Thomas Kwok
| Kwok Ping-kwong, Thomas 郭炳江 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
October 6, 1951 Portuguese Macau |
| Residence | Hong Kong |
| Education |
London Business School Imperial College |
| Occupation | Former joint-chairman of Sun Hung Kai Properties |
| Net worth |
 US$16.3 billion (with brother, as of June 2015)[1] |
| Children | Adam Kwok |
| Parent(s) |
Kwok Tak Seng (father) Kwong Siu-hing (mother) |
| Relatives |
Walter Kwok (brother) Raymond Kwok (brother) |
Thomas Kwok Ping-kwong SBS, JP (Chinese: 郭炳江; pinyin: Guō Bǐngjiāng; Cantonese Yale: Gwok Bínggōng; born October 6, 1951 in Portuguese Macau) was the joint chairman and managing director of Sun Hung Kai Properties, which is the largest property developer in Hong Kong, along with his brother Raymond Kwok.[2]
Biography
Thomas is the second son of Kwok Tak Seng, the founder of SHK Properties, and his wife Kwong Siu-hing. Together with brothers Walter and Raymond, they inherited Sun Hung Kai Properties, Hong Kong's largest real estate developer in 1990, following their father's death.[3] The Kwok brothers are the third wealthiest people in Hong Kong and the Greater China Region, just after Li Ka Shing and Lee Shau Kee. Their combined wealth is estimated to be US$17 billion in Forbes' 2010 list of billionaires. [4]
Kwok received a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Imperial College London, University of London, followed by an MBA from London Business School.[5]
Arrest and conviction
The two brothers were arrested by the Independent Commission Against Corruption on bribery charges in March 2012.[6][7] They were accused of bribing Rafael Hui, the former Chief Secretary for Administration from 2005 to 2007, to be their "eyes and ears in government" in a case said to highlight "the cozy relationship between the city's powerful developers and government".[8]
In December 2014, Thomas Kwok was convicted of "conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office," while his brother Raymond was cleared of all charges. Thomas was sentenced to five years in prison and a fine of $500,000. Rafael Hui, Sun Hung Kai executive Thomas Chan and businessman Francis Kwan were also jailed.[9] After the verdict was announced, Kwok stated his immediate resignation as chairman, managing director and executive director of Sun Hung Kai and said he would appeal the conviction.[8] His appeals to the Court of Appeal and Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal were dismissed.[10] Kwok, who had been granted bail pending appeal to the Court of Final Appeal was returned to prison in June 2017.[11]
Religion
Kwok is a Christian. The Noah's Ark project on Ma Wan reflects Kwok's evangelical Christian faith. During the 1990s, he set up a church on the 75th-floor pyramid atrium atop Sun Hung Kai's Central Plaza office complex.[12]
References
- ↑ "The World's Billionaires (2010): #28 Kwok family". Forbes. March 3, 2010. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
- ↑ Sun Hung Kai Profit Jumps; Chairwoman to Retire Wall Street Journal, by Polly Lui. 16 September 2011.
- ↑ "Thomas and Raymond Kwok", Forbes. Accessed 21 January 2016.
- ↑ Thomas Kwok - Forbes, Forbes.com. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
- ↑ Profile of Thomas Kwok
- ↑ "Kwok brothers arrested in Hong Kong on bribery charges". BBC News. 29 March 2012.
- ↑ "Tycoon brothers arrested in Hong Kong corruption probe". CNN. 29 March 2012.
- 1 2 Lee, Yimou; Ko, Lizzie (19 December 2014). "Hong Kong former official, property tycoon guilty in graft case". Reuters.
- ↑ Law, Stuart (23 December 2014). "Rafael Hui jailed for seven-and-a-half years; Thomas Kwok locked up for five years". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
- ↑ Decision of the Court of Final Appeal in June 2017
- ↑ Appeals of Thomas Kwok, Rafael Hui rejected
- ↑ Hong Kong Christens an Ark of Biblical Proportions The A-HED. By JONATHAN CHENG. Wall Street Journal. APRIL 14, 2009.