The second wealthiest person in Hong Kong, Lee Shau-kee, passed away at the age of 97, as stated by his company, Henderson Land Development, on Monday.
Henderson stated in a press release that Lee passed away calmly on Monday night surrounded by his loved ones.
Referred to as “Uncle Four” due to his four siblings including three older ones, Lee played a crucial role in Hong Kong’s post-war real estate surge and was also an astute player in the stock market.
According to a Forbes ranking released in February, he was ranked as the second richest person in Hong Kong, with an estimated wealth of $29.2 billion.
Similar to other wealthy figures from Hong Kong, Lee chose to retire relatively later in his career, ultimately resigning as the chairman of Henderson in May 2019.
Peter and Martin Lee, his sons, assumed the roles of co-chairmen and joint managing directors.
Lee was born in China’s Guangdong province and assisted with his family’s gold and silver business during his childhood. He later relocated to Hong Kong in 1948.
In 1969, he co-established Sun Hung Kai Properties, which grew into one of the leading real estate developers in what was then known as the British colony.
In 1976, Lee founded his real estate company called Henderson, which expanded over time into various sectors including hotels, public utilities, and even took control of the Star Ferry operations — an iconic fixture in Hong Kong.
The Henderson, a skyscraper conceived by Zaha Hadid Architects situated in Hong Kong’s financial district, was inaugurated last year.
On Monday, Hong Kong’s leader, John Lee, praised the tycoon as “an outstanding business leader and entrepreneur who has greatly contributed to Hong Kong’s economic growth, along with the city’s flourishing success and stability.”
The specifics of his funeral will be shared at a later time, as stated by the company.
