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

The founder of the Henderson Land Group Lee Shau-kee, who passed away at the age of 97, contributed greatly to the education sector.

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

In a statement released at night, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu expressed his condolences and deepest sympathies to Lee Shau-kee's family on the passing of the "outstanding business leader and entrepreneur." 

Lee Shau-kee was awarded the Grand Bauhinia Medal—the highest award under the city's honors and awards system—in 2007.

The city leader said Lee Shau-kee has made significant contributions to Hong Kong's economic development, as well as the city's prosperity and stability.

"He was also a highly respected philanthropist, excelling in education and social services, including generously donating to numerous universities and higher education institutions in Hong Kong and mainland China over the years, passionately supporting the development of higher education and talent cultivation," John Lee said.

"The Lee Shau Kee Foundation and the Hong Kong Pei Hua Education Foundation, which he established, are also dedicated to advancing educational development, particularly focusing on the educational and research development of the Chinese community," he added.

In 2011, during Tsinghua University's centennial celebration, Lee Shau-Kee donated 300 million yuan to construct the Lee Shau-kee Science and Technology Building. 

The gesture was part of his commitment to supporting education, particularly at prestigious institutions like Tsinghua and Peking University.

The building aimed to incorporate cutting-edge environmental technologies, setting a standard for energy conservation and emission reduction throughout China.

Liu Yandong, a State Councilor at the time and Tsinghua alumna, commended Lee for his dedication to educational causes during the inauguration ceremony on October 15, 2015, which Lee attended.

Lee has long viewed his contributions to education as a vital investment. In an interview, he reflected on his philosophy and stated that "Choose well, choose right, and the results and returns will be significant." 

He took particular pride in the Hong Kong Pei Hua Education Foundation, established in 1982, which has significantly impacted remote and impoverished regions by training over 1.2 million farmers, all of whom secured employment post-training. Lee estimated that this initiative indirectly benefited around 3.4 million people, based on an average household size of three.

Highlighting the effectiveness of his philanthropic approach, Lee remarked on the exponential impact of education over direct financial aid, emphasizing the principle of "one teaching ten, ten teaching a hundred." 

He believes that even minimal financial contributions, amplified by personal effort, can yield substantial results. "Sometimes just a little money from me, plus my own efforts, even one yuan, can be as effective as ten," he said, advocating for a focus on impact rather than the amount donated.

Lee humorously noted that he hadn't kept track of the total sum of his donations, underscoring his belief that the true value of charity lies in its ability to multiply and extend its benefits far beyond the initial investment.