Tin Ka-ping, the man with a billion-dollar heart
Hong Kong philanthropist Tin Ka-ping devoted almost his entire life and donated most of his assets to helping the poor across the country, convinced that human resources are crucial to the nation’s development and prosperity.
Hong Kong industrialist and philanthropist Tin Ka-ping passed away last month, leaving a legacy that has brightened the future of thousands of young Chinese students.
Throughout the tycoon’s 99 years, he had given some 80 percent of his assets — over HK$1 billion — to charitable causes. The money was given chiefly in support of education of countless young people. He subsidized or built new facilities for 93 universities, 200 primary and secondary schools and sponsored 1,700 libraries in rural areas, in 34 provinces and regions, all across China. He also made contributions to three universities outside the country.
Without Tin’s contributions, many of those who have benefited from his generosity would never have had the opportunity for even a basic education.
Tin’s passion was driven by the fact that he wanted others to have what he had been denied of — a complete education. Tin was born in Yintan village, Dabu county in Meizhou city, Guangdong province, on Nov 20, 1919. His father died when Tin was 15. Tin, an only child, dropped out of middle school to fend for himself and his mother.
Leaving school was his greatest regret, he recalled, in a 2007 interview with China Daily. He had no choice, however. Somebody needed to take charge of the family business, making bricks. “I’ve always thought further education would have helped my career, which is partly why I’m so keen on schooling for the young,” he said.
There’s something to Tin’s reflection about being deprived of his education. He showed great acumen in the manufacture of bricks before switching to pottery. Soon he had developed a pottery factory and was well on his way to making a fortune, selling pottery to buyers in Vietnam. Then came June 21, 1939, when Japan invaded Shantou, the only export port for Tin’s products. His business was forced to close. Tin escaped to Indonesia, where he teamed up with his cousin and went into business buying and selling copra and pepper. Six years later, Tin had prospered once more and started his own company, the Tjhauw Loen Rubber Factory. Again, he proved his skill in business. The factory quickly became profitable.
Indonesia presented a difficult, even unfriendly environment to Chinese businessmen. The government there had issued a series of bans against Chinese engaging in certain types of business activities in specified areas. Tin’s business escaped the worst of the prohibitions, but at the same time, he foresaw the business climate getting worse.
‘King of synthetic leather’
In 1958, Tin moved to Hong Kong, converting the core of his Indonesian assets. It took him two years to build his business network, buy lands and prepare machinery. In 1960, he opened Hong Kong’s first factory producing PVC plastic and synthetic leather (a PVC-based material). The factory was able to produce more than 1,000 different synthetic leathers. No other factory came close to that productivity.
People in Hong Kong called Tin the “king of synthetic leather”. During Tin’s some 20 years away from home, he had traveled to developed countries. Most people in those countries were well educated. That drove home to him, again, the importance of education. Then, he made it his personal pledge to contribute his efforts to education, individual growth and the spirit of enterprise. "China’s hope is in education.” The words are written large on the homepage of the Tin Ka Ping Foundation website. The charitable foundation, which was established in 1982, became the driving force behind Tin’s philanthropic endeavors for the rest of his life. "China is a country of enormous potenttial. Its prosperity depends on human resources,” said Tin, in making his case that the education of the young was the key to making the country thrive. Tin not only gave money but also became involved in the construction of each building to which he had contributed "The classrooms should face south to get plenty of sunlight,” he argued, “so the students will be comfortable. The teachers’ rooms can be located in older buildings, while the principal’s office can be fairly small,” Tin said. He requested that toilets be built on each floor and instructed engineers to make the hallways wide enough. He wanted students to have the best facilities.
In 1994, the Purple Mountain Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences named Asteroid 2886 “Tin Ka-ping Star” in recognition of his charitable efforts.
Tin’s last wish, before he died, was for China’s education to get better and better, according to an obituary prepared by Tin’s foundation.
There is an old Chinese saying: “It takes 10 years to grow a tree, but a hundred years to nurture people.” Tin, who lived for nearly a century, devoted himself to promoting education throughout his lifetime and in doing so, he took the cause of the future generations of the next century into consideration.
Though Tin is gone, the impact of his philanthropic spirit will endure and shine as brightly as the star bearing his name.