Casino empire builder Stanley Ho dies at 98

Stanley Ho Hung-sun, merchant-turned casino mogul who built a dominant gambling enterprise in Macau, and laid the foundation for its emergence as the world's biggest gambling destination,  died today at the age of 98 in Hong Kong, a city with which his life is intertwined.

"My father has passed away peacefully just now at around 1 pm at Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital," Ho's daughter Pansy said. "As Stanley Ho's family member, we are really sad to inform you of this." 

Hong Kong-born Ho left for Macau just ahead of the Japanese takeover of Hong Kong, historians say, and is believed to have made his first million by the age of 24. In the Portuguese colony, he first worked for the Macau Cooperative Company, the biggest company in Macau at the time.

In 'Macau Remembers,' written by Jill McGivering, Ho recalled: "The company's objective was to provide food for Macau during those three years and eight months of war. I had to start learning Japanese and Portuguese because my job was to barter between the two. The Portuguese Government supplied us with all the surplus they could afford to give away ... and I exchanged all that with the Japanese authorities, in the name of the company, for food from the mainland.''

In 1947, Ho headed back to Hong Kong. At the time, he operated the Agencia Commercial Progresso, a company involved in ship-breaking and other trading. About a decade later, he founded Lee On Construction Company, casting his eyes at property. And a few years later, he secured a gambling franchise in Macau. 

In 1987, the University of Hong Kong, awarded Ho an honorary degree of Doctor of Social Sciences for his services. He was once an HKU student, having secured a scholarship.

Ho's grandfather was Ho Fook, the Jardines comprador. His great uncle, was Sir Robert Ho-Tung. 

His gambling empire held sway in Macau for nearly four decades until 2002. Back in 1961, he also launched helicopter flights to Macau from Hong Kong. After securing the gambling franchise in Macau in 1961, he set up Sociedade de Turismo de Diversões de Macau. 

In 2018, Ho retired from his positions as chairman of SJM Holdings (0880) after AGM on June 12 and was named "Chairman Emeritus.” Daisy Ho Chiu-fung was named to succeed as chair and executive director of the company.

He suffered a head injury in an accident at home in mid-2009 and handed over day-to-day management of SJM Holdings.

He was last seen in public in December 2009 at the 10th anniversary celebrations of Macau's handover and met the then-president Hu Jintao.

Ho is also remembered as a generous donor, contributing extensively to various causes as well as a dedicated supporter of the Hong Kong Arts Festival.

Among the many public honors Ho received were the  Gold Lotus Medal of Honour by the Macau Government in 2001, and  the Gold Bauhinia Star of the Hong Kong Government in 2003.  

The Portuguese Government, honored Ho with the Grã-Cruz da Ordem do Infante Dom Henrique, the highest civilian honor in 1995. 

The UK honored him with the Commander of the Most Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem in 1983 and in 1990, the Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE).

France honored him with the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur in 1984.-The Standard

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