Hong Kong’s richest person retires after working ‘too long’
hong kong — Hong Kong’s richest man, Li Ka-shing, announced his retirement as chairman of CK Hutchison Holdings on Friday, bringing to a close a rags-to-riches story that made him a hero in the freewheeling capitalist hub.
Li, 89, will retire after the annual general meeting on May 10, the ports-to-telecoms conglomerate said in a filing to the Hong Kong bourse. A factory apprentice when he was 13, Li, was called “Superman” for his work ethic and business success.
While Hong Kong’s adoration of the billionaire and his story has waned somewhat in recent years, he is still stepping aside from one of Asia’s most outward-looking empires, spanning more than 50 countries and 323,000 employees at last count. “I’ve been working for a long time, too long,” a relaxed Li told reporters.
Li will, as expected, stay on as senior adviser. His eldest son Victor Li, who was named successor several years ago, will take over the reins of the business. Victor, already on the board, is seen as a steady hand unlikely to change course.
“I’ve always said I could go on a trip anytime, the company would still run the same way,” Li said.
During his tenure, Li had increased the pace of overseas acquisitions, helping boost the group’s profits with growth in the European telecoms business offsetting a drop in the value of the British business following Brexit.
Through his flagship CK Hutchison, Li controls the biggest container port operator in the world, Canadian oil giant Husky Energy, one of Europe’s leading telecoms operators, as well as infrastructure assets and a long-time interest in Britain that saw him awarded a knighthood in 2000.
“Li Ka-shing is remarkable — he’s a role model and I regard him as such,” said Stuart Gulliver, former
Li Ka-shing is remarkable — he’s a role model and I regard him as such Stuart Gulliver, Former CEO of HSBC
CEO of HSBC who in a 38year career with the bank worked closely with Li.
It was HSBC’s 1979 sale to Li of a stake in Hutchison Whampoa, a colonial-era trading house, that vaulted him into the first rank of Chinese tycoons. Commending Li’s long laid-out succession plan, unusual among tycoons in a region where discussing death is often viewed as unlucky, Gulliver praised Victor for being extremely capable.
“He’s also been very actively involved — he has been running it day to day and he has been for some time,” Gulliver said. The news of retirement came together with the announcement of betterthan-expected results at some of Li’s biggest firms.
CK Hutchison reported a 6 per cent rise in 2017 profit to HK$35.1 billion ($4.48 billion), versus the average forecast of HK$34.63 billion. Real estate arm CK Asset Holdings saw annual profits surge 55 per cent, also beating estimates.
“Healthy and synchronised growth in major economies gathered pace in 2017. Provided this trend continues and inflation remains benign, the environment in 2018 should remain supportive for global trade and for our businesses,” Li said.
Li, who ranked 23rd on the world’s rich list by Forbes, is the wealthiest tycoon in Hong Kong, a former British colony that returned to China in 1997.