Kwek Hong Png (simplified Chinese: 郭芳枫; traditional Chinese: 郭芳楓; pinyin: Guō Fāng Fēng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Koeh Hong-png; 1912 - 8 November 1994) was a Singaporean businessperson, known for establishing Hong Leong Group, of which he was also chairperson. Kwek became one of the world's richest men, with an estimated net worth of S$3 billion before his retirement in 1984.
Early life
Born in 1912 in Fujian's Tung Ann district[1][2] to a miserly farmer,[3] Kwek arrived in Singapore in 1928 from Fujian.[4] He first started out as a shop helper[5] at his brother-in-law's hardware firm.[6] His monthly salary then was just $5[1] and he reportedly slept on the floors of the store.[7] During World War II, Kwek became rich by trading construction materials.[8] He also participated in smuggling basic goods[9] and traded with Japanese merchants.[10]
Career
Founded in 1941,[11] the Hong Leong Group was originally a trading company that supplied basic construction materials[12] and rubber.[13] Wanting to work as a team, Kwek subsequently beckoned his three brothers to join Hong Leong.[14][15] Becoming chairman of the organisation in 1956,[16] Kwek retired in 1984;[17] before that, his net worth was estimated by Forbes to be worth S$3 billion.[18] He was also ranked one of the wealthiest men in the world by Forbes.[19]
Lawsuit
In November 1989, a lawsuit was filed against Kwek for the misuse of funds as well as abetment.[19] Represented by G. P. Selvam, Kwek was later found guilty of the charges, with a pending charge of "dishonestly receiving stolen property". Kwek was later allowed bail set at a million dollars.[20] Kwek's passport was also seized as a precaution.[21]
Death and legacy
Kwek died in 1994, aged 82.[22] Louis Kraar of CNN described Kwek as "Singapore's leading developer".[23] His empire was later inherited by his son, Kwek Leng Beng.[4]
In 2003 a gallery displaying Chinese artefacts at the Asian Civilisations Museum was named after Kwek, and in 2015, following renovations to the museum, a new wing called the Kwek Hong Png Wing was opened.
References
^ ab"History". Hong Leong Group. Archived from the original on 10 August 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2013.