A Hong Kong businessman has made a record donation of GBP6 million (HK$73.7 million) to King's College London to foster research into Chinese affairs.
Dr Lau Ming-wai, eldest son of property tycoon Joseph Lau Luen-hung, made the donation to fund the appointment of senior academic staff members at the China Institute, which will be renamed the Lau China Institute.
John Major, former British prime minister and King's College London campaign chairman, said: 'The institute will foster important links between the UK and China, not just in academic circles, but in the fields of government, science, the arts and business.'
Lau Ming-wai, vice-chairman of Chinese Estate Holdings, has a Bachelor of Laws and a Doctor of Philosophy in Law from King's. He is deputy secretary general of policy support on Henry Tang Ying-yen's chief executive election campaign team, while his father is a member of the 1,200-strong Election Committee that will select the next chief executive.
Lau said his extensive studies at King's were instrumental in helping him achieve his career goals.
'I want to offer - as a symbol of my gratitude - financial support to the China Institute as a way of supporting Hong Kong and China's next generation of academics, leaders and entrepreneurs,' he said.