Four big families of Hong Kong

The four big families of Hong Kong (Chinese: 香港四大家族) is a term used to describe the four business families who historically rose to prominence and became influential in Hong Kong. In order of influence, they are Li, Ho, Lo and Hui family.

The founders of the original four families are Li Sek-peng (李石朋), Robert Ho Tung (何東), Hui Oi-chow (許愛周) and Lo Cheung-shiu (羅長肇). Of these families, the Lis and the Hos and their descendants are the two most recognized by regular Hong Kong citizens today.

Families

The families and their descendants are listed below. Each indentation represents one generation down, though not necessarily the next generation. Not all the descendants are shown. Most members of these families have reached tycoon status.

Li family notables

Main article: Li Shek-pang family

Ho family notables

  • Robert Ho Tung (何東, 1862–1956) – Businessman, philanthropist
    • Victoria Hotung (何錦姿, 1897–92) ∞ Man-kam Lo
    • Edward Hotung (何世儉, 1902–57)
    • Robert Hotung (何世禮, 1906–98)
    • George Ho (何佐芝, 1918–2014) – Founder of the Commercial Radio Hong Kong
      • George Joseph Ho (何驥 1950–) – Chairman of the Commercial Radio Hong Kong
  • Ho Fook (何福, 1863–1926) – Businessman, philanthropist
    • Ho Sai-wing – comprador, Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank
    • Ho Sai-iu (何世耀)
      • John Ho (何鴻超, 1916–2005) – Hon. Clinical Professor in clinical oncology, HKU
    • Ho Sai-kwong (何世光)
      • Stanley Ho (何鴻燊, 1921–2020) – Head of Macau casinos
        • Pansy Ho (何超瓊, 1962–) – Group Executive Chairman and Managing Director of Shun Tak Holdings
        • Daisy Ho (何超鳳, 1964–) – Current Head of Macau casinos as the chairman and executive director of SJM Holdings
        • Josie Ho (何超儀, 1974–) – Singer and actress
        • Lawrence Ho (何猷龍, 1976–) – Chief exec of Melco International development
    • Ho Sai-chuen (何世全, 1891–1938) – Doctor and member of the Sanitary Board
    • Ho Sai-ki (何世奇)
      • Eric Peter Ho (何鴻鑾, 1927–2015) – Hong Kong government official
  • Ho Kom-tong (何甘棠, 1866–1950) – Businessman, philanthropist
    • Grace Ho (何愛瑜) ∞ Lee Hoi-chuen
      • Bruce Lee (李小龍, 1940–73) – Movie star and martial artist
        • Brandon Lee (李國豪, 1965–93) – Actor and martial artist

Hui family notables

  • Hui Oi-chow (許愛周, 1881–1966) – Businessman
    • Hui Kei-pak (許歧伯)
    • Stephen Hui (許士芬, 1912–1989)
      • Sylvia Hui (許雪禮)
      • Richard Hui (許晉義)
      • William Hui (許晉廉)
        • John Hui (許建業)
          • Brian Hui
          • Nicola Hui
          • Alex Hui
      • Hui Sai-fun (許世勳, 1921–2018)
      • Jenkin Hui (許晉乾, 1939–2014)
      • Hui Suet Yuen (許雪元)
      • Julian Hui (許晉亨, 1962–) ∞ (1) Pansy Ho ∞ (2) Michelle Reis
        • Jayden Max Hui (2011–)

Lo family notables

Other definitions

Victor Wan-tai Zheng, co-author of Grand Old Man of Hong Kong: Sir Robert Ho Tung (2007) and Opium King: Lee Hysan (2011), lists 10 "Wealthy Chinese Family Busineses [sic] in Hong Kong" in his PhD thesis: Ho Tung Family, Li Shek-pang Family, Fung Pak-liu Family (note: 馮柏燎, co-founder of Li & Fung), Lee Leung-yick Family (note: father of Lee Hysan), Chau Wing-tai Family, Hui Oi-chow Family, Cheung Chuk-shan Family, Kowk [sic] (Wing On) Family, Fung Ping-shan Family and Tang Chi-ngong Family.

He also lists a number of families, including Wang Lo Kat [sic] (Wong Lo Kat) and Lee Kam Kee [sic] (Lee Kum Kee), in a separate category. The thesis was later modified and published as Chinese Family Business and the Equal Inheritance System: Unravelling the Myth in 2010.

Other authors have suggested new Four big families for the post colonial era. In this case, there are many more variants, including the Li Ka-shing, Kwok Tak-seng, Lee Shau-kee and Cheng Yu-tung families or the Tung Chee-hwa, James Tien, Henry Tang and Rong Yiren families.

Some scholars have gone even further by widening it to include the "big 10 families": Li Ka-shing family, Swire family, Keswick family, Kwok Tak-seng family, Pao Yue-kong family, Kadoorie family, Lee Shau-kee family, Cheng Yu-tung family, Chan Tseng-Hsi family and Ng Teng Fong family.

Most of the latter members have been associated with the term "real estate tycoons" (Chinese: 地產霸權; lit. 'property/real estate hegemony'), a label made popular by Alice Poon's book Land and the Ruling Class in Hong Kong. In her book, she lists the Lis [Ka-shing], the Kwoks [Tak-seng], the Lees [Shau-kee], the Chengs [Yu-tung], the Paos [Yue-kong] and Woos [Peter] and the Kadoories as the powerful Hong Kong families who hold sway over local "property-cum-utility/public services conglomerates". The Chinese translation of the book uses 香港六大家族; 'Hong Kong "big 6" families' as a section title.

As of 2018, Li Ka-shing and Lee Shau-kee were ranked first and second in Forbes' Hong Kong's 50 Richest respectively, while Thomas and Raymond Kwok brothers, sons of the late Kwok Tak-seng, were ranked 4th; their eldest brother, Walter Kwok (d. 20 October 2018), was ranked 10th. Richard Li, the younger son of Li Ka-shing, was ranked 19th. Henry Cheng, son of the late Cheng Yu-tung, was ranked 49th. Some of the members of the aforementioned "new" families were also on the list, such as Peter Woo, son-in-law of the late Pao Yue-kong (6th), Michael Kadoorie (12th), the brothers Tung Chee-hwa and Chee-chen (17th) and Chan Tan Ching-fen, widow of Chan Tseng-His [sic] (35th).

See also