Francis Tien was studied at a junior school in Suzhou and mechanical engineering at the Henry Lester Institute of Technical Education in Shanghai and graduate in 1942.
Between 1966 and 1977, Tien went to Canada and the United States every year, Switzerland four times and Sweden and the European Economic Community on many occasions[1] for the Hong Kong Government Textile Delegations.
Grace Tien Hall, a 300-bed student hostel was named after his wife, after he donated part of the construction cost.
The elder son James Tien Pei-chun followed his father's footstep as member of the Legislative Council appointed in 1988.
The younger son Michael Tien Puk-sun founded the G2000 clothing retail chain and was the chairman of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation.