Martin Lee Ka-shing, son of the property tycoon, said that the family “could not bear to say goodbye” to their father, while thanking the public for their tributes following the magnate’s funeral Monday.
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An altar for late Lee Shau-kee, 2nd richest man in Hong Kong and the founder of Henderson Land Group, where his portrait is displayed for public on April 27,2025 in Hong Kong. Photo by ZUMA Press Wire via Reuters |
“We could not bear to say goodbye to our father, and neither could our entire family. But he was almost 100 years old,” Martin Lee Ka-shing told the press alongside his brother after the funeral concluded around 12.50pm, according to South China Morning Post.
“He was surrounded by the whole family, and passed away peacefully.”
Martin Lee extended gratitude to residents who honored his father’s memory.
“I am very grateful for the love the public has shown my father. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to them.”
Lee, the founder of Henderson Land Development who was among Hong Kong’s richest developers and most generous philanthropists, passed away at 97 in March.
The business empire he spent decades building comprises seven Hong Kong-listed companies, with a combined market value of HK$551 billion (US$71 billion) as of March 17, spanning real estate, hotels, piped gas, and a ferry operation.
In 1996, he ranked fourth on Forbes’ list of the world’s richest people with assets of US$12.7 billion. By 2024, he was 63rd on the global billionaires list and Hong Kong’s second-wealthiest individual.
Many city and business leaders attended the funeral to pay respect to the tycoon.
Attendees included Victor Li Tzar-kuoi, son of Hong Kong’s wealthiest man Li Ka-shing, billionaire Peter Woo Kwong-ching, and his son Douglas Woo Chun-kuen.
Several residents gathered near the funeral home to honor Lee.
An elderly woman named Lui, who had met Lee at construction sites where she worked, shared her memories.
“He was very kind and generous,” the 80-year-old told South China Morning Post, wiping tears from her face.
“He always had a smile on his face and was very polite.”
Throughout his life, Lee was known for his major contributions to charity and education organizations.
He donated to universities in Hong Kong and founded the Hong Kong Pei Hua Education Foundation in 1982 to support education and workforce development in China.
Among his notable donations were a plot of land in Yuen Long for Hong Kong’s largest youth hostel and The Warmth Project, which provided 330 million yuan (US$45.6 million) to train one million farmers and 10,000 village doctors in China, making it the country’s largest charity-driven training initiative.
