Lui Che-woo

Lui Che Woo
Lui Che Woo
Born	9 August 1929 (age 97); Jiangmen, Guangdong Province, Mainland China
Died	7 November 2024 (aged 95)
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist
Known for	Founder of K. Wah Group, Galaxy Entertainment Group; founder of LUI Che Woo Prize – Prize for World Civilisation

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Lui Che-woo, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 11 August 2025

Lui Che Woo, GBM, GBS, MBE, JP (; 9 August 1929 – 7 November 2024) was a prominent Hong Kong entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist. He established K. Wah Company in 1955, which has since grown into the global conglomerate known as K. Wah Group. The group’s principal publicly traded companies include K. Wah International Holdings Limited and Galaxy Entertainment Group Limited, alongside significant subsidiaries such as K. Wah Construction Materials Limited and Stanford Hotels International, encompassing over 200 companies worldwide. K. Wah Group’s business interests span property development, leisure and entertainment, hospitality, and construction materials across Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Southeast Asia, and major international cities.

Lui held the chairmanship of both K. Wah Group and Galaxy Entertainment Group. He also established the LUI Che Woo Prize – Prize for World Civilisation, which aims to encourage global harmony and sustainable development with a focus on environmental conservation. Demonstrating a strong commitment to corporate social responsibility, particularly in education and technological innovation, Lui contributed generously to universities in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and abroad, assisting disadvantaged populations. In honor of his achievements, the Purple Mountain Observatory under the Chinese Academy of Sciences named asteroid 5538 as the “Lui Che Woo Star.”

Early life

Born on 9 August 1929 in Jiangmen, Guangdong Province, Mainland China, Lui Che-woo relocated to Hong Kong at the age of four. During the Japanese occupation period, he left school early and began entrepreneurial activities at 13 by producing and distributing food in Yau Ma Tei. Following World War II, he gained experience working with his uncle in the automotive parts sector before launching his own auto parts trading business.

Pioneering construction materials and property development businesses

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Lui took advantage of Hong Kong’s rapid post-war expansion. He procured surplus heavy machinery from the US Army stationed in Okinawa after the Korean War and imported these for use in local infrastructure projects—an early strategic initiative that served as a cornerstone for his subsequent enterprises.

In 1955, he founded K. Wah Company to undertake large-scale land reclamation efforts primarily around Kwun Tong District. The company swiftly emerged as a dominant force in Hong Kong’s construction materials industry, earning Lui the moniker “King of the Quarry.”

During the 1960s, Lui obtained development rights to Anderson Road Quarry Site—Hong Kong’s inaugural rock quarry—where he introduced mechanized mining techniques. In 1997, K. Wah entered into a 17-year agreement with the HKSAR Government to transform this quarry site into a multifunctional development area.

K. Wah Construction Materials Limited was publicly listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 1991 (stock code 00027) and currently operates as a subsidiary of Galaxy Entertainment Group Limited. It is widely regarded as Hong Kong’s largest integrated supplier of building materials.

Expanding into real estate development during the 1960s, Lui grew K. Wah International Holding Limited which was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 1987. He was among the first Hong Kong investors to enter Mainland China’s construction material and property sectors, participating in Guangzhou’s initial urban renewal project by redeveloping Yuexiu District into Parkview Palace and acquiring key properties in Shanghai.

At present, K. Wah Group maintains operations across ten mainland cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Kunming, Shenzhen, and Zhuhai, with total investments amounting to several tens of billions of RMB.

Entry into the hotel and tourism sector

The opportunity created by land reclamation in Hong Kong allowed Lui Che-woo to purchase a waterfront property in Tsim Sha Tsui East for his inaugural hotel project, anticipating future economic development. He delegated hotel management to an international firm and employed experienced German hotel executives.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Lui broadened his hotel and real estate ventures in the United States, collaborating with renowned global brands such as InterContinental, Marriott, Sheraton, and Hilton. Additionally, he introduced Stanford Residences, a premium serviced apartment brand featuring advanced management practices.

By the 1970s, Lui had acquired nearly twenty hotels across the US, placing him among the nation’s top twelve hotel proprietors. Worldwide, his portfolio included numerous hotels and serviced apartments, earning him the moniker "Hotel Tycoon."

Influencing Macau’s entertainment and leisure sector

After Macau's gaming market was liberalized in 2002, Galaxy Entertainment Group, founded by Lui Che-woo, successfully obtained one of three gaming licenses amid competition from 18 international bidders. Drawing on its hospitality expertise, Galaxy became the first gaming firm listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2006. That same year saw the debut of StarWorld Hotel, which quickly became a prominent landmark in Macau.

The first phase of Galaxy Macau’s integrated resort was unveiled by Galaxy Entertainment Group in 2011; by May 2015, the completion of Phase 2 and Broadway Macau expanded its total area to over 1.1 million square meters.

In 2022, Galaxy secured a renewed 10-year gaming concession from Macau’s government, maintaining its position as one of six authorized operators.

By 2023, Galaxy had further diversified its non-gaming portfolio with Cotai’s third development phase, featuring the Galaxy International Convention Centre and Galaxy Arena. The ongoing fourth phase is set to boost its Cotai footprint to two million square meters. A strategic alliance with Monte-Carlo SBM aims to extend operations into Hengqin, Zhuhai.

LUI Che Woo Prize – Prize for World Civilisation

Established in 2015 by Lui Che-woo, the LUI Che Woo Prize – Prize for World Civilisation recognizes individuals and organizations making significant contributions to global civilization, sustainable progress, human welfare, and peace. Backed by prominent academics and leaders, distinguished recipients include Yuan Longping (2016 Sustainability Prize for pioneering high-yield hybrid rice), Xie Zhenhua (2017 Sustainability Prize for his vital role in the 2015 Paris Agreement), Fan Jinshi (2019 Positive Energy Prize for cultural heritage preservation), and Jennifer A. Doudna (2019 Welfare Betterment Prize for co-inventing CRISPR-Cas9 and receiving a Nobel Prize).

Public service contributions

Lui Che-woo demonstrated strong commitment to public welfare through various leadership positions. He served as Chairman of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals from 1981 to 1982 and founded the Federation of Hong Kong Hotel Owners in 1983, maintaining his role as Chairman since then. As a government advisor on Hong Kong’s hotel and tourism sectors, he advocated expanding MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Exhibitions) into MICEE by incorporating entertainment alongside culture, hospitality, catering, transportation, and retail industries.

In the educational arena, Lui chaired the Chinese Association for Science and Society in Hong Kong in 1996 to promote technological advancement. He held trustee or advisory roles at numerous academic institutions including Peking University (Honorary Trustee), Shanghai Fudan University (Senior Board Member), The University of Hong Kong Foundation (Founding Honorary Patron), The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Board of Trustees member), The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Honorary Court Member), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Court member and Honorary Life Chairman of its Foundation), Wuyi University (Life Honorary Chairman), and Yangzhou University (Honorary Dean of Business Faculty).

On the political front, Lui was part of the 9th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference from 1998 to 2003, participated in the Selection Committee for Hong Kong’s inaugural Chief Executive in 1996, and served on the HKSAR Election Committee representing the Hotel subsector between 1998 and 2021.

Charity

Lui Che-woo was deeply committed to advancing social causes, particularly in education and healthcare, through generous donations and various initiatives. He played a key role in supporting the Ministry of Education in Mainland China by helping to build and refurbish 122 primary and secondary schools. Additionally, he provided financial assistance to rural students pursuing higher education and made significant contributions toward university infrastructure throughout Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. His notable philanthropic efforts include funding facilities at prestigious institutions such as Peking University, Tsinghua University, China Europe International Business School, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (notably the Lui Che Woo Science Park), University of Macau, The University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and Stanford University Medical Centre. Furthermore, he was pivotal in founding the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at The Chinese University of Hong Kong and supported the enhancement of hotel and tourism education at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

In addition to these efforts, Lui established scholarships at renowned international universities to support exceptional Chinese students. He also created the Galaxy Entertainment Group Charitable Foundation with an initial endowment of HK$1.3 billion aimed at promoting youth development, core values, and patriotism. Between 2020 and 2023, this Foundation alongside the KWIH Anti-Epidemic Fund actively contributed to COVID-19 prevention initiatives across Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau.

Death

Lui passed away on 7 November 2024 at the age of 95. His death was publicly announced by Galaxy Entertainment Group on 11 November.

Major philanthropy projects

**Mainland China**
Year	Projects
1988–2018	Wuyi University, Jiangmen (Lui Che-woo Hall; Technology Building)
1992	Guangzhou Education Foundation (Walk for Millions)
1995	South China University of Technology – Lui Che Woo Scholarship
1995–2002	Fudan University, Shanghai (Education fund; Lui Che Woo Building)
2003 & 2005	Nanjing University – Lui Che Woo Swimming Pool
2005	Ministry of Education – refurbishment of 122 primary and secondary schools
2007	Guangxi Education Foundation for underprivileged students
2008	China Europe International Business School Beijing Campus – Lui Che Woo Lecture Theatre; Virya Foundation – support for rural university students
2016	Guangzhou Huadu District Jiaxing School and K. Wah Education Fund
2017	Shanghai Jiao Tong University – K. Wah City Governance Research Fund, Big Data Center; Peking University – Lui Che Woo School of Life Sciences Fund
2018	Tsinghua University – Lui Che Woo Pharmaceutical & Medical Sciences Buildings
2022	Shanghai Jiao Tong University – Lui Che Woo Science Park

**Hong Kong**
Year	Projects
2002–2015	The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Lui Che Woo Institute of Innovative Medicine; Clinical Sciences Building)
2004–2009	The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (K. Wah Scholarship; School of Hotel and Tourism Management “Che-woo Lui Hotel and Tourism Resource Centre”; Lui Che Woo Building)
2010	The University of Hong Kong – Lui Che Woo Law Library

**Macau**
Year	Projects
2007 & 2010	University of Macau – Development Foundation; Lui Che Woo College in Hengqin, Zhuhai

**Overseas**
Year	Projects
1995	Stanford University, US – Lui Che Woo Research Laboratory, School of Medicine
2001	Victoria University, Canada
2005	Concordia University, Canada – Dr Lui Che Woo Scholarship
2007	University of California, San Francisco Medical School, US
2009–2013	University of Pennsylvania, US – General Fund
2013	California Polytechnic State University, US – General Fund

Sources

Information on Dr Che-woo Lui

External links