Peter Woo Kwong-ching, GBM, GBS, JP (traditional Chinese: 吳光正; simplified Chinese: 吴光正) (born September 5, 1946) is a Hong Kong businessman. He was the chairman of Wheelock and Company Limited (SEHK: 20)and The Wharf Holdings Limited (SEHK: 4) until 19 May 2015. As of May 2017, his net worth is estimated to be $10.5 billion.^[1]

Education[edit]

Woo was born in Shanghai and moved to Hong Kong in 1949.^{[citation needed]} He was educated at St Stephen’s College, a Direct Subsidy Scheme privately owned but government-funded boarding school (which is also Hong Kong’s largest secondary school), in the town of Stanley in Hong Kong, and went on to attain his bachelor’s degree from the University of Cincinnati, US, majoring in Physics and Mathematics.^{[citation needed]} While a student at the University of Cincinnati, Woo became a member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, an endeavour he is still involved in today. He later obtained an MBA from Columbia Business School in New York, US.^{[citation needed]}

Life and career[edit]

After graduating, Woo worked at Chase Manhattan Bank in New York and Hong Kong.^{[citation needed]}

In 1973, he married Bessie Pao.^[3] In 1975, he joined his father-in-law, the late Sir Yue-Kong Pao’s Worldwide Shipping Group and was later appointed vice-chairman for the company. In 1986, Woo’s father-in-law retired and appointed him the head of the Wheelock / Wharf businesses, while putting the shipping interests (now Bergesen Worldwide) under the control of another son-in-law, Helmut Sohmen.^{[citation needed]}

Woo’s diversified interests are reflected in his businesses, focusing in real estate development in Hong Kong, China and Singapore.^{[citation needed]} The group owns several investment properties such as Harbour City and Times Square in Hong Kong, as well as operating other businesses such as i-Cable Communications, Wharf New T&T, Modern Terminals Limited and Marco Polo Hotels.^{[citation needed]} Woo also owns the privately held, high-end luxury retail group LCJG, which includes Lane Crawford and the premier fashion house, Joyce.^{[citation needed]} Woo also serves on the advisory board for various Fortune 500 companies.^{[citation needed]}

Political and non-profit[edit]

Woo is a member of the Standing Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.^{[citation needed]}

His past appointments include:

• Chairman of the Council of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University from 1993 to 1997.^{[citation needed]}
• Founding chairman of the Hong Kong Environment and Conservation Fund Committee in 1994 until 2004.^{[citation needed]}
• Chairman of the Hong Kong Hospital Authority from 1995 to 2000.^{[citation needed]}
• Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council from 2000 to 2007.^{[citation needed]}

In 1996, Woo ran in the First Hong Kong Chief Executive Election just before the British colony was handed over back to Chinese rule, alongside Yang Ti-liang and Tung Chee-hwa. Tung won.^{[citation needed]}

Achievements and honours[edit]

The Hong Kong SAR Government appointed Woo Justice of the Peace in 1993, awarded the Gold Bauhinia Star in 1998 and the Grand Bauhinia Medal in 2012.^[4]

See also[edit]

• Antony Leung
• Politics of Hong Kong
• Executive Council of Hong Kong

External links[edit]

• Peter Woo
• Wheelock
• Hong Kong Portraits of Power – Evelyn Huang and Lawrence Jeffrey, Little Brown 1995, p 102
• Forbes List

References[edit]