Zeng Xianzi
Tsang Hin-chi GBM (2 February 1934 – 20 September 2019),[1] was a Hong Kong entrepreneur and politician, founding chairman of Goldlion Group, and served as Hong Kong delegate to the National People’s Congress and member of its Standing Committee from 1994 to 2008. Before the 1997 handover he was also a Basic Law Consultative Committee member and Hong Kong Affairs Adviser.
Early life
Tsang was born into a farming family in Meixian, Guangdong Province in 1934.[2] He lost his father young and left school early to help support the family.[3] He later received government sponsorship and in 1961 graduated with a BSc in Biology from Sun Yat‑sen University.
Business career
In 1968 Tsang founded Goldlion Group in Hong Kong, initially selling ties made with techniques learned in Thailand. He adopted the English name Goldlion and Chinese name Goldlion Group to avoid local homophones. By 1971 he had registered the Goldlion trademark and expanded into department store concessions. Goldlion became famous for quality ties and innovative retail partnerships.
Philanthropy
Since the 1970s Tsang donated over HK$1.2 billion to education, science, sports, healthcare, and social welfare in Mainland China and Hong Kong. In 1992 he endowed HK$100 million to establish the Tsang Hin‑chi Education Fund. In 2004 he donated HK$100 million to create the Tsang Hin‑chi Manned Space Fund, recognizing aerospace contributors. In 2008 he established the Tsang Hin‑chi Sports Fund, awarding Chinese Olympic gold medallists across four Games.
Political career
Tsang served as a Hong Kong delegate to the National People’s Congress from 1991, and in March 1994 was elected a member of its Standing Committee, serving until 2008. He was appointed to the Basic Law Consultative Committee and the Preparatory Committee for the Hong Kong SAR. In 1997 he received the Grand Bauhinia Medal.
He was known for advocating “patriots administering Hong Kong” and criticized pro‑democracy figures as unpatriotic. Ahead of the December 2005 march for universal suffrage, he expressed support for eventual direct elections while cautioning against street protests.
Honors and legacy
- Grand Bauhinia Medal, 1997
- Honorary Doctorate, Sun Yat‑sen University, 1993
- Honorary Doctorate, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 2008
- Named among the “100 Outstanding Contributors to Reform and Opening‑Up” by the CCP Central Committee, 2018
Educational institutions he funded bear his name: Tsang Hin‑chi Secondary School (Meizhou), Tsang Hin‑chi Middle School (Meixian).
Death
Tsang died of illness on 20 September 2019 in Meizhou at age 85. His funeral was held on 26 September 2019, attended by senior Hong Kong and Mainland officials.
References
External links
- Goldlion official biography
- Sun Yat‑sen University honorary doctorate citation