Thomas Fung Wing-fat simplified Chinese: 冯永发; traditional Chinese: 馮永發 (1951-) was born in Hong Kong. He is the eldest son of Fung King Hey, the legendary founder of Sun Hung Kai (SHK) Finance in Hong Kong. He is the founder of the Fairchild Group, a multi-million-dollar media and real estate empire, the builder of Asian-theme shopping malls and Chinese-language television networks and radio stations. Time Magazine (Canadian edition) named him one of the most influential people in Canada.[1]
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Fung spent most of his teen years in Hong Kong, emigrating to Canada in 1967. He graduated from Magee High School in Vancouver.
He took baking courses in Japan during his 20s. When he returned to Vancouver in 1984, he founded the first of four Saint Germain Bakery outlets. During the 1970s, Fung studied film-making on the side at New York University when he was sent to New York City to train at the Merrill Lynch brokerage firm. Then he went back to Hong Kong, staying 10 years and starting a film-production company, an advertising agency and a public relations firm. He was also worked for his father at Sun Hung Kai & Co..
In 1984, Thomas Fung moved to Vancouver. He chose to build his empire in Canada while his brother Tony continued on in Hong Kong. Fung conceived and built the current Aberdeen Centre in 1989 as North America's first multicultural retail experience.[2]
Fung’s Fairchild Group owns and operates two national TV stations, five multicultural radio stations, local largest Chinese language magazine, an e-commerce IT company in Canada.
On top of his business endeavours, Fung provides significant support to non-profit organizations such as the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Royal Conservatory of Music, Children’s Hospital, United Way, World Vision, and others.[3]
The Canadian federal government had appointed Mr. Fung as the Ministerial Strategic Advisor for Canada's Global Commerce directive. Business in Vancouver Magazine profiled Thomas Fung as one of the top 10 business person in the decade. Vancouver Magazine named Thomas Fung as one of the Power 50 in 5 consecutive years. Vancouver Board of Trade has awarded Mr. Fung the highest honour "Spirit of Vancouver Leadership Award".[4]
Fung is married to Amy Chan and has one son, Joesph (b. 1982), who works in Hong Kong.[5]
His brother is Chairman of Yu Ming Property Management Limited and served as Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
His sister Rita Fung was married to David Ho, founder of the defunct Harmony Airways.