Chen Tinghua
Dr. Chen Din‑hwa (Chinese: 陳廷驊; 1923 – 17 June 2012) was a Hong Kong industrialist from Zhejiang Province, famed as the "King of Cotton Yarn," the "King of Real Estate," and the "King of Warrants." He served as chairman of Nan Fung Textile United Limited and Nan Fung Development Limited. His Nan Fung Group, one of Hong Kong’s leading conglomerates, was delisted from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 1989, making its precise valuation difficult; estimates place its assets above HK$100 billion, second only to Cheung Kong Holdings.
Biography
Chen’s family originally made a living in cattle slaughter. In his twenties he apprenticed in Shanghai under dye magnate Mr. Zhou Zongliang. In 1949 he followed Zhou’s eldest son to Hong Kong to do business. After his patron’s tragic suicide, Chen founded Nan Fung Textile Company in 1954. In 1969 it was reorganized as Nan Fung Textile United Limited and listed in 1970, the same year he established the Chen Din‑hwa Foundation. In 1989 he privatized the textile company and thereafter focused on philanthropy in healthcare, education, and welfare. A devout Pure Land Buddhist, he generously supported Buddhist studies.
In 1976 Chen expanded overseas, investing in the United States, Singapore, Malaysia, and in Hong Kong purchased land in Quarry Bay from Swire Properties, developing the Nan Fung Garden estate. In 1992 he pioneered the issuance of 15 series of covered warrants, earning him the title "King of Covered Warrants" when markets corrected sharply.
A patron of Peking Opera, Chen funded drama schools in mainland China, sponsored touring troupes to Hong Kong, and significantly enriched Hong Kong’s cultural life. He received the Order of the British Empire in 1997 and the top Cultural and Art Development Award from the Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of China. He held honorary presidencies and directorships in numerous Ningbo and Shanghai hometown associations, served on the Hong Kong Chief Executive Election Committee, and was vice chairman of the Hong Kong Tomorrow Better Hong Kong Foundation.
Having suffered progressive dementia from the late 1990s, Chen was declared mentally incapacitated by the High Court in November 2008, which appointed a certified public accountant as his financial guardian. Reports suggested that he bequeathed 95% of his estate to charitable foundations, leaving only 5% to family.
Throughout the 1980s Chen ranked among Hong Kong’s top ten wealthiest individuals. In 2010 Forbes placed him eighth on its Hong Kong rich list, estimating his personal assets exceed HK$100 billion. That December he raised his stake in Sino Land by acquiring 659 million shares at HK$5.60 each, investing HK$3.69 billion to increase his holding to 21.89%. He also held major personal stakes in Shun Ho, Lai Sun Development, and Fantasia Holdings.
Chen’s wife, Yang Fu‑e, filed for divorce in December 2009, which was finalized in April 2011 by mutual agreement. They had two daughters, Angela and Vivien, who assumed leadership roles in Nan Fung. Vivien and her children later joined management. However, family disputes over property led to litigation between Vivien and her mother.
Death
In early June 2012 Chen was admitted to Matilda International Hospital with advanced prostate cancer. He died on 17 June 2012. His death was first reported by cable news channels and online outlets but went unmentioned on the two free terrestrial TV stations. Following legal procedures under the Deaths and Inquests Ordinance, the Social Welfare Department notified police to investigate, and once no suspicious circumstances were found, the body was certified at the public mortuary and transferred to funeral parlour custody. His funeral service was held at Hong Kong Funeral Home with services on 27 and 28 June 2012.
Legacy
Chen’s solitary nature, vegetarian lifestyle, and devotion to Buddhism marked his public persona. He was a lifelong friend of media magnate Run Run Shaw. His substantial support for traditional Chinese culture and social welfare left a lasting impact on Hong Kong.
External Links
- Chen Din‑hwa: “Achieving Without a Trace” (archived)
- Biography of Chen Din‑hwa (archived)
- Peking University news release: Dr. Chen Din‑hwa (archived)
- Sina Finance, “Top 100 Chinese Businessmen” [1] (archived)