service

·        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

Awards

·        Multi-Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame Awards  - 2011

·        United States Tennis Association North Cal Captain of the Year Awards - 2008

·        United States Tennis Association North Cal Diversity Awards - 2008

·        United States Tennis Association North Cal President's Awards  -  2016

·        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

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 45 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 20 Friendship Cities with China.