Bulletin Spring‧Summer 1997

CITATION Dr. Lee Hon-chiu DBA, JP A w e l l - k n o w n entrepreneur, Mr . Lee Hon-chi u was b o r n in H o n g K o ng i n 1929. H is is a well- established and distinguished family originatin g f r om X i n h u i of Guangdong Province. Early this century his grandfather — the famous Lee Hysan — b o u g h t the entire h i l l w h i c h later became k n o w n as the Lee Garden H i l l and established a base for the family i n H o n g Kong. The Lee famil y started full-scale development of the site after the Second Wo r ld War, and laid the foundation for the thriving and prosperous Causeway Bay w e k n o w today. T h o u gh b o r n w i t h a silver spoon i n his m o u t h , the y o u n g Lee H o n - c h i u h a d to experience the trauma of the Japanese invasion i n his childhood. To escape w a r he travelled far f r o m H o n g K o n g to G u i l i n a n d t h e n t o Chongqing, where he continued his education. N o t yet 10 an d he had gone through al l kinds of hardships. War made h i m realize that nothing can be t a k en for g r a n t e d, that life i n v o l v es struggle and hard w o r k . A t the age of 11, Lee Ho n - c h i u decided to dedicate h i m s e lf to academic studies. A s a student i n Chongqing's N a n k ai M i d d le School, he w a s k n o w n f o r his e x c e l l e nt grades i n mathematics, physics, and chemistry. After the w a r i n 1948, he returned to Guangzho u where he e n r o l l e d at L i n g n a n Un i v e r s i t y . H e later satisfied the United States Consulate that he was a suitable candidate for studies at the famou s Massachusetts I n s t i t u te of Technology. H e o b t a i n ed hi s Bachelor of Science degre e i n electrical engineering f r om the M I T i n 1952 and pursued postgraduate studies i n electronics at Stanford University. It took h i m only one yea r to get his Master of Science degree. U p o n graduation, Lee Ho n - c h i u joined the burgeoning electronics trad e i n the Unite d States of America and was engaged in research on semiconductors. After obtaining practica l experience for t w o years at Westinghouse, he joined RC A as an electronic engineer . There he was activel y i n v o l v e d i n the d e v e l o pme n t of i n s t a l l a t i o n devices fo r semi-conductors. The fruits o f his labour were p ut t o good use by the A p o l lo Space M i s s i o n a nd so were i n s t r ume n t al i n ma n 's conquest of the mo o n . W h e n the A m e r i c an astronaut N e i l A r ms t r o ng set foot on the surface of the m o o n o n 20th July 1969, he remarked. T h a t 's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.' This famous sentence wa s broadcast back to millions on planet earth t h r o u gh devices that Lee H o n - c h i u h a d taken part i n designing. Since t i me i mm e m o r i al m a n has aspired to fly to the m o on and the dream finally came true that year. History was made, man' s future was bein g unfolded, and Lee H o n - c h i u had the rare opportunity to participate i n this unprecedented venture. As a y o u n g scientist he contributed i n no small w a y to h u m an progress. Mr. Lee's outstanding achievement s i n the field of electronic engineering were due of course to his a m b i t i o n , i n d u s t r i o u s n e s s , a n d his forward-looking temperament. H e never rests on his laurels. His uncles encouraged h i m to return to H o n g K o n g i n 1976 to take part i n the r u n n i ng of the family business. As a novice at a completely n ew trade, Mr. Lee learnt wh at he needed to w i t h great patience an d speed. Very soon he k n ew by heart the wo r k i n gs of the market economy and h a d the art of business at his finger tips . A structural reorganization of the family business i n 1981 resulted i n the establishment of the Hysan D e v e l o pme n t C o m p a n y L i m i t e d, a p u b l i c l y- listed business venture of w h i c h Mr. Lee became managing director. He also took over Dr. R.C . Lee's duties after the latter's deat h i n 1983, and later succeeded hi s uncle Dr. J.S. Lee as chairman of the entire company. U n d e r his leadership, H y s a n De v e l o pme nt C omp a ny L i m i t ed gre w bigger and bigger, and is n o w one of the top 10 p r o p e r t y i n v e s t m e n t a n d d e v e l o p m e nt companies i n the territory, whose stocks hav e become H a n g Seng Index constituent stocks and whose operation is closely linke d to the economic Chinese University Bulletin Spring • Summer 1997 6