Paul Fong

A member of China's National People's Congress has submitted a formal written proposal to that Congress that shark fin be banned in the People's Republic of China. Also, the Chinese government has announced that it will prohibit official banquets from serving shark fin soup by the end of 2015.

In succeeding years, Fong has taught Asian-American studies at De Anza College and Political Science at Evergreen Valley College. He was elected to the board of trustees of the Foothill–De Anza Community College District in 1993 and served as a trustee until 2008, when he left the board due to his election to the California State Assembly.

Pursuant to the new law, it became illegal on January 1, 2013, for any person in California to possess, sell, offer for sale, trade, or distribute a shark fin, unless the person holds a special license or permit for that purpose issued by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Two Chinese-American candidates in the 2011 San Francisco Mayoral race, David Chiu (President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors) and Phil Ting (the Assessor-Recorder of the city and county of San Francisco), came out in support of the shark fin ban. Betty Yee (member of California's State Board of Equalization) also endorsed AB 376.

Fong won re-election in November 2010 by beating Republican Eric "Shooter" Hickok and Libertarian T.J. Campbell. Fong received 67 percent of the vote, Hickok received 27 percent and Campbell received 6 percent.

AB 376 was approved by the California Assembly on 5/23/11 by a vote of 65 to 8. It was approved by the California Senate on 9/6/11 by a vote of 25 to 9. It was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown on 10/07/11.

Fong was a full-term member of the California Assembly, completing three full terms of service as a public policymaker. During that tenure, Fong introduced and passed landmark legislation, such as working with the Sea Turtle Restoration Project to declare the Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle the California official state marine reptile; this legislation was important to preserve this majestic and endangered marine animal. It was not just turtles, Fong sponsored and passed legislation to save sharks. Fong was honored by more than one conservation group for his commitment to conservation as well as receiving the 2009 Mover of Mountains Award, the 2007 Norm Mineta Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2007 Asian Pacific American Leadership Institute Civic Leadership Award, and the 2007 Mayor’s Award of Excellence. In the assembly, Fong was known as an activist for education, civil rights, affordable housing, and the environment.

In the primary, Fong defeated Santa Clara City Councilman Dominic Caserta, Santa Clara County Board of Education trustee Anna Song and Cupertino mayor Kris Wang. In the November 4, 2008, general election he beat his Republican opponent Brent Oya by 76.2% to 23.8%.

In the early 1970s, Fong was a star quarterback for the Sunnyvale High School football team. Fong then attended De Anza College and played on its football team. He then attended San Jose State University where he earned his B.A. in Sociology and his master's degree in public administration.

Paul Fong (Chinese: 方文忠 ; pinyin: Fāng Wénzhōng ) (born August 5, 1952) is an American politician. He is a former Democratic California State Assembly member from the 28th district. As a former Assemblymember, Fong continues to fight for the rights of workers to a living wage and respectful working conditions.

Fong was born in Macau, then a Portuguese colony, in 1952. When he was three years old, his family moved from Macau to the San Francisco Bay Area.

Because of redistricting, Fong's home city of Cupertino was placed in the 28th Assembly district, so Fong ran for and won reelection in that district. His opponent was Chad Walsh.