Lee Shau-kee: a proud legacy of kindness, compassion

18-03-2025 13:32 HKT

Following the passing of 97-year-old property tycoon Lee Shau-kee -- founder of the Henderson Land Group, many former employees took to social media to share heart-warming tributes.

One of them shared his heartfelt story of Lee on Facebook, recounting how his mother, who worked for Lee as an office cleaner, constantly complimented him as an extraordinary leader who treated all employees with kindness.

As the poster's family owned a hair salon, his mother once mentioned inviting her boss for a haircut. Initially, the family believed it was just a casual chat, but two men in suits showed up two days later at 8 pm, just as they were about to close.

The poster recalled washing the older gentleman's hair, stating that when his brother asked how he wanted it trimmed, the customer answered, "Just make me look handsome."

They had no idea of the customer's identity until he revealed that he had been invited by their mother, leaving the brothers in shock.

The poster fondly remembered Lee leaving with a smile, giving them a thumbs up and stating that their business would flourish if they did their best with heart.

After Lee's visit, the poster mentioned an increase in suited clients, saying he would never forget the support from Lee.

The poster's story generated enthusiastic responses, with many applauding Lee for genuinely caring about his staff, which is uncommon for someone so successful.

Another former employee also expressed their admiration in the comments, praising Lee's compassion during the SARS outbreak when he affirmed that no employees would be laid off.

While building a vast empire that encompasses many aspects of citizens' lives, Lee was also committed to charity, including a HK$560 million donation during the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, providing land to build the most extensive youth hostel for young people in the city, and lending land during the COVID-19 pandemic to build makeshift hospitals to offer aid during challenging times.

Lee Shau-kee's contributions to Hong Kong were significant, and he was awarded the Grand Bauhinia Medal in 2007, leaving a lasting legacy.