Advertisement
Advertisement

'Father of Hong Kong Buses' dies aged 98

A former rickshaw operator who became a tycoon dubbed 'the Father of Hong Kong Buses' has died aged 98.

Ngan Shing-kwan, who founded the China Motor Bus Company 68 years ago, died at the Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital, a statement issued yesterday by the company said. He had been bedridden in hospital for three years. Ngan introduced the first buses to Hong Kong in the 1930s and brought in 'jumbo' double-deckers in the 1970s.

'The sharp criticism from many people of CMB in its final years [as a bus company] was not fair,' said the corporate communications general manager of New World First Bus, Kwan Chuk-fai. The firm's achievements in the past few decades had been dismissed, said Mr Kwan, who worked for CMB in 1990.

He said Ngan's introduction of jumbo double-deckers had improved the service enormously.

Ngan was chairman and managing director of CMB but over the past 10 years handed over the reins to his three children.

The company was established in 1933 after being granted an exclusive bus franchise licence for Hong Kong Island. It grew quickly and eventually expanded into property investment.

In August 1998 CMB lost its franchise to New World First Bus. At the time, it was plagued by labour disputes, complaints about poor service and speculation about the company's decision to venture into property.

Born in 1903, Ngan came from Chaoyang, in Guangdong, and ran a relative's rickshaw business in Kowloon in the 1920s. He was known as a hard-working boss who was astute with money.

The family, however, owns less than half of the company, which now concentrates mainly on property investments. Ngan owned 7.71 per cent of shares while his daughter, managing director Irene Ngan Kit-ling, 63, owns 7.17 per cent. His elder son, assistant manager Horace Ngan Kit-keung, 58, has 11.9 per cent. Another son, Dr Henry Ngan, of the University of Hong Kong, has 12.4 per cent while a further 8.67 per cent is owned by his son Ngan Kit-man.

Respected by the public and trusted by the former colonial government, Ngan Shing-kwan was an unofficial member of the Executive Council from 1959 to 1961 and a senior member of Legco in the 1950s. He received a Commander of the British Empire award.

As leader of the local Chiu Chow community, he was, along with Cheung Kong Holdings chairman Li Ka-shing and Lai Sun Development chairman Lam Pak-yan, an honorary president of the Chiu Chow Chamber of Commerce.

An overnight vigil will be held at the Hong Kong Funeral Home in North Point next Thursday, followed by a service the next day.

He will be buried at the Chinese Christian Cemetery in Pokfulam.

**Please note that late Ngan Shing-kwan was not a rickshaw puller. He was a founder of a rickshaw company.

Post