Cheng Yu-tung

Cheng Yu-tung GBM (simplified Chinese: 郑裕彤; traditional Chinese: 鄭裕彤; pinyin: Zhèng Yùtóng; Sidney Lau: Jeng6 Yue6 Tung4; 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.[2]

This is a 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
Net worth US$16.6 billion (February 2016)[1]
Spouse(s)Chow Tsui-ying
Children4
RelativesChow Chi-yuen (father-in-law), Henry Kar-shun Cheng (son) Adrian Cheng Chi-kong (grandson)

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.[3]

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.[4] 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.[5] He also had interests in Shun Tak Holdings, and Macau casino operator Sociedade de Turismo e Diversoes de Macau, owned by Stanley Ho.

Cheng was a one-time real-estate investment partner of Donald Trump.[3]

Shortly before his death, Forbes listed him 58th wealthiest in the world and 3rd in Hong Kong with US$16.6 billion,[1] and was at one time listed by Bloomberg as high as 34th.[6][7]

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.[8]

Death

Cheng died on September 26, 2016, in Hong Kong,[9] after a 2012 brain haemorrhage had left him bedridden.[7]

See also

References
  1. "The World's Billionaires". Forbes Media, LLC. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  2. "Hong Kong billionaire Cheng Yu-tung dies at 91". Asia Nikkei.
  3. 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.
  4. Forbes "#4 Cheng Yu-tung", Forbes
  5. Alex Frew McMillan "Still in Control, Hong Kong Property Tycoons Face a Younger Generation", CNBC, 24 October 2011
  6. "Bloomberg Billionaires Index". Bloomberg LP. Archived from the original on 2012-12-14.
  7. Hong Kong billionaire tycoon Cheng Yu-tung dies aged 91, Coconuts, 30 September 2016
  8. Top 10 richest Chinese in the world
  9. "The King of Jewelry in Asia Dead at 91". NationalJewler.com. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
Business positions
Preceded by
Deacon Chiu		 Chairman of the Asia Television
1989–1990		 Succeeded by
Wong Po-yan
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