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Enoch Yiu

Hongkongers have often been derided as money-mad but that reputation is hard to reconcile with some of our most prominent citizens' emphasis on charity and social responsibility.

Take  veteran broker Vincent Lee Kwan-ho, a director of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing and managing director of family-owned Tung Tai Group. His father's Leo Tung-hai Lee Foundation recently donated HK$10 million to the Canadian International School, of which Victor Lee is chairman. Most of the money will go towards the school's performing arts centre.

The school was set up 15 years ago at a time when pre-handover immigration to Canada was at its peak.

'To attract our overseas talent back to Hong Kong, we set up the school according to the Canadian system to make it easier for  migrants to return with their children,' Mr Lee said.

The  family has been active in charity for decades. Leo Lee last month received the Grand Bauhinia Medal in recognition of his services to Tung Wah Group's hospital and educational ventures.

Mr Lee the younger said he and his two children will continue his father's tradition of giving and hoped others will follow suit.

The Lees marked their gift to the Canadian International School by putting a family photo in a time capsule that was buried on the school's grounds and will not be opened until 2056.

Other corporate voices are also being raised in the name of charity.

The new chief executive of DBS Bank (Hong Kong), Amy Yip Yok-tak, told us recently that part of her mission will be to ensure the bank lives up to its social duties.

And the local boss of Citigroup, Chan Tze-ching, was one of more than 1,000 Hong Kong employees of the bank who spent Saturday doing good works. At one point, he found himself selling tags in Central.

'I hadn't done that since leaving high school,' he said. 'It felt good.'

Bond man goes private

Brian Yiu, a bond market veteran who formerly worked at Standard Chartered Bank, has joined Citigroup as director of private banking.

Mr Yiu said he decides it is time for a change.

'I've been working in the capital markets for more than 20 years. It's time to learn something new. I think private banking will present a lot of growth opportunities,' he said.

in a stew over hot pot

Most Asian cities have their own version of fast food. Hong Kong has several local chains, including Cafe de Coral, whose chairman, Michael Chan Yue-kwong, is our podcast guest this week.

Cafe de Coral has been listed on the  stock exchange for 20 years. It now claims to be the world's largest Chinese fast-food operator, encompassing not just its local operations but 100 locations in the mainland and the Manchu Wok chain in North America.

As proud as they are of their slow cooking culinary traditions, Hong Kong people also value speed, so it has not been hard to sell them on the idea of fast breakfasts, lunches, afternoon teas and dinners.

Mr Chan, who helps decide the menus,  said the company's work is often about customisation and downsizing.

'Hong Kong people like hot pot, but  such  dinners are meant for many  people. So we had to figure out how to cut  the portions to individual size before we could serve it  in a fast-food restaurant.'



Lee family fulfilled by the gift of giving