Founder of Li Ka-shing Foundation

Mr Li Ka-shing was born in Chaozhou, the southeast coastal city of China, on 1928. When he was a child, he fled to Hong Kong with his family to escape the war, and his father later died of lung disease in Hong Kong. Due to the burden of supporting the family, Mr. Li was forced to drop out of school when he was under the age of 15 and worked in a plastic trading company, working 16 hours a day. With his diligence, prudence and pursuit of Excellence, Mr. Li founded Changjiang Industrial Co., Ltd. on 1950, initially dealing in plastic products, and later developed into a leading real estate development company in Hong Kong, which was listed on the Stock Exchange on 1972. Changjiang continued to expand its business in 1979 and 1985 by acquiring Hutchison Whampoa Limited and Hongkong Electric Group Limited respectively.

Founded in Hong Kong, Changjiang Group's business includes property development and investment, real estate agency and management, port and related services, telecommunications, hotels, retail, energy, infrastructure, finance and investment, e-commerce, building materials, media and life science and technology. Mr. Li is convinced that unity is a city and unity is a city. This belief can be reflected from the fact that he named the company "Yangtze River", because the Yangtze River is a big river that gathers all rivers in China. Mr. Li was selected as "Millennium Entrepreneur" by The Times and Ernst & Young.

Mr. Li believes that everyone needs to do his part to build an equal society. 1980 founded the Li Ka-shing foundation and has been committed to participating in public welfare undertakings. By funding projects that can enhance social capabilities, he has achieved two major goals of the Foundation: promoting the establishment of a "dedication culture" and cultivating the spirit of creativity, commitment and sustainable development. The Li Ka-shing Foundation and other charitable funds established by Mr. Li Ka-shing have supported education, medical care, culture and public welfare over HK$ 8.7 billion.

Mr. Li founded Shantou University in Shantou, China on 198 1, which promoted the reform of education system in China. Shantou University has 9 colleges, including medical college and 5 affiliated hospitals. The enrolled students come from all over China, with nearly 7,000 undergraduates and 0/.500 postgraduates.

Mr. Li Ka-shing has made great contributions to various societies because of his enthusiasm for public welfare. He was awarded honorary doctorates by many universities, such as Cambridge University, Calgary University, Peking University, China and Hong Kong University. He was awarded Grand Marshal vasco nunes de balboa, Belgian Leopold Medal, Commander KBE of the British Empire, Grand Bauhinia Medal of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Justice of the Peace, and was awarded Commander of the Legion of Honor by the French government. Mr. Li Ka-shing has two sons, the eldest son Li Zeju, the managing director and vice chairman of Cheung Kong Industrial (Group) Co., Ltd., the vice chairman of Hutchison Whampoa Co., Ltd., the chairman of Cheung Kong Infrastructure Group Co., Ltd., the chairman of Cheung Kong Life Science and Technology Group Co., Ltd., and the youngest son Li Zekai, the chairman of PCCW Co., Ltd., which is one of the leading information technology and telecommunications companies in Asia.