Eric Fok has football in his genes but his passion for the game stems from his time in England and not the family bloodline
- Eric Fok’s grandfather Henry was HKFA president before his father Timothy took over the reins, representing half a century of Fok rule
- The younger Fok is now vice-chairman of the governing body and is also an AFC executive committee member
One would assume that Eric Fok Kai-shan’s passion for football stems from his genes. After all, his father, Timothy Fok Tsun-ting, is still head of the Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) and a stalwart for football and sports in Asia.
His grandfather, the late tycoon Henry Fok, was Timothy’s predecessor and was well known in China and Hong Kong for his work in football and philanthropy in the sport and society.
For Eric, however, his love of the game was not passed down through bloodline. He said it was more because of his 12-year study experience in London, England – the home of modern football.
“My grandfather played football from his younger days and later became the president of the association and he would always share his football stories with us,” said Fok, who is vice-president of Fok Ying Tung Group. “Family background is important as it helps develop my interest in sports and in particular football but more important is the 12 years that I spent throughout my studies in London.
“I had nine years in boarding school plus three more in university, which gave me abundant exposure to England’s strong sporting culture.