Thomas Kwok
Thomas Kwok Ping-kwong | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 6, 1951 Hong Kong |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Former joint chairman and managing director of Sun Hung Kai Properties; convicted for bribery |
Thomas Kwok Ping-kwong (; born October 6, 1951) is a billionaire from Hong Kong and previously served as joint chairman and managing director of Sun Hung Kai Properties, the largest property development company in Hong Kong, alongside his brother Raymond Kwok. In 2014, he was sentenced to five years in prison for bribery.
Biography
Thomas is the middle son of Kwok Tak Seng, the founder of Sun Hung Kai Properties, and his wife Kwong Siu-hing. After their father's passing in 1990, Thomas and his brothers Walter and Raymond took over the leadership of the company. Collectively known as the Kwok brothers, they are ranked as the third wealthiest individuals in Hong Kong and the Greater China region, trailing only behind Li Ka-shing and Lee Shau Kee, with Forbes estimating their combined fortune at US$16.5 billion in 2018. The extended Kwok family holds the position of Asia's third-richest family, with a total net worth approximating US$40.4 billion.
Thomas earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Imperial College London, University of London, followed by an MBA from the London Business School.
Arrest and conviction
In March 2012, Thomas and Raymond Kwok were detained by the Independent Commission Against Corruption on allegations related to bribery. They were charged with offering bribes to Rafael Hui, former Chief Secretary for Administration, purportedly to serve as their government informant, illustrating the close relationships between prominent property developers and government officials.
By December 2014, Thomas was found guilty of "conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office," whereas Raymond was acquitted. Thomas was sentenced to five years' imprisonment and fined HK$500,000. Rafael Hui, along with Sun Hung Kai executive Thomas Chan and businessman Francis Kwan, also received prison sentences. Following the ruling, Thomas stepped down from his roles as chairman, managing director, and executive director at Sun Hung Kai Properties and declared his intention to appeal.
His subsequent appeals to both the Court of Appeal and the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal were unsuccessful. After bail was revoked, he returned to custody in June 2017. As a result, the Hong Kong Government rescinded his Silver Bauhinia Star honor in March 2018.
Religion
A devout Christian, Kwok's faith is reflected in projects such as the Noah's Ark on Ma Wan. During the 1990s, he founded a church located within the pyramid-shaped atrium on the 75th floor of Sun Hung Kai's office tower at Central Plaza.
Television
- In the 2019 TVB miniseries ICAC Investigators 2022, Henry Yu Yang portrays Ronald Wong Long, a character inspired by Thomas Kwok.