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Hong KongPolitics

Here are the big landlords among Hong Kong’s top decision makers

Executive councillor Kenneth Lau holds 14 plots of land and 18 residential and commercial units in city, while housing chief Frank Chan owns none

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Heung Yee Kuk chairman Kenneth Lau Ip-keung (centre) has shares in more than 50 companies. Photo: Felix Wong
Kimmy Chung

The son of a late rural strongman has emerged as one of the biggest landlords and shareholders on the city’s top decision-making body, owning 14 pieces of land and 18 residential and commercial units in Hong Kong, as well as shares in more than 50 companies.

The assets of executive councillor Kenneth Lau Ip-keung came to light as the government released the declaration of interests of members of Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s new cabinet.

In stark contrast with Lau, three ministers, including housing chief Frank Chan Fan, own no property.

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Lau, who took office on July 1, declared that he owned 14 pieces of land, along with seven units of a house, six houses and three commercial properties in Tuen Mun, in the New Territories. He holds another two homes in Yuen Long, in the New Territories, with two factory plots in Hubei and Huizhou on the mainland.

Lau, the son of rural strongman Lau Wong-fat,who died last week, also holds shares – with a value greater than one per cent of the issued share capital – in more than 50 companies. He is a non-paid director of 36 companies and is paid at three.

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Another big landlord, Arthur Li Kwok-cheung, was also an Exco member in the former government and holds more than 30 pieces of property in Hong Kong, some of which belong to a company directed by Li and his relatives.

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