More than one in seven of the richest people in China are from Hong Kong, the 2013 Hurun global rich list revealed yesterday.
The city trails only Moscow and New York in the number of its billionaires. A total of 1,453 ultra-rich people, with personal wealth of at least US$1 billion, are ranked in the annual Hurun Report this year. Hong Kong is home to 54 of them, part of a total of 357 from China.
Li Ka-shing, chairman of Cheung Kong, remains the richest person in the region and seventh worldwide. His wealth is estimated at US$32 billion, up 33 per cent from the year before.
Zong Qinghou, chairman of soft drink maker Hangzhou Wahaha, with US$13 billion, is the richest person on the mainland for a second year. He rose on the global list to 64th from 68th.
At the top of the world ranking are Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim Helu and his family, who own US$66 billion through telecommunications firm America Movil and other businesses. Veteran US investor Warren Buffett, Spanish fashion retailer Amancio Ortega and Microsoft founder Bill Gates rank second to fourth.