Lim Por-yen, Lai Sun founder and philanthropist, dies at 93

Self-made millionaire and philanthropist Lim Por-yen, embattled in his later years by a bribery scandal, in Taiwan, died yesterday aged 93.

His death, about three weeks after being admitted to Queen Mary Hospital with pneumonia, was announced by elder son Lim Kin-ming yesterday afternoon.

'He left at 11.11am after a number of doctors' assistance,' the son said in a brief press conference at the hospital.

He said family members, including three sons and one daughter, were at his bedside when Lim passed away peacefully. 'My mother feels very, very heartbroken and sad,' he said, adding that his father had left a will.

Kenneth Tsang Wah-tak, a professor of respiratory and critical care medicine at the University of Hong Kong, said the tycoon's health had its 'ups and downs' in recent weeks, with his bile duct and lungs affected.

When he died, part of his large and small intestines had stopped functioning. 'We tried our best to save him but he finally died this morning,' Professor Tsang said.

Lim Kin-ming said no funeral arrangements had been decided and the family would disclose them later.