Banker, politician and top community leader
Macau-born Stanley Au has a record of breaking new ground
STANLEY AU, chairman of the Delta Asia Financial Group, was born and raised in Macau. He expanded the group's presence from the then Portuguese enclave into neighbouring Hong Kong in 1962.
More recently, he has expanded operations into two other key markets- Japan and mainland China.
'The [Delta Asia] bank was established in Macau by my father and great uncle in 1935,' Mr Au said.
'I established the Hong Kong office at the age of 20 in 1962. At that time Macau was in a recession. That's why I was sent to Hong Kong.'
Mr Au broke new ground when he introduced the concept of merchant banking in Hong Kong, setting up the first international gold bullion market in the early 1970s.
He was recognised by the Financial Times of London in 1976 and Germany's Das Kapital the following year as one of Hong Kong's most successful financiers for his achievements in the financial sector.
Mr Au has played an active role in the territory's securities scene since the 1990s. He has been involved in the local stock exchange since 1993, when he was elected as a council member.
The Delta Asia chief is also an executive committee member of the Deposit Taking Companies Association.
He was formerly an adviser to the Hong Kong Trade Development Council in financial services and a member of the Foreign Exchange and Money Market Practices Committee under the Hong Kong Monetary Authority.
But Mr Au's activities extend beyond the financial sector. A connoisseur of fine wines, the Macau native is also active in community service.
Through its subsidiary, Banco Delta Asia, SARL, he has ensured the group plays an active role in promoting youth development in his home town.
In conjunction with the Education Department of Macau, it has helped organise a territory-wide student quiz for the past 14 years
Mr Au is currently chairman of the Management Board of the Small and Medium Enterprises Association of Macau, a council member of the Macau Association of Banks, and director of the Kiang Wu Hospital Charity Association.
Shortly before Macau's return to Chinese administration in 1999, he received a medal from the Portuguese government in recognition of his service to the community.
Mr Au also plays an active role in politics. With the impending handover in 1999, he ran for the office of chief executive.
He is an appointed member of the SAR's first legislative assembly and he is also a member of both the Beijing and national committees of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference of the Central Government of China.
