Lim Por-yen
Encyclopedia
Lim Por-yen was a Hong Kong
textiles tycoon and banker. He founded the Lai Sun Group (麗新集團), and his family was the biggest shareholder of Asia Television (ATV).
, and moved to Hong Kong with his father in 1931."1914年生於潮陽的林百欣，1931年隨父移居香港，1939年開始在九龍城創業。"
In 1945, and started a factory manufacturing garments in Sham Shui Po
for export. Lim earned himself the nickname of "African King" in the 1950s when he exported cheap military uniforms to African countries. His company, Lai Sun Garment, was founded in 1947, and later listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange
.
He successfully diversified into real estate in 1987 when he set up another vehicle, Lai Sun Development
. In the same year, Lai Sun acquired the Crocodile Garments
business."1987年，麗新收購成立於1952年“鱷魚恤”，又追加近10億港元投資，繼而拓展日本市場。"
. In 1994, he would found a technical college there with a donation of ¥
35 million, and endowed Shantou City Education Foundation with a further ¥10 million."從上世紀80年代開始，林百欣就相繼在汕頭市捐建四所林百欣中學。1994年又捐款3500萬元建了汕頭林百欣科技中專，還在同年捐資1000萬元人民幣給了汕頭市教育基金會。" He is said to have made in excess of ¥700 million in donations to causes throughout China, of which Shantou's share was more than half."據不完全統計，林百欣在北京、上海、廣州、汕頭和中山等地捐辦各種公益事業，總金額達人民幣7億元以上，僅在家鄉汕頭就有3.8億元。" He has been a supported of education in Hong Kong by setting up several schools.
He also donated to the University of Hong Kong's SARS Fund and helped to establish the Jao Tsung-I Petite Ecole. His support of the HKU Foundation and to the university in general over th eyears earned him an honorary fellowship in 2003. Lim also endowed an Eye Genetics Research Center (named after him) at the CUHK in 2004.
Lim was an adviser to Beijing on Hong Kong affairs. He also served on the Preparatory Committee and Selection Committee of the SAR. He was a founding member of the Better Hong Kong Foundation.
200 million in bribes to several officials of the Taipei County Land Administration Bureau, including its former director.
Lim owned some land originally slated for farming and industrial use. After Lim bought it, officials allocated the land for the new National Taipei University
, allowing him to sell the land back to Taipei County
for more than NT$890 million (US$28.6 million), an estimated NT$300 million above market value. He is alleged to have bribed officials to rezone the land.
In 1999, he was found guilty on charges of bribery
and money laundering
through the land deals, but his prison sentence of 38 months was reduced by one year. His appeal of this conviction was still under consideration at the time of his death.
His second wife, U Po-chu (余寶珠), is a 50-year veteran of the garment industry, and is a non-executive director of Lai Sun Garment. His third wife is Gu Shui-ying (顧瑞英) and his fourth wife is Choy Yim-yu (蔡艷如).
Lim's eldest son, Lam Kin-ming (林建名), works for Lai Sun's Crocodile Garments
."林建名將繼續協助林建岳打理鱷魚恤業務。養子林建康則負責內地地產業務的麗豐控股(1125.HK)。" His second son, by his second wife, U Po-chu, is Peter Lam
(林建岳) head of Media Asia Group and the Lai Sun Group. Their relations were under considerable strain when Peter acquired Furama Hotel Enterprises without consulting him. Lim Por-yen also had a daughter, Pearl, from whom he was estranged, reportedly due to debts incurred from a property investment."曾被林百欣視為掌上明珠的愛女林明珠，因一樁房地產投資引發的債務問題與林百欣對簿公堂。" He has an adopted son, Lam Kin-hong (林建康), who is responsible for mainland property investments in Hong Kong listed Lai Fung Holdings
On 10 December 2004, he gifted his 33.73% stake in Lai Sun Internatational equally to Peter and his mother."去年12月14日，林百欣將其持有的麗新係控股公司麗新國際(0191.HK)全部共33.73%股權，以饋贈形式贈予妻子余寶珠及次子林建岳(余寶珠為林建岳生母)，每人一半。"
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...
textiles tycoon and banker. He founded the Lai Sun Group (麗新集團), and his family was the biggest shareholder of Asia Television (ATV).
Biography
Lim Por-yen was born in Chaoyang, GuangdongGuangdong
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 moved to Hong Kong with his father in 1931."1914年生於潮陽的林百欣，1931年隨父移居香港，1939年開始在九龍城創業。"
In 1945, and started a factory manufacturing garments in Sham Shui Po
Sham Shui Po
Sham Shui Po, or Shamshuipo, is an area of Sham Shui Po District, Hong Kong, situated in the northwestern part of the Kowloon Peninsula, north of Tai Kok Tsui, east of Cheung Sha Wan and south of Shek Kip Mei. Sham Shui Po is known for its street market for electronic devices.-History:Sham Shui Po...
for export. Lim earned himself the nickname of "African King" in the 1950s when he exported cheap military uniforms to African countries. His company, Lai Sun Garment, was founded in 1947, and later listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange
Hong Kong Stock Exchange
The Hong Kong Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in Hong Kong. It is Asia's third largest stock exchange in terms of market capitalization behind the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the Shanghai Stock Exchange and fifth largest in the world...
.
He successfully diversified into real estate in 1987 when he set up another vehicle, Lai Sun Development
Lai Sun Development
Lai Sun Development is a public company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange established in 1987 by the textiles magnate Lim Por-yen. His company, Lai Sun Garment, was founded in 1947, is also listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange...
. In the same year, Lai Sun acquired the Crocodile Garments
Crocodile Garments
Crocodile Garments is a textile and garments company in Hong Kong. Crocodile Garments was founded by the late Dr. Chan Shun in 1952.- History :Chan sold the business in 1987 to Lai Sun Garment, controlled by the late billionnaire Lim Por Yen....
business."1987年，麗新收購成立於1952年“鱷魚恤”，又追加近10億港元投資，繼而拓展日本市場。"
Public service and philanthropy
Deeply attached to his hometown and mainland China, he would start a massive program of donations in the 1980s. He founded four secondary schools in ShantouShantou
Shantou , historically known as Swatow or Suátao, is a prefecture-level city on the eastern coast of Guangdong province, People's Republic of China, with a total population of 5,391,028 as of 2010 and an administrative area of...
. In 1994, he would found a technical college there with a donation of ¥
Chinese yuan
The yuan is the base unit of a number of modern Chinese currencies. The yuan is the primary unit of account of the Renminbi.A yuán is also known colloquially as a kuài . One yuán is divided into 10 jiǎo or colloquially máo...
35 million, and endowed Shantou City Education Foundation with a further ¥10 million."從上世紀80年代開始，林百欣就相繼在汕頭市捐建四所林百欣中學。1994年又捐款3500萬元建了汕頭林百欣科技中專，還在同年捐資1000萬元人民幣給了汕頭市教育基金會。" He is said to have made in excess of ¥700 million in donations to causes throughout China, of which Shantou's share was more than half."據不完全統計，林百欣在北京、上海、廣州、汕頭和中山等地捐辦各種公益事業，總金額達人民幣7億元以上，僅在家鄉汕頭就有3.8億元。" He has been a supported of education in Hong Kong by setting up several schools.
He also donated to the University of Hong Kong's SARS Fund and helped to establish the Jao Tsung-I Petite Ecole. His support of the HKU Foundation and to the university in general over th eyears earned him an honorary fellowship in 2003. Lim also endowed an Eye Genetics Research Center (named after him) at the CUHK in 2004.
Lim was an adviser to Beijing on Hong Kong affairs. He also served on the Preparatory Committee and Selection Committee of the SAR. He was a founding member of the Better Hong Kong Foundation.
Corruption conviction
Lim was implicated in the largest bribery scandal in Taiwan at the time. Lim was arrested by Taiwan's Bureau of Investigation on accusations that he offered NT$New Taiwan dollar
The New Taiwan dollar , or simply Taiwan dollar, is the official currency of the Taiwan Area of the Republic of China since 1949, when it replaced the Old Taiwan dollar...
200 million in bribes to several officials of the Taipei County Land Administration Bureau, including its former director.
Lim owned some land originally slated for farming and industrial use. After Lim bought it, officials allocated the land for the new National Taipei University
National Taipei University
National Taipei University is a public university in New Taipei, Taiwan , founded in 1949. Before 2000, the University was named the College of Law and Business, National Chung Hsing University . The University main campus is in Sanxia District, New Taipei City, Taiwan...
, allowing him to sell the land back to Taipei County
Taipei County
New Taipei City is the most populous city of Taiwan. The area includes a substantial stretch of Taiwan's northern coastline and surrounds the Taipei Basin...
for more than NT$890 million (US$28.6 million), an estimated NT$300 million above market value. He is alleged to have bribed officials to rezone the land.
In 1999, he was found guilty on charges of bribery
Bribery
Bribery, a form of corruption, is an act implying money or gift giving that alters the behavior of the recipient. Bribery constitutes a crime and is defined by Black's Law Dictionary as the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official or...
and money laundering
Money laundering
Money laundering is the process of disguising illegal sources of money so that it looks like it came from legal sources. The methods by which money may be laundered are varied and can range in sophistication. Many regulatory and governmental authorities quote estimates each year for the amount...
through the land deals, but his prison sentence of 38 months was reduced by one year. His appeal of this conviction was still under consideration at the time of his death.
Personal
Lim was married four times, and had seven children."林百欣一生有四位妻子，共有七名子女，並收養一名養子" His is legally and officially married to his first wife, Lai Yuen-fong (賴元芳) .His second wife, U Po-chu (余寶珠), is a 50-year veteran of the garment industry, and is a non-executive director of Lai Sun Garment. His third wife is Gu Shui-ying (顧瑞英) and his fourth wife is Choy Yim-yu (蔡艷如).
Lim's eldest son, Lam Kin-ming (林建名), works for Lai Sun's Crocodile Garments
Crocodile Garments
Crocodile Garments is a textile and garments company in Hong Kong. Crocodile Garments was founded by the late Dr. Chan Shun in 1952.- History :Chan sold the business in 1987 to Lai Sun Garment, controlled by the late billionnaire Lim Por Yen....
."林建名將繼續協助林建岳打理鱷魚恤業務。養子林建康則負責內地地產業務的麗豐控股(1125.HK)。" His second son, by his second wife, U Po-chu, is Peter Lam
Peter Lam
Peter Lam Kin-ngok , son of industrialist tycoon Lim Por-yen and his second wife, U Po-chu, is the Chairman & CEO of Media Asia Entertainment Group.-2008 Speeding offense:...
(林建岳) head of Media Asia Group and the Lai Sun Group. Their relations were under considerable strain when Peter acquired Furama Hotel Enterprises without consulting him. Lim Por-yen also had a daughter, Pearl, from whom he was estranged, reportedly due to debts incurred from a property investment."曾被林百欣視為掌上明珠的愛女林明珠，因一樁房地產投資引發的債務問題與林百欣對簿公堂。" He has an adopted son, Lam Kin-hong (林建康), who is responsible for mainland property investments in Hong Kong listed Lai Fung Holdings
On 10 December 2004, he gifted his 33.73% stake in Lai Sun Internatational equally to Peter and his mother."去年12月14日，林百欣將其持有的麗新係控股公司麗新國際(0191.HK)全部共33.73%股權，以饋贈形式贈予妻子余寶珠及次子林建岳(余寶珠為林建岳生母)，每人一半。"