Leung Kau-kui
Dr. Leung Kau-kui (born 1903 March 28 – died 1994 November 10) was a philanthropist, Executive Director of Hang Seng Bank in Hong Kong, former Vice-Chairman and Executive Director of Dah Chong Hong Group, Honorary Life President of the Shunde Association in Hong Kong, and co-founder of the Ho Leung Ho Lee Foundation.
Early life
Leung Kau-kui was born on the 30th day of the second lunar month in 1903 (equivalent to April 10 on the Gregorian calendar) in Shan Cun, Beijiao, Shunde. His grandfather, Leung Cheung-yan, began as a farmer and later owned fish ponds and a silver bank. His father, Leung Shih-chi, inherited and expanded the business. As a child, Leung moved to Guangzhou at age 4 and worked in private academies and silversmith workshops. By 20, he founded his own silver bank "Yuan Hing" and married Leung Li Sau-yu from Macau.
War and business
During the Pacific War, Leung supported family suffering from Japanese bombing. He fled to Macau and, with partners including Ho Shan-hang and Ma Wan-kei, established Tai Fung Silver Bank. He then opened a branch in Guangzhou Bay. After the war, he moved to Hong Kong and founded Hang Chong Group, which became Hang Seng Bank and Dah Chong Hong trading business. He pioneered barter trade between Hong Kong and the mainland and positioned Dah Chong Hong as a major distributor of daily necessities.
He died in Hong Kong on November 10, 1994, aged 91.[1]
Philanthropy
Leung believed that wealth derived from society should be returned to society.
Since 1979, he donated over HKD 40 million to build public amenities and schools in Shunde, including Xin Tan Primary School, Leung Kau-kui Middle School, hospitals, elder and childcare centers, library, and sports facilities. In Hong Kong, schools bearing his name include Lok Sin Tong Leung Kau Kui College, Lok Sin Tong Leung Kau Kui Primary and Secondary Schools, and Shun Tak Fraternal Association Leung Kau Kui College.
He also supported higher education in Mainland China. In 1981 he donated HKD 6 million to Sun Yat-sen University, and in 1993 and 1994 donated HKD 10 million each to establish a building fund and library for Tsinghua University. In 1994, together with three other finance tycoons, he contributed HKD 100 million to found the Ho Leung Ho Lee Foundation, which supports outstanding scientific figures in China. Premier Li Peng personally commend him for his generosity.
Honors include Honorary Doctorate in Social Sciences from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (1987), Honorary Doctorate from Tsinghua University (1994), Honorary Advisor to Sun Yat-sen University (1990), Honorary Citizen of Shunde (1992), and Posthumous Honorary Doctorate of Laws from University of Hong Kong (1995).
Family
- Spouse: Leung Li Sau-yu
- Brothers: Leung Lian-kui, Leung Min-kui, Leung Lau-kui, Leung Lun-kui
- Younger brothers: Leung Chiu-kui, Leung Yiu-kui, Leung Wai-kui
- Sisters: Leung Ngan-yi, Leung Kwan-yi, Leung Choi-yi, Leung Wan-yi, Leung Kwai-yi
- Children: Leung Chak-chuen; Illegitimate son: Leung Ka-wan (“Little Kau”)
- Daughter: Leung Kit-wah
Institutions named after him
Hong Kong
- Leung Kau Kui Building at University of Hong Kong
- Leung Kau Kui Building at Lingnan University
- Leung Kau Kui Building at Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Leung Kau Kui Hall at Tsinghua University
- Leung Kau Kui Diabetes Centre at Queen Mary Hospital
- Lok Sin Tong Leung Kau Kui College, 28 Hospital Road, Western District[2]
- Lok Sin Tong Leung Kau Kui Primary School and Branch, Tin Shui Wai
- Shun Tak Fraternal Association Leung Kau Kui College, Tuen Mun
- Leung Kau Kui Clinic, 2/F, To Kwa Wan Municipal Services Building
- Leung Kau Kui Student Centre at St. Stephen’s College
Others
- Leung Kau-kui Hall at Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou
- Shunde Leung Kau-kui Library, Foshan
- Leung Kau Kui Vocational School, Foshan’s Nanguo West Road
- Xingtan District Leung Kau-kui Middle School
- KK Leung House at St Edmund Hall, University of Oxford