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Li Ka-shing

1928 – present

Li Ka-shing is a Hong Kong businessman, born in Chaozhou, Guangdong, in 1928, whose family moved to Hong Kong in 1940. He founded the plastics manufacturer Cheung Kong Industries in 1950 and built it into a property and conglomerate group, acquiring Hutchison Whampoa in 1979. He retired as chairman of CK Hutchison Holdings in 2018.

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Life events

Born in Chaozhou, Guangdong, China
1928
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Family fled to Hong Kong
1940

The Li family left Guangdong during the Second Sino-Japanese War.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Relocation ✓
Left school to work after his father's death
1943

Li took a job in a plastics trading company to support his family.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Founded Cheung Kong Industries
1950

The company began by manufacturing plastic goods, including plastic flowers.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Married Chong Yuet-ming
1963

The couple had two sons, Victor and Richard.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Relationship ✓
Cheung Kong listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange
1972

The company, by then focused on property, went public.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Acquired a controlling stake in Hutchison Whampoa
1979

He became the first person of Chinese descent to take over one of Hong Kong's British-controlled trading houses.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Established the Li Ka Shing Foundation
1980

The foundation funds education and medical projects, including Shantou University.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Reorganised his businesses into CK Hutchison Holdings
2015

Cheung Kong Holdings and Hutchison Whampoa were merged and split into property and non-property groups.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Retired as chairman of CK Hutchison Holdings
2018

His elder son Victor Li succeeded him as chairman.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓