Xiao Jianhua’s preference for female bodyguards highlights growing trend among Chinese tycoons
Founder of protection firm Zhongzhou Tewei says Xiao Jianhua, who left Hong Kong amid mysterious circumstances, requested most of his bodyguards be women
Xiao Jianhua, the Chinese tycoon who mysteriously left Hong Kong on Friday last week, hired female bodyguards from a Shenzhen-based private security firm, according to an executive with the company.
Chen Tong, the founder and manager of Zhongzhou Tewei, said on Thursday that Xiao was the company’s only client who made the specific request that most of his bodyguards be women.
Chen declined to say how many bodyguards his firm had working for Xiao, or provide further details about his claim.
Xiao, who is understood to have left the luxury Four Seasons Hotel in Central, Hong Kong, with mainland agents on Friday – the eve of Lunar New Year – was seen on video that day accompanied by two female bodyguards, sparking interest in what has become an increasingly popular service for China’s billionaires.
Chen said that demand for female bodyguards in mainland China had grown in the past decade as wealthy businessmen preferred hiring women to protect their families.
According to a service description on the firm’s website, female bodyguards employed by the company typically have at least five years training in martial arts and other fighting styles, with a track record of winning “provincial-level and above” boxing or fighting awards.