Wang Kuancheng

Wang Kuancheng, also known as Wen Xia, male, native of Yin County, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, was born in Jingjiang, Jiangsu. He was an industrialist in Hong Kong and a former President of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong.

Biography

Born in Jingjiang, Jiangsu in 1907, he was the fourth of six children (4 sons and 2 daughters). His father was a store clerk. Wang studied for three years in a private school and then attended a local elementary school in Jingjiang for four years. At 15, he worked as an apprentice at Yongfeng Pig Trading House in Ningbo, later becoming a loan clerk at Yuanji Money House on Jiangxia Street.

In 1933, he worked at Taifeng Flour Factory in Ningbo. In 1935, he co-founded Weida Dingji Flour Business in Niyantou, Ningbo, which later became an industry leader. In 1937, he opened Weida Trading Company in Shanghai.

In 1941, following the Japanese invasion of Shanghai, he relocated his business to Chongqing. After the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japan in 1945, he returned to Shanghai to resume operations.

In July 1947, he moved to Hong Kong and established multiple companies under the Happiness Enterprises Group. He later expanded investments to the United States and Canada.

In 1949, he led the Hong Kong delegation to attend the Founding Ceremony of the People’s Republic of China in Beijing.

During the Korean War in 1950, he donated an aircraft and led others to support China's cause, selling Hong Kong properties and raising over 5 million HKD for purchasing supplies to ship to Shanghai. In 1951, he co-funded and became the founding chairman of the Beijing Xinqiao Hotel.

In 1957, he was appointed Honorary Chairman of Heung To Middle School in Hong Kong. In 1958, he became Vice President of the 21st Chinese General Chamber of Commerce of Hong Kong, and subsequently served as Vice President or President in numerous sessions until becoming Honorary President for life in 1985. He also chaired Arts and Crafts (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd. and the Chinese Import & Export Chamber of Commerce.

In 1961, he entered the shipping industry, opening a maritime gateway for mainland China. In 1963 and 1967, he traveled to the Netherlands and Japan respectively to receive newly built ocean vessels.

In 1963, he donated funds and assisted in the reconstruction of Jinan University in Guangdong, serving as Vice Chairman of its first board of directors.

In 1965, he served as a director of the Hong Kong Real Estate Developers Association.

During the 1967 riots, he was Deputy Director of the "Hong Kong and Kowloon All Circles Patriotic Struggle Committee Against British Suppression".

In 1975 and 1978, he served as a deputy to the 4th and 5th National People’s Congress respectively.

In 1979, in support of the Reform and Opening-Up policy, he invested in the Shanghai Patriotic Construction Investment Company and became an executive director.

In 1980, he toured the U.S. and Canada and expanded into real estate investment there. That same year, he served on the board of China International Trust and Investment Corporation, and was honorary chairman of Zhejiang and Anhui provincial trust companies, as well as a board member of Huaqiao University in Fujian.

In 1980, he founded the Hong Kong Ningbo Fellowship Association and served as its president for three terms. In 1986, he became its Honorary President for life.

In 1981, he became a board member of East Asia University in Macau and donated funds to build its library.

In 1982, he became a director of the Soong Ching Ling Foundation and honorary president of the Kwun Tong Industrial and Commercial Association in Hong Kong.

In 1983, he served as executive director of Shanghai Trust Investment Co., honorary chairman of the Guangdong Overseas Chinese Federation Foundation, and advisor to the Shanghai Federation of Industry and Commerce. In 1984, he was a standing member of the 5th All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and honorary chairman of Ningbo Economic and Technological Development Corporation. In 1985, he held multiple honorary titles, including at Shanghai Industrial University and various economic and welfare councils.

In 1985, he invested 100 million USD to establish the "Wang Kuancheng Education Foundation", serving as its first chairman to support China's education and scientific talent development.

In 1985, he became Vice Chairman and Finance Committee Chair of the Hong Kong Basic Law Consultative Committee.

In 1986, he became Honorary Chairman of Shuren University in Zhejiang and of the Ningbo-Hong Kong Association.

He passed away in Beijing on December 3, 1986, at age 80. His ashes were initially interred at Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery, and in April 1989, they were relocated to Dongqian Lake in Ningbo, Zhejiang.

He served as a special member of the 2nd Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), a member of the 3rd and 4th CPPCC, and a standing member of the 6th CPPCC.

Education

In 1985, Wang Kuancheng donated 100 million USD to establish the Wang Kuancheng Education Foundation and served as its first board chairman to support education in China and train high-level science and technology talent.

In 1962, he funded and established Dong'en Primary and Secondary Schools in Ningbo and set up scholarships.

In 1963, he donated and helped reconstruct Jinan University in Guangdong and served as Vice Chairman of its first board.

The Chinese Academy of Sciences offers a postdoctoral fellowship in his name.

Honors

On October 5, 1998, asteroid number 4651, discovered by the Purple Mountain Observatory in Nanjing, was officially named "Wang Kuancheng Star" by the International Astronomical Union.

External Links

• Hong Kong Wang Kuancheng Education Foundation
• Zhejiang Archives – Wang Kuancheng
• Wang Kuancheng Awards
• Jia Qinglin Meets with Family of Famous Hong Kong Industrialist Wang Kuancheng, Xinhua News, June 17, 2007