Cheng Yu-tung

Cheng Yu-tung GBM (Chinese: 鄭裕彤; 8 August 1925 – 29 September 2016) was a Hong Kong billionaire with extensive property investment, development and service businesses, hotels, infrastructure, jewellery retailing and transportation interests in Hong Kong, Macau, United States, Australia and other areas. He was considered to be Hong Kong's third richest man at the time of his death.[1]

In this Chinese name, the family name is Cheng.
Dato The Honourable

Cheng Yu-tung

GBM
Born(1925-08-26)August 26, 1925
Shunde, Guangdong, Republic of China
DiedSeptember 29, 2016(2016-09-29) (aged 91)
Hong Kong, China
SpouseChow Tsui-ying
Children4
RelativesChow Chi-yuen (father-in-law), Henry Kar-shun Cheng (son) Adrian Cheng Chi-kong (grandson)
Cheng Yu-tung
Traditional Chinese鄭裕彤
Simplified Chinese郑裕彤

Early life

Cheng was born in rural Shunde District in Guangdong, the son of a tailor, and fled to Macau in 1940, ahead of the advancing Japanese occupation force. The goldsmith owner of the Chow Tai Fook store there took him on as an apprentice and he eventually married the boss's daughter. They moved to Hong Kong in 1946 and opened the company's first store there.[2]

Business career

He founded and owned Chow Tai Fook Enterprises, a conglomerate which operates the Sheraton Marina hotel and controls the publicly listed property developer New World group, which Cheng founded in 1970. Cheng's wealth originated from his jewellery business, Chow Tai Fook.[3] Cheng's grandson, Adrian Cheng Chi-kong, is set to inherit part of Chow Tai Fook and the Hong Kong-listed New World group, active in property and infrastructure.[4] He also had interests in Shun Tak Holdings, and Macau casino operator Sociedade de Turismo e Diversoes de Macau, owned by Stanley Ho. In July 1972, Cheng and Ho bought the title to the Jumbo Floating Restaurant after it was burned down. The restaurant boat was rebuilt for HK$30 million and began operation in 1976.[5]

Cheng was a one-time real-estate investment partner of Donald Trump.[2]

Shortly before his death, Forbes listed him 58th wealthiest in the world and 3rd in Hong Kong with US$16.6 billion,[6] and was at one time listed by Bloomberg as high as 34th.[7][8]

Cheng also served on the board of Hang Seng Bank, Hong Kong's third-largest bank.

He represented the Kingdom of Bhutan in Hong Kong, serving as the honorary consul for the country.

Personal life

In 1943, Cheng married Chow Tsui-ying, the daughter of Chow Chi-yuen. In 1946, Cheng and his family moved to Hong Kong. Cheng had four children, Henry Cheng, Peter Cheng, Amy Cheng, and Lai-ha Cheng.

Cheng's eldest son Henry Cheng (b.1946) is chairman of New World Development and related businesses.[9]

Death

Cheng died on September 26, 2016, in Hong Kong,[10] after a 2012 brain haemorrhage had left him bedridden.[8]

See also

References
  1. "Hong Kong billionaire Cheng Yu-tung dies at 91". Asia Nikkei.
  2. Chow, Jason; Fong, Dominique (30 September 2016). "Cheng Yu-tung, Hong Kong Jewelry, Real Estate Tycoon, Dies". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  3. Forbes "#4 Cheng Yu-tung", Forbes
  4. Alex Frew McMillan "Still in Control, Hong Kong Property Tycoons Face a Younger Generation", CNBC, 24 October 2011
  5. 聯合新聞網. "誰的香港記憶？「珍寶海鮮舫」錯愕的南海沉沒記". 轉角國際 udn Global (in Chinese). Retrieved 2022-07-07.
  6. "The World's Billionaires". Forbes Media. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  7. "Bloomberg Billionaires Index". Bloomberg LP. Archived from the original on 2012-12-14.
  8. Hong Kong billionaire tycoon Cheng Yu-tung dies aged 91, Coconuts, 30 September 2016
  9. Top 10 richest Chinese in the world
  10. "The King of Jewelry in Asia Dead at 91". NationalJeweler.com. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
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