Lee Hysan
Encyclopedia
Lee Hysan was a renowned land developer and entrepreneur in Hong Kong
. The ancestral home of the Lee family was Xinhui
, Guangdong
, and his father, Lee Leung Yik (利良奕) was an early participant in the U.S. gold rush
. Hysan Lee was born in Hawaii
and attended primary school in the United States. At age seventeen, he returned to Hong Kong and continued his studies at Queen's College
. He then taught at the school and served later as a translator.
His father achieved wealth from the opium
trade, still legal at the time, and Hysan inherited his 'business'. Expanding into more-legitimate industry, he actively participated in the fast-growing Hong Kong real estate market. In 1923, he bought the Jardine's Hill property, west of Causeway Bay
from Jardines
for HK$
3.8 million, and developed the property as Lee Garden
. It is approximately the area around Lee Garden Road, Lee Theatre
, Yun Ping Road and Percival Street
.
The company he founded became the modern-day Hysan Development Company Limited
, still primarily owned and operated by members of the Lee family. His wealth grew exponentially from this business, and he became active in philanthropy
. Regardless, he was never fully able to shake the label of 'Opium Prince'.
On 30 April 1928 Lee was assassinated while eating lunch at a social club. At the time of his death, his estate was valued at HK$4.4 million; the present-day Hysan Development Company has a market capitalization
in excess of HK$20 billion.
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 ancestral home of the Lee family was Xinhui
Xinhui
Xinhui also known as 'Kuixiang'. Famous people born in what is now known as Xinhui include Liang Qichao, Chen Baisha, Chan Heung, and Michael Li from Westmead Hospital.-Geography:...
, Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
, and his father, Lee Leung Yik (利良奕) was an early participant in the U.S. gold rush
Gold rush
A gold rush is a period of feverish migration of workers to an area that has had a dramatic discovery of gold. Major gold rushes took place in the 19th century in Australia, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, and the United States, while smaller gold rushes took place elsewhere.In the 19th and early...
. Hysan Lee was born in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
and attended primary school in the United States. At age seventeen, he returned to Hong Kong and continued his studies at Queen's College
Queen's College, Hong Kong
Queen's College , initially named The Government Central School in 1862, later renamed as Victoria College in 1889, is a sixth form college for boys with a secondary school attached. It was the first public secondary school founded in Hong Kong by the British colonial government...
. He then taught at the school and served later as a translator.
His father achieved wealth from the opium
Opium
Opium is the dried latex obtained from the opium poppy . Opium contains up to 12% morphine, an alkaloid, which is frequently processed chemically to produce heroin for the illegal drug trade. The latex also includes codeine and non-narcotic alkaloids such as papaverine, thebaine and noscapine...
trade, still legal at the time, and Hysan inherited his 'business'. Expanding into more-legitimate industry, he actively participated in the fast-growing Hong Kong real estate market. In 1923, he bought the Jardine's Hill property, west of Causeway Bay
Causeway Bay
Causeway Bay is a heavily built-up area of Hong Kong, People's Republic of China, located on the Hong Kong Island, and covering parts of Wan Chai and Eastern districts. The Chinese name is also romanized as Tung Lo Wan as in Tung Lo Wan Road...
from Jardines
Jardines
Jardines can refers to:* Jardines SA - a sports club in Hong Kong* Jardine Matheson Holdings - a multinational corporation that is incorporated in Bermuda...
for HK$
Hong Kong dollar
The Hong Kong dollar is the currency of the jurisdiction. It is the eighth most traded currency in the world. In English, it is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively HK$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
3.8 million, and developed the property as Lee Garden
Lee Garden
Lee Garden is a hill south of East Point and west of Causeway Bay on the Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong, approximately the area between Percival Street, Hennessy Road and Leighton Road. It was also known as Jardine's Hill or East Point Hill.In early 19th century, the land of East Point, including...
. It is approximately the area around Lee Garden Road, Lee Theatre
Lee Theatre
Lee Theatre was a prominent theatre in Causeway Bay on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. Once one of the premier performing venues in Hong Kong, the theatre was demolished in the 1990s and replaced with an office building and a shopping centre.-History:...
, Yun Ping Road and Percival Street
Percival Street
Percival Street is a street in the East Point and Happy Valley, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. The street spans from Gloucester Road in the north to Leighton Road in the south...
.
The company he founded became the modern-day Hysan Development Company Limited
Hysan Development Company Limited
Hysan Development Company Limited is a property investment, management and development company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The company's roots in Hong Kong date back to 1923, when Lee Hysan acquired plots of land in East Point, now known as Causeway Bay...
, still primarily owned and operated by members of the Lee family. His wealth grew exponentially from this business, and he became active in philanthropy
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
. Regardless, he was never fully able to shake the label of 'Opium Prince'.
On 30 April 1928 Lee was assassinated while eating lunch at a social club. At the time of his death, his estate was valued at HK$4.4 million; the present-day Hysan Development Company has a market capitalization
Market capitalization
Market capitalization is a measurement of the value of the ownership interest that shareholders hold in a business enterprise. It is equal to the share price times the number of shares outstanding of a publicly traded company...
in excess of HK$20 billion.
Landmarks named after Lee Hysan
- Hysan Avenue
- Lee Hysan HallLee Hysan HallLee Hysan Hall is one of the 13 residential halls in the University of Hong Kong, which provides accommodation for both male and female undergraduates and postgradutes. It is named after the land developer and entrepreneur Lee Hysan, as it is founded with the help and sponsorship of the Lee family...
in the University of Hong Kong
Notable family members
Many of Lee's descendants and other family members are notable in their own right:- Richard Charles Lee (利銘澤) - father of Vivienne PoyVivienne PoyVivienne Poy was appointed to the Senate of Canada in 1998. Poy came to Canada as a university student in 1959. She is the first Canadian senator of Asian ancestry. She graduated from St...
and son of Lee Hysan - Vivienne PoyVivienne PoyVivienne Poy was appointed to the Senate of Canada in 1998. Poy came to Canada as a university student in 1959. She is the first Canadian senator of Asian ancestry. She graduated from St...
née Lee (利德蕙) - daughter of Richard Charles Lee and now Canadian Senator - Harold Hsiao-Wo Lee (利孝和)
- Lee Quo-weiLee Quo-weiSir Quo-wei Lee, GBM, CBE, JP is a famous businessman in Hong Kong. He has been the director of Hang Seng Bank and the Chinese University of Hong Kong....
(利國偉) - Peter Ting Chang Lee JP(deceased) - Chairman of Hysan Development Company LimitedHysan Development Company LimitedHysan Development Company Limited is a property investment, management and development company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The company's roots in Hong Kong date back to 1923, when Lee Hysan acquired plots of land in East Point, now known as Causeway Bay...
- Michael Tze Hau Lee BA, MBA - Managing Director Hysan Development Company LimitedHysan Development Company LimitedHysan Development Company Limited is a property investment, management and development company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The company's roots in Hong Kong date back to 1923, when Lee Hysan acquired plots of land in East Point, now known as Causeway Bay...
- Anthony Hsien Pin Lee BA, MBA - non-managing director Hysan Development Company LimitedHysan Development Company LimitedHysan Development Company Limited is a property investment, management and development company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The company's roots in Hong Kong date back to 1923, when Lee Hysan acquired plots of land in East Point, now known as Causeway Bay...
- Chien Lee - non-executive director Hysan Development Company LimitedHysan Development Company LimitedHysan Development Company Limited is a property investment, management and development company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The company's roots in Hong Kong date back to 1923, when Lee Hysan acquired plots of land in East Point, now known as Causeway Bay...
- Dr. Deanna Ruth Tak Yung Rudgard BA, MD - non-executive director Hysan Development Company LimitedHysan Development Company LimitedHysan Development Company Limited is a property investment, management and development company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The company's roots in Hong Kong date back to 1923, when Lee Hysan acquired plots of land in East Point, now known as Causeway Bay...