Kenneth Fung

Sir Kenneth Fung CBE, KStJ, LLD, DSocSc, JP
馮秉芬
Unofficial Member of the Executive Council of Hong Kong
In office 28 May 1962 – 30 June 1972
Appointed by	Sir Robert Black Sir David Trench
Preceded by	Chau Sik-nin
Succeeded by	Chung Sze-yuen
Unofficial Member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong
In office 8 July 1959 – 23 June 1965
Appointed by	Sir Robert Black Sir David Trench
Personal details
Born	28 May 1911 British Hong Kong
Died	16 May 2002 (aged 90) British Hong Kong
Spouse(s)	Ivy Fung Kan Shiu-han
Children	Kwan King-chiu Kwan King-hong Kwan Lai-yin Kwan Hing-yin
Alma mater	University of Hong Kong
Occupation	Businessman and politician

Sir Kenneth Fung Ping-fan, CBE, KStJ, LLD, DSocSc, JP (Chinese: 馮秉芬; 28 May 1911 – 16 May 2002) is a prominent Hong Kong politician and businessman.

Biography

Fung was born on 28 May 1911 to Fung Ping-shan, a co-founder of the Bank of East Asia,^[1] with his twin brother Fung Ping-wah. He graduated from School of Chinese Studies at the University of Hong Kong in 1931.^[2]

He took up his family business after his father's death in 1931, becoming the general manager and the director of his family business, the Bank of East Asia. At 28, Fung also established Fung Ping Fan Group, which in 1975 bought a McDonald's franchise and introduced the fast-food chain to what was then British colony of Hong Kong.^[1] He was also co-founded the Ocean Park Hong Kong and was founding chairman of the park.

From 1951 to 1960, he was the appointed unofficial member of the Urban Council of Hong Kong. He was appointed to the Legislative Council of Hong Kong in 1959, in which he served until 1965. From 1962 to 1972, he was the unofficial member of the Executive Council of Hong Kong. For his public services in Hong Kong, Fung was knighted in 1971.

Fung was the founder and president of Hong Kong's World Wide Fund for Nature and was district governor of Rotary International.^[1] He was among the first members of the Photographic Society of Hong Kong when it was formed in 1937.^[3] He was involved closely in the work of the Scout movement and of the Y.M.C.A. He is a past Commissioner of the St. John Ambulance Brigade and was the first Chairman of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme in Hong Kong. he became a member of the Court of the University of Hong Kong in 1948. In 1969, he was given an honorary degree of Doctor of Social Sciences.^[4]

Fung died on 16 May 2002 at the Hong Kong Adventist Hospital, aged 92.^[1] He married Ivy Kan Shiu-han and was survived by his four sons and one daughter.^[3]

References

1. "K. Fung Ping-fan, 92; Brought McDonald's to Hong Kong". Los Angeles Times. 20 May 2002.
2. Growing with Hong Kong: The University and Its Graduates : the First 90 Years. Hong Kong University Press. 2002. p. 65.
3. "SIR KENNETH FUNG PING-FAN DIES AT 92". Associated Press. 19 May 2002.
4. "The Hon Sir Kenneth FUNG Ping Fan". The University of Hong Kong.