Xu Zhantang
Tsui Tsin-tong (Romanization: Tsui Tsin-tong, born December 9, 1940 – died April 2, 2010) was a businessman, industrialist, economic risk-taker, philanthropist, and art and antiquities collector of Hong Kong origin. He was born in Ji'an, Jiangxi Province, Republic of China, with ancestral roots in Yixing, Jiangsu.
Biography
In 1950, Tsui fled to Hong Kong with his family. His father passed away in 1954 from lung disease. As a youth, he worked as a bank messenger and restaurant helper. In 1957, he started his entrepreneurial journey, running restaurants, paint businesses, signage production, and renovation services.
In the early 1970s, during Hong Kong’s economic downturn, he boldly invested heavily in stocks and real estate and accumulated wealth. During the early 1980s property slump triggered by Sino-British negotiations on the 1997 handover, he again invested aggressively and was twice successful, laying a strong economic foundation.
He later acquired the century-old Chung Hwa Paint Company, Citybus Group of Hong Kong, Capital Citybus of London, and Beihai Group, establishing a business empire across Hong Kong, Singapore, and mainland China. His investment interests also included energy, infrastructure, and automobiles.
Tsui was elected in 1993 as the youngest member of the 8th National Committee of the CPPCC Standing Committee and later became the most senior Hong Kong member. He was appointed a Hong Kong Affairs Advisor, member of the Preliminary Working Committee and Preparatory Committee for the HKSAR, and member of the Election Committee. In 2001, he was awarded the Gold Bauhinia Star by the Hong Kong SAR government.
Collector of Antiquities
Tsui earned the title "Antique Tycoon." Over 20 years, he spent hundreds of millions at Sotheby’s, Christie’s, and other auctions, acquiring more than 5,000 rare antiquities including ceramics, bronzeware, jade, furniture, and ivory carvings—collections comparable to national museums.
Death
On March 5, 2010, during the Two Sessions in Beijing, Tsui suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and was declared brain-dead after being admitted to hospital. He passed away on April 2, 2010, at 11 a.m. in Beijing Union Medical College Hospital, aged 69.[1]
Social Roles
- Executive Director, Beihai Group (SEHK: 0701)
- Recipient, Gold Bauhinia Star (2001)
- Justice of the Peace
- Hong Kong Affairs Advisor
- Standing Committee Member, 8th–11th CPPCC
- Board Member, Director, Vice Chairman, Chairman, and Advisor of Tung Wah Group of Hospitals
- Chair, Operation Smile China Medical Mission
- Director, The Community Chest of Hong Kong
- President, Hong Kong Badminton Association
- Patron, Tsui Tsin-tong Museum and Tsui Tsin-tong Building at the University of Hong Kong
- Highest National Arts Medal, Government of Australia
- "World Art Ambassador," *WORLDLINK* Magazine, 1991
- President, French Asian Cultural and Arts Association
- Honorary Member, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Court
- Founder of TWGHs Tsui Tsin Tong School and Tsui Tsin Tong Kindergarten
- Honorary President, Canadian Foundation for the Preservation of Chinese Cultural Relics
References
- Tsui surname
- People from Yixing
- People from Ji'an
- Hong Kong businesspeople
- Hong Kong philanthropists
- Chairmen of Tung Wah Group of Hospitals
- Pro-Beijing politicians in Hong Kong
- Honorary Doctors of the University of Hong Kong
- Members of the 8th CPPCC Standing Committee
- Members of the 9th CPPCC Standing Committee
- Members of the 10th CPPCC Standing Committee
- Members of the 11th CPPCC Standing Committee
- Recipients of the Gold Bauhinia Star
- Executive Members of the China Overseas Friendship Association
- Vice Presidents of the China Overseas Friendship Association
- Chinese art collectors
- People born in the Republic of China (before 1949)
- Deaths in the People's Republic of China
- Deaths in Beijing
- 1940 births
- 2010 deaths