Young people 'HK's most valuable asset'

Updated: 2018-03-03 06:33

(HK Edition)

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Philanthropist Lui urges youth to play active role in city's development. Willa Wu reports.

Hong Kong's future depends heavily on its young people, who are the city's "most valuable asset", property magnate Lui Che-woo said in an exclusive interview with China Daily.

Lui, 88, described the city's youth as "learned, energetic and hard-working". Born in Jiangmen, Guangdong province and having built up his property empire K Wah Group from scratch, Lui - the third richest man in Hong Kong - appealed to the young to play an active role in the city's affairs and serve society.

"Hong Kong's future will be built brick by brick by the young. I will support them as much as I can," the billionaire said.

Besides being K Wah's chairman, Lui is widely recognized as a long-term philanthropist who stands by his belief that "education engenders a strong country".

Cultivating young people is the most commendable cause in the world, Lui said.

He emphasized the importance of national education, which covers Chinese history and culture dating back thousands of years, as well as the country's progress and development plans and policies in contemporary times.

Such an education would give young people a better picture of who they are, where they are from and where they will head to, explained Lui.

In sharing his experiences with the city's young people, Lui also revealed how he coped with pressure and frustration.

"Every time when you feel you are under pressure, think of, or even go out and do things that make you happy. Don't indulge yourself in the stress," said Lui, who is often spotted wearing a big smile.

"Integration" is a new buzz word for Hong Kong as the special administrative region actively seeks to link its development with that of the country. Lui, whose business expands across the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, Southeast Asia and the United States, said integration means mutual understanding and tolerance.

Hong Kong and the mainland each have their own advantages and should be humble. They should learn from and supplement each other, Lui said.

After all, more understanding and tolerance is the key to mutual development, Lui concluded.

Most of his charitable work is in education, the environment, arts and culture, medical care and innovative technology on the mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and the US.

In 2015. Lui took philanthropy one step further by setting up the Lui Che Woo Prize - Prize for World Civilization, recognizing people or organizations that have made remarkable contributions to the welfare of mankind, and encouraging them to persevere with their efforts in the same direction.

So far six laureates have received the prize, winning a total of HK$120 million. Winners include the "father of hybrid rice" Yuan Longping and China's special representative on climate change Xie Zhenhua.

Contact the writer at willa@chinaailyhk.com

 Young people 'HK's most valuable asset'

Hong Kong’s renowned billionaire and philanthropist Lui Chewoo couldn’t help tearing when talking about the country’s early torments and ordeals in wartime during an exclusive interview with China Daily.Photos By Edmond Tang / China Daily

Young people 'HK's most valuable asset'

Young people 'HK's most valuable asset'

(HK Edition 03/03/2018 page7)