Hong Kong industrialist and STDM's largest shareholder. Born into a Tanka family, he made his fortune postwar in real estate and sand dredging, co-founded STDM in 1961 as its biggest stakeholder, then became a leading early investor in mainland China and a major sports patron, serving in the CPPCC from 1980.

A Tanka boy raised on the water grew up to be both the largest shareholder in Macau's gaming monopoly and one of the first Hong Kong businessmen to bring capital back to the mainland.

Henry Fok Ying Tung was a Hong Kong industrialist and STDM's largest shareholder. Born into a Tanka family, he made his fortune postwar in real estate and sand dredging, co-founded STDM in 1961 as its biggest stakeholder, then became a leading early investor in mainland China and a major sports patron, serving in the CPPCC from 1980.

Profile

  • Chinese Name: 霍英東
  • English Name: Henry Fok Ying Tung
  • Birth date: 10 May 1923
  • Region: Hong Kong · Macao · Mainland China
  • Domains: Business · Politics
  • Industry: Gaming · Real estate · Shipping · Sport
  • Subject type: Entrepreneur · Gaming pioneer

Background

Henry Fok was born on 10 May 1923 in Hong Kong into a Tanka (boat-dwelling) family and grew up poor. Seizing on postwar demand for materials and reconstruction, he built businesses in sand dredging, shipping, and real estate, and pioneered the off-plan instalment "pre-sale" model in Hong Kong property — rapidly amassing capital to become one of postwar Hong Kong's most powerful Chinese businessmen.

Career

I. Co-founding STDM (1961)

In 1961 Fok joined Stanley Ho, Yip Hon, and Teddy Yip to form a consortium that won the Macau gaming concession for 3.167 million patacas, opening its first casino on New Year's Day 1962. When the Sociedade de Turismo e Diversões de Macau (STDM) was formally registered, Fok became the company's largest shareholder.

II. Pioneer of mainland investment

After China's reform and opening, Fok responded early and concretely, investing in mainland construction — including Guangzhou's White Swan Hotel — and supporting the mainland's economic and infrastructure development, becoming a trailblazer for Hong Kong investment returning to the mainland.

III. Exiting the gaming stake (2002)

In 2002 Fok announced he would donate his roughly 27.7% STDM stake (22,654 shares) to the Macau Fok Ying Tung Foundation established that year, gradually exiting his gaming holdings.

Defining Moments

I. Sports diplomacy and national affairs

Fok was a long-time champion of China's return to international sport, backing football and the Olympic movement. Elected to the CPPCC National Committee in 1980, he became a CPPCC vice-chairman in 1993 — the first Hong Kong person to enter the national leadership ranks, bridging business and politics.

Public Character

Of STDM's four founders, Fok brought the deepest capital, and he was among the few to extend his focus from Hong Kong and Macau into mainland construction and national affairs. His arc — from Tanka boyhood to majority shareholder in the gaming monopoly to CPPCC vice-chairman — mirrors the deepening ties between postwar Hong Kong–Macau Chinese business and national development.

Key Achievements

  • Co-founded STDM in 1961 and became the largest shareholder in the Macau gaming concession company
  • Pioneered the "pre-sale" off-plan model in Hong Kong real estate
  • Became a leading early mainland investor after reform and opening, building projects such as the White Swan Hotel
  • Served as CPPCC vice-chairman from 1993 and was a long-time patron of Chinese sport

Information compiled from publicly available sources. If anything is inaccurate or needs updating, please contact us — we aim to respond within 48 hours.