"King of Plastic Injection Molding Machines" Chiang Chen dies at 100

Businessman Chiang Chen, a well-known industrialist and philanthropist, passed away at the age of 100 in the company of family members on March 13.

Born in Heze of Shandong Province in China to a poor family, Chiang’s story is an epic illustration of the "rags to riches" story; the remarkable tale of a self-made man.

Starting with a capital of only HK$200, he transformed his machine shop - Chen Hsong Machinery Shop - into the world's largest manufacturer of injection molding machines - Chen Hsong Group.

In 1966, Chiang developed the first 10oz in-line plastic injection molding machine in Hong Kong - a remarkable achievement for the industry at the time, which also earned him the fame of "King of Plastic Injection Molding Machines."

The Chen Hsong Group developed rapidly under Chiang's leadership and was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 1991 as one of the leading manufacturers of plastic injection molding machines worldwide.

In addition to being a leading industrialist in Hong Kong, he was among the first group of industrialists to invest in mainland China, establishing a joint-venture factory for plastic injection molding machines in Shunde, Guangdong Province, all the way back in 1986.

Chiang firmly adheres to his motto of "enriching the livelihood of people by industry, strengthening the country through a prosperous society."

In 1990, he donated his entire shareholding in the Chen Hsong Group to the Chiang Chen Industrial Charity Foundation - a charity fund with the charter of promoting technical education and training for Chinese industrial talents and industry leaders, as well as to support the development of China's industrial base.

Throughout more than 30 years of its existence, a total exceeding HK$400 million has been given and the foundation is now one of the largest charity organizations based in Hong Kong dedicated to the education and development of Chinese industrial manufacturing talents.

Chiang will be remembered as the city’s “trailblazing philanthropic industrialist as well as a true master in industrial machinery,” Chen Hsong Group said in a March 14 statement.

In the 1990s, Chiang was appointed Hong Kong Affairs Advisor to advise the Chinese government. He was awarded the Grand Bauhinia Medal in 2005 by the SAR government.

Chiang is survived by his wife, six daughters, a son, and his grandchildren. His most well-known children are his second daughter Ann Chiang Lai-wan, a former pro-establishment lawmaker and his third daughter Agnes Chiang Lai-ping, a famed singer in the 1980s.

On Tuesday, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Chiang.

Lam said Chiang was a pioneer in the industrial development of Hong Kong, with distinguished achievements made in the machinery and industrial arena, and a leading role assumed in the trade.

“He made remarkable contributions to the economic development of Hong Kong and was one of the first patriotic businessmen to invest and set up businesses in the Mainland after the country's reform and opening up,” the Chief Executive said in a statement.