Cheng Yu-tungGBM (Chinese: 鄭裕彤; 8 August 1925 – 29 September 2016) was a Hong Kong billionaire with extensive property investment, development and service businesses, hotels, infrastructure, jewellery retailing and transportation interests in Hong Kong, Macau, United States, Australia and other areas. He was considered to be Hong Kong's third richest man at the time of his death.[1]
Early life
Cheng was born in rural Shunde District in Guangdong, the son of a tailor, and fled to Macau in 1940, ahead of the advancing Japanese occupation force. The goldsmith owner of the Chow Tai Fook store there took him on as an apprentice and he eventually married the boss's daughter. They moved to Hong Kong in 1946 and opened the company's first store there.[2]
Cheng was a one-time real-estate investment partner of Donald Trump.[2]
Shortly before his death, Forbes listed him 58th wealthiest in the world and 3rd in Hong Kong with US$16.6 billion,[6] and was at one time listed by Bloomberg as high as 34th.[7][8]
Cheng also served on the board of Hang Seng Bank, Hong Kong's third-largest bank.
He represented the Kingdom of Bhutan in Hong Kong, serving as the honorary consul for the country.
Personal life
In 1943, Cheng married Chow Tsui-ying, the daughter of Chow Chi-yuen. In 1946, Cheng and his family moved to Hong Kong. Cheng had four children, Henry Cheng, Peter Cheng, Amy Cheng, and Lai-ha Cheng.
