Early Life
Li Ka-shing was born in Chao'an, Chaozhou, Guangdong, China, on July 29, 1928. He and his family fled to Hong Kong in 1940 due to the Sino-Japanese War. Tragedy struck when his father died of tuberculosis, forcing Li to leave school at 15 to support his family. He began working in a plastics trading company, where he worked long hours.
Rise to Success
In 1950, at age 21, Li started Cheung Kong Industries with savings and loans from relatives. He manufactured plastic flowers, and the business became the largest exporter of plastic flowers in Asia. In 1971, he officially established Cheung Kong Holdings as his real estate development company, and it was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 1972. Li's company expanded, and he acquired Hutchison Whampoa in 1979.
Key Business Strategies
Li Ka-shing is known for his strategic investments and keen sense of timing. He diversified his investments into various sectors, including ports, real estate, financial services, retail, and energy and utilities. He made smart acquisitions, such as Hutchison Whampoa and Hongkong Electric Holdings. He also sold assets at peak values, as seen with the sale of Orange mobile phone unit.
Philanthropy
Li Ka-shing is a prominent philanthropist. He established the Li Ka Shing Foundation in 1980. The foundation has invested over HK$30 billion in projects covering education, medical services, charity, and anti-poverty programs, with about 80% of the projects in mainland China and Hong Kong. He has donated billions of dollars to various causes, including education and medical research.
