Henry Fok

Henry Fok Ying Tung
Henry Fok Ying Tung
Born	Template:Birth date; Hong Kong
Died	October 28, 2006 (aged 83)
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, politician
Known for	Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference; founder of Fok Ying Tung Foundation

Henry Fok Ying Tung (10 May 1923 – 28 October 2006) was a distinguished entrepreneur and political figure from Hong Kong. He held the position of Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference from 1993 until his passing. Fok ranked among the wealthiest individuals in Hong Kong.

Biography

Fok was born on 10 May 1923 in Hong Kong into a family of Tanka heritage. At the age of seven, he experienced the loss of his father due to a boating accident. He enrolled at Queen's College, but his education was cut short before completing junior high school because of the Japanese invasion in 1941. During this turbulent time, he worked as a laborer and assisted in managing his family’s modest boat business.

Business

Following World War II, Fok established himself as a prosperous businessman with ventures spanning restaurants, real estate, casinos, and petroleum industries. His initial wealth reportedly originated from smuggling arms into mainland China during the Korean War in the early 1950s, bypassing a United Nations weapons embargo. While he denied involvement in arms trafficking, he acknowledged smuggling steel, rubber, and various other goods in defiance of sanctions.

Fok assumed leadership roles such as President of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, head of the Hong Kong Football Association, and Chairman of the Real Estate Developers Association of Hong Kong. He also chaired Henry Fok Estates Ltd and Yau Wing Co.

In the 1980s, he played a pivotal role in rescuing OOCL after its founder Tung Chao-yung passed away. He developed the Zhongshan Hot Springs Hotel which featured one of China’s earliest golf courses since the establishment of the People’s Republic, designed by Arnold Palmer.

By 2006, Forbes listed Fok as the seventh richest person in Hong Kong and ranked him 181st worldwide, estimating his net worth at US$3.7 billion.

Political

Prior to Hong Kong’s 1997 handover, Fok participated in drafting the Basic Law for the Hong Kong SAR. He also served as vice-chairman on both the Preliminary Working Committee and Preparatory Committee for the Hong Kong SAR and was a member of the Standing Committee of the 7th National People's Congress.

He is recognized for facilitating Tung Chee Hwa’s introduction to Jiang Zemin as a candidate for Hong Kong’s inaugural Chief Executive. Having assisted Tung in salvaging Orient Overseas Container Line from financial distress during the 1980s, Fok was regarded as a key advisor throughout Tung’s administration, especially concerning Beijing relations.

Philanthropy

In 1984, Henry Fok founded the Fok Ying Tung Foundation, which grew into one of Hong Kong’s largest charitable organizations. He also initiated a high-tech business park located in Guangzhou’s Nansha District. Through his foundation, he committed HK$800 million (approximately US$100 million) in 2005 to support developmental projects at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Personal

Fok was married to Elaine Lui and maintained two concubines—Elaine Fung and Lam Sook-duen—in accordance with polygamous practices legally permitted in Hong Kong until 1971. His children include:

Timothy Fok Tsun-ting – chairman of the Hong Kong Football Association and member of the Legislative Council.
Ian Fok Chun-wan – managing director at Yau Wing Co. Ltd, Director of the Fok Ying Tung Foundation, and former chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce.

The family originates from Panyu District in Guangzhou, Guangdong province.

Death

Fok passed away on 28 October 2006 at the age of 83 while receiving treatment for lymphoma at Beijing's Peking Union Medical College. His illness had initially been identified in 1984 and reemerged in 2004. Following his death, his remains were transported back to Hong Kong to conduct a traditional funeral ceremony. Notably, he was one of the earliest Hong Kong natives to have his coffin covered with the Chinese national flag after the 1997 handover. After his passing, he was honored with the Medal of Reform Pioneer.

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