Four big families of Hong Kong explained

The four big families of Hong Kong [1] is a term used to describe the four business families that historically rose to prominence and became influential in Hong Kong.[2] In order of influence, they are the Li, Ho, Lo and Hui families.[2]

The founders of the original four families are Li Sek-peng, Robert Ho Tung, Hui Oi-chow and Lo Cheung-shiu . Of these families, the Lis and the Hos and their descendants are the two most recognized by regular Hong Kong citizens today.

Families

The families and their descendants are listed below. Each indentation represents one generation down, though not necessarily the next generation. Not all the descendants are shown. Most members of these families have reached tycoon status.

Li family notables

See main article: Li Shek-pang family.

Ho family notables

Hui family notables

Lo family notables

Other definitions

Victor Wan-tai Zheng, co-author of Grand Old Man of Hong Kong: Sir Robert Ho Tung (2007)[13] and Opium King: Lee Hysan (2011),[14] lists 10 "Wealthy Chinese Family Busineses in Hong Kong" in his PhD thesis: Ho Tung Family, Li Shek-pang Family, Fung Pak-liu Family (note:, co-founder of Li & Fung), Lee Leung-yick Family (note: father of Lee Hysan), Chau Wing-tai Family, Hui Oi-chow Family, Family, Kowk (Wing On) Family, Family and Family.[15]

He also lists a number of families, including Wang Lo Kat (Wong Lo Kat) and Lee Kam Kee (Lee Kum Kee), in a separate category.[15] The thesis was later modified and published as Chinese Family Business and the Equal Inheritance System: Unravelling the Myth in 2010.[16]

Other authors have suggested new Four big families for the post colonial era. In this case, there are many more variants, including the Li Ka-shing, Kwok Tak-seng, Lee Shau-kee and Cheng Yu-tung families[17] [18] or the Tung Chee-hwa, James Tien, Henry Tang and Rong Yiren families.[19]

Some scholars have gone even further by widening it to include the "big 10 families": Li Ka-shing family, Swire family, Keswick family, Kwok Tak-seng family, Pao Yue-kong family, Kadoorie family, Lee Shau-kee family, Cheng Yu-tung family, Chan Tseng-Hsi family and Ng Teng Fong family.[20]

Most of the latter members have been associated with the term "real estate tycoons", a label made popular by Alice Poon's book Land and the Ruling Class in Hong Kong. In her book, she lists the Lis [Ka-shing], the Kwoks [Tak-seng], the Lees [Shau-kee], the Chengs [Yu-tung], the Paos [Yue-kong] and Woos [Peter] and the Kadoories as the powerful Hong Kong families who hold sway over local "property-cum-utility/public services conglomerates".[21] The Chinese translation of the book uses as a section title.[22]

As of 2018, Li Ka-shing and Lee Shau-kee were ranked first and second in Forbes' Hong Kong's 50 Richest respectively, while Thomas and Raymond Kwok brothers, sons of the late Kwok Tak-seng, were ranked 4th; their eldest brother, Walter Kwok (d. 20 October 2018), was ranked 10th. Richard Li, the younger son of Li Ka-shing, was ranked 19th. Henry Cheng, son of the late Cheng Yu-tung, was ranked 49th. Some of the members of the aforementioned "new" families were also on the list, such as Peter Woo, son-in-law of the late Pao Yue-kong (6th), Michael Kadoorie (12th), the brothers Tung Chee-hwa and Chee-chen (17th) and Chan Tan Ching-fen, widow of Chan Tseng-His (35th).[23]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Sing Tao Daily. Section C-4 HR news. 7/31/2007.
  2. Book: 9629280116. zh:香港商戰風雲錄. 名流出版社. zh. 1997.
  3. Chinese university of HK. "cuhk.edu." Opening Ceremony of Li Koon Chun Hall. The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Retrieved on 2008-11-23.
  4. Chinese university of HK. "cuhk.edu." Mrs Daisy Li Woo Tze-ha. Retrieved on 2008-11-23.
  5. Web site: David Li. Forbes.
  6. News: http://paper.wenweipo.com/2008/10/01/FI0810010006.htm. zh:港府救市事件簿. Wen Wei Po. zh-hk. Hong Kong. 1 October 2008. 18 October 2018.
  7. Hong Kong university. "HKU.hk." Jessie Ho Professorship in Neuroscience 何馮月燕基金教授席(神經科學). Retrieved on 2008-11-23.
  8. WhartonHK. "Whartonhongkong.com." Biography of Lawrence Ho. Retrieved on 2008-11-23.
  9. The Standard HK. "The Standard.com." Chief condemns stadium violence. Retrieved on 2008-11-23.
  10. SFOC. "SFOC ." Elected officer. Retrieved on 2008-11-23.
  11. Lo and Lo. "Lo and Lo. ." About us. Retrieved on 2008-11-23.
  12. News.gov.hk. "News.gov.hk ." CE mourns Lo Tak-shing's death . Retrieved on 2008-11-23.
  13. Book: zh:香港大老:何東. 鄭宏泰. 黃紹倫. Joint Publishing (Hong Kong). zh-hk. 9789620426957. 2007. registration. https://archive.org/details/xianggangdalaohe0000zhen.
  14. Book: zh:一代煙王:利希慎. 鄭宏泰 [Victor Wan-tai Zheng]. 黃紹倫. Joint Publishing (Hong Kong). zh-hk. 9789620430664. 2011.
  15. The Transfer of Ownership and Leadership: A Study of Chinese Family Business and Inheritance. 2002. Victor Wan-tai. Zheng. University of Hong Kong. PhD thesis. A History of Old-established Families and the Chaozhou Community in Hong Kong. 10722/36034.
  16. Book: Zheng, Victor. Chinese Family Business and the Equal Inheritance System: Unravelling the Myth. Routledge Contemporary China Series. Routledge (Taylor & Francis Group). 2010. Abingdon, New York. Hong Kong. ebook. 978-0-203-86141-7.
  17. News: http://www.orangenews.hk/finance/system/2015/12/31/010026702.shtml. zh:【2015香港富豪排位】四大家族地位動搖 . 31 December 2015. 18 October 2018. Orange News. zh-hk. Hong Kong.
  18. News: After Li Ka-shing, Hong Kong's property tycoons inherit tough market. 18 April 2018. 19 October 2018. Nikkei Asia Review. Nikki. Sun.
  19. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=hSNYDwAAQBAJ. zh:富不過三代. Wealth Doesn't Last 3 Generations: How Family Businesses Can Maintain Prosperity. 李秀娟. 李虹. zh-hant. Singapore. 八方文化創作室 [Global Publishing] (World Scientific). September 2007. 978-981-4139-75-5.
  20. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=B4mZAAAAIAAJ. zh:香港的第三产业. 广东人民出版社. 1992. 9787218006680. zh-cn.
  21. Book: Poon, Alice. Land and the Ruling Class in Hong Kong. limited. 2nd. Enrich Professional Publishing. Richmond (BC). Singapore, Hong Kong. 2011. 978-981-4339-10-0. hardback. The Ruling Class. In all cases, these property-cum-utility/public services conglomerates are controlled by powerful Hong Kong families: the Lis of the Cheung Kong/Hutchison group, the Kwoks of the Sun Hung Kai Properties group, the Lees of the Henderson group, the Chengs of the New World Development group, the Pao and Woo of the Wharf/Wheelock group and the Kadoories of the CLP Holdings group.. 22–23.
  22. Book: dei6 caan2 baa3 kyun4. zh:地產霸權. Land and the Ruling Class in Hong Kong. 1st. 潘慧嫻 [Poon, Alice]. 顏詩敏. 天窗出版社 [Enrich Publishing], Hong Kong Economic Journal (co-publishers). Richmond (BC). Hong Kong. July 2010. 978-988-19218-7-1. zh-hant. zh:誰統治香港. The Ruling Class. 45.
  23. Web site: Hong Kong's 50 Richest 2018. 18 October 2018. Forbes.