Chen Din Hwa
Chen Din-hwa | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1923 Ningbo, Zhejiang, Republic of China |
| Died | 2012-06-17 |
| Occupation(s) | Industrial magnate, philanthropist |
| Known for | Founder of Nan Fung Textiles and Nan Fung Development Limited |
Chen Din-hwa (; 1923 – 17 June 2012) was a prominent Hong Kong industrial magnate, billionaire, and philanthropist, often referred to as the "King of Cotton Yarn" within Hong Kong.
Life and career
Chen was born in Ningbo, Zhejiang, in 1923 during the Republic of China era. He discontinued formal education at the age of 12 to begin an apprenticeship with a silk merchant. His father operated as a textile industrialist based in Shanghai. By the time Chen reached 22, he was overseeing the family enterprise, which included retail outlets and manufacturing plants located in both Shanghai and Ningbo. The family moved to Hong Kong in 1949, where Chen launched Nan Fung Mill, a thriving cotton yarn production company.
In 1954, he founded Nan Fung Textiles along with Nan Fung Development Limited, assuming the role of chairman. Over time, the business diversified into sectors such as shipping and real estate development.
Following a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease in 2009, Chen handed over leadership of his company to his younger daughter, Vivien Chen, who had been engaged with the firm since 1981. This transition led to legal conflicts when his former wife Yang Foo Oi and elder daughter Angela initiated lawsuits against Vivien concerning alleged mismanagement of assets. Chen and Yang finalized their divorce in 2011.
Chen passed away on 17 June 2012 at the age of 89, with prostate cancer cited as the cause of death. At that time, Forbes placed him as Hong Kong’s 14th richest individual with an estimated net worth of US$2.6 billion; he had previously been ranked within the top ten wealthiest.
Family and personal life
Chen’s marriage to Yang Foo Oi ended in divorce in 2011. They were parents to two daughters. A committed Buddhist, Chen founded the D.H. Chen Foundation, which focuses on supporting initiatives in education, social welfare, and healthcare charities.
See also
External links
- Articles with short description
- Articles with hCards
- No local image but image on Wikidata
- 1923 births
- 2012 deaths
- Billionaires from Zhejiang
- Hong Kong billionaires
- Hong Kong businesspeople
- Businesspeople from Ningbo
- Nan Fung Group
- Deaths from prostate cancer
- Members of the Selection Committee of Hong Kong
- Deaths from cancer in Hong Kong
- Chinese emigrants to British Hong Kong
- Officers of the Order of the British Empire