Gu Guohe
Gu Guohe (1928–1991) was a Hong Kong shipping entrepreneur and philanthropist, and former proprietor of Taichangxiang Steamship Company (Hong Kong). He originated from Zhenhai in Ningbo.[1]
Early Life
Gu Guohe was the third son of private shipping magnate Gu Zongrui. His mother was Zhou Cuiyu. His older siblings were Gu Guomin and Gu Guohua, both shipping entrepreneurs in Hong Kong. His sister Gu Lizhen was married to shipping magnate Dong Haoyun and their son was Tung Chee-hwa, the first Chief Executive of Hong Kong.
Born on the second day of the lunar New Year in 1928 in Shanghai, he grew up and studied there. He later studied overseas, earning a degree in Ocean Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, and pursued further studies in international law and maritime law at the World Maritime University in New York.
Career
In 1948, Gu Guohe moved to Hong Kong to establish himself in the shipping industry. During the 1960s and 1970s, he went to Japan and founded the Taichangxiang Steamship Company there, eventually serving as Chairman of its board.
In November 1984, he made his first return visit to mainland China for family and investment purposes.
He held senior positions in maritime organizations in Hong Kong and internationally. From 2001 to 2003, he served as Chairman of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association. He was also a member of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s Maritime Industry Council and Vice Chairman of the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO).
Gu Guohe passed away on February 2, 1991, at the age of 63.[2]
Philanthropy
A committed philanthropist, he funded and founded multiple institutions in mainland China and his hometown, including:[3]
- Zongrui Hospital
- Zongrui Library
- Zongrui Youth Centre
- Zhou Cuiyu Kindergarten
In 1992, he established the Gu Guohe Foundation in Hong Kong to support cultural and educational projects in the mainland. The foundation founded:
- Gu Guohe Secondary School
- Gu Guohe Foreign Language School[4]
- Zongrui Navigation Building at Ningbo University
References
- ↑ https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%A1%BE%E5%9B%BD%E5%92%8C#cite_ref-1
- ↑ https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%A1%BE%E5%9B%BD%E5%92%8C#cite_ref-%E9%A1%BE%E5%9B%BD%E5%92%8Clife_3-0
- ↑ https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%A1%BE%E5%9B%BD%E5%92%8C#cite_ref-%E9%A1%BE%E5%9B%BD%E5%92%8C_2-0
- ↑ https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%A1%BE%E5%9B%BD%E5%92%8C#cite_ref-4