Hari Harilela
Encyclopedia
Hari Naroomal Harilela, GBM
, GBS
, OBE
, JP
, (born August 1922) is chairman of the Harilela Group in Hong Kong
. The group runs businesses ranging from hotel and real estate investment to import and export trading.
Harilela is a Life Regent at Pepperdine University
in the United States, and is an Honorary Court Member of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
.
's Affairs Advisor to the Chinese Government and was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) and the Gold Bauhinia Star (GBS). He is a recipient of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award from the Government of India. Harilela won a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 4th Annual Asia Pacific Hotel Industry Investment Conference on March 27, 2001.
, built in 1970. Over 100 members of his family live in the extended complex. He has one son, Aron, and had 11 grandchildren in 2009.
.
Grand Bauhinia Medal
The Grand Bauhinia Medal the highest award under the Hong Kong honours and awards system, is to recognise the selected person's lifelong and highly significant contribution to the well-being of Hong Kong. The awardee is entitled to the postnominal letters GBM and the style "The Honorable"...
, GBS
Gold Bauhinia Star
The Gold Bauhinia Star is the highest rank in Order of the Bauhinia Star in Hong Kong, created in 1997 to replace the British honours system of the Order of the British Empire after the transfer of sovereignty to People's Republic of China and the establishment of the Hong Kong Special...
, OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, JP
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
, (born August 1922) is chairman of the Harilela Group in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. The group runs businesses ranging from hotel and real estate investment to import and export trading.
Career
Harilela opened a clothing store/tailors in Hong Kong and supplied custom-made suits by mail order. The Hariela Group was founded in 1959 by Harilela with his two brothers, George and Peter, when they moved into real estate. The Harilela Group of hotels in the Asia-Pacific region includes properties in Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Penang, Bangkok and Sydney.Harilela is a Life Regent at Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University is an independent, private, medium-sized university affiliated with the Churches of Christ. The university's campus overlooking the Pacific Ocean in unincorporated Los Angeles County, California, United States, near Malibu, is the location for Seaver College, the School of...
in the United States, and is an Honorary Court Member of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology is a public university located in Hong Kong. Established in 1991 under Hong Kong Law Chapter 1141 , it is one of the nine universities in Hong Kong.Professor Tony F. Chan is the president of HKUST...
.
Awards
Harilela served as Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
's Affairs Advisor to the Chinese Government and was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) and the Gold Bauhinia Star (GBS). He is a recipient of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award from the Government of India. Harilela won a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 4th Annual Asia Pacific Hotel Industry Investment Conference on March 27, 2001.
Personal life
Hariela was born in Sindh, India (now Pakistan), and moved with his mother and two brothers to Canton in 1930 to join his father. His father was Naroomal Lilaram Mirchandani, who owned an antiques store in Hong Kong. Naroomal was working in Singapore in the mid-1920s, and he renounced his family name after not being able to pay his respects to his mother before she was cremated when she died in India; Harilela is a combination of Lilaram and Haribai, the names of Naroomal's father and mother. Hari left school aged 10 to help in the family business. Harilela lives with his wife Padma, who he married in 1947, his four living brothers and two sisters in a mansion in Kowloon TongKowloon Tong
Kowloon Tong , formerly Kau Lung Tong, is an area in Hong Kong. Within New Kowloon, it is administratively divided by Kowloon City District and Sham Shui Po District...
, built in 1970. Over 100 members of his family live in the extended complex. He has one son, Aron, and had 11 grandchildren in 2009.
Legacy
The Padma & Hari Harilela Lecture Theatres, with seating capacities of 250 and 150 respectively, were named in honour of the Harilelas in recognition of a HK$5 million donation to the Hong Kong Baptist UniversityHong Kong Baptist University
Hong Kong Baptist University is a publicly-funded tertiary institution with a Christian education heritage. It is the sole surviving institution of 13 major Christian universities that once operated on the Chinese mainland,...
.