Henderson Land Group founder Lee Shau-kee passes away at 97

The founder of the Henderson Land Group and the second wealthiest man in the city, Lee Shau-kee, has passed away at the age of 97 Monday evening.

The Henderson Land Group announced the news this evening that their founder had passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family.

Lee, a prominent figure in Hong Kong's real estate industry, co-founded Sun Hung Kai Properties with Fung King Hey and Kwok Tak-Seng, the father of the billionaire Kwok brothers. 

He established Henderson Land Development in 1976, a major contributor to his wealth, and served as its Chairman and Managing Director until his retirement on May 28, 2019. Post-retirement, he remained an Executive Director at the company.

Lee also held significant positions in other listed companies, including chairman roles at Henderson Development Limited and The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited. 

He was an executive director at Henderson Investment Limited and a non-executive director at both Miramar Hotel and Investment Company, Limited and Hong Kong Ferry (Holdings) Company Limited. Additionally, he served as vice chairman of Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited.

His leadership extended beyond business, as he was the Honorary President of the Shun Tak Fraternal Association and Vice-President of the Real Estate Developers Association of Hong Kong. Born in Guangdong Province and relocating to Hong Kong in 1948, Lee became a respected figure in real estate, known for his ethical approach and investment acumen. In 1996, Forbes ranked him fourth among the "World's Richest Men."

Lee's contributions to Hong Kong's economic growth are substantial, and his philanthropic efforts have supported numerous educational and community initiatives in Hong Kong, mainland China, and globally. 

He has donated to all nine universities in Hong Kong and established the Hong Kong Pei Hua Education Foundation in 1982 to enhance human resources and provide educational opportunities in mainland China.

Through the Lee Shau Kee Foundation, he launched "The Warmth Project" in 2005, donating RMB330 million to train 1,000,000 farmers and 10,000 village doctors across 1,000 counties in China, making it the country's largest charity-based training program.

Lee's achievements have earned him multiple honorary doctorates in business administration, social sciences, and law, and honorary fellowships from universities worldwide. 

In 2008, he received an honorary doctorate from Fudan University and was named an honorary trustee and strategic advisor to Tsinghua University, as well as an honorary director of Peking University.

For his lifelong dedication to education and community service, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region honored Lee with the Grand Bauhinia Medal (GBM) in October 2007, its highest accolade.

Read more: John Lee praises late Lee Shau-kee's contributions to city's prosperity and stability