Mainland China’s economic growth top concern of investors

Malaysian accountant Chew Fook Aun, 51, joined the Lai Sun group in June 2012 to restart the investment engine of one of Hong Kong's oldest developers, which at the time was nearly dormant.

Chew, who has lived in Hong Kong for 24 years, had been chief financial officer at several companies, including the Link Real Estate Investment Trust, Kerry Properties (a corporate stablemate of the South China Morning Post) and clothing retailer Esprit.

Since Lai Sun hired the corporate top gun, the firm has committed more than HK$10 billion in a string of property investments - about HK$4 billion in Ocean Park Hotel; HK$3 billion for its 50 per cent stake in a residential project in Tseung Kwan O; and HK$3.7 billion in a cultural and entertainment project in the Hengqin special economic zone off Zhuhai.

Chew is the deputy chairman of Lai Sun Development and its parent, Lai Sun Garment International. He is also the chairman of Lai Fung - the group's mainland property unit - and executive director of eSun, which has interests in media and entertainment.

The share prices of the group's four listed companies have shot up between 15 per cent and 85 per cent since he joined the group.