Thomas Kwok

This is a Chinese name; the family name is Kwok.
Kwok Ping-kwong, Thomas
郭炳江
Born 1951 (age 64–65)
Portuguese Macau
Residence Hong Kong
Education London Business School
Imperial College
Occupation Former joint-chairman of Sun Hung Kai Properties
Net worth Decrease US$16.3 billion (with brother, as of June 2015)[1]
Children Adam Kwok
Parent(s) Kwok Tak Seng (father)
Kwong Siu-hing (mother)
Relatives Brother - Walter Kwok, Raymond Kwok

Thomas Kwok Ping-kwong SBS, JP (Chinese: 郭炳江; pinyin: Guō Bǐngjiāng; Cantonese Yale: Gwok Bínggōng; born 1951 in Portuguese Macau) was the Joint-Chairman and Managing Director of Sun Hung Kai Properties, the largest property developer in Hong Kong, with his brother Raymond Kwok.[2]

Biography

Thomas is the second son of Kwok Tak Seng, the founder of SHK Properties, and his wife Kwong Siu-hing. Together with brothers Walter and Raymond, they inherited Sun Hung Kai Properties, Hong Kong's largest real estate developer, in 1990 following their father's death.[3] The Kwok brothers are the third wealthiest people in Hong Kong and Greater China Region, just after Li Ka Shing and Lee Shau Kee. Their combined wealth is estimated to be US$17 billion in Forbes' 2010 list of billionaires. [4] Thomas holds a Master of Business Administration degree from London Business School, University of London and a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from Imperial College, University of London.[5]

Arrest and conviction

The two brothers were arrested by the Independent Commission Against Corruption on bribery charges in March 2012.[6][7] They were accused of bribing Rafael Hui, the former Chief Secretary for Administration from 2005 to 2007, to be their "eyes and ears in government" in a case said to highlight "the cozy relationship between the city's powerful developers and government".[8]

In December 2014, Thomas Kwok was convicted of "conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office," while his brother Raymond was cleared of all charges. Thomas was sentenced to five years in prison and a fine of $500,000. Rafael Hui, Sun Hung Kai executive Thomas Chan and businessman Francis Kwan were also jailed.[9] After the verdict was announced, Kwok stated his immediate resignation as chairman, managing director and executive director of Sun Hung Kai and said he would appeal the conviction.[8]

Religion

Thomas Kwok is a Christian. The Noah's Ark project on Ma Wan reflects Thomas Kwok's evangelical Christian faith. During the 1990s, he set up a church on the 75th-floor pyramid atrium atop Sun Hung Kai's Central Plaza office complex.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "The World's Billionaires (2010): #28 Kwok family". Forbes. March 3, 2010. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
  2. ↑ Sun Hung Kai Profit Jumps; Chairwoman to Retire Wall Street Journal, by Polly Lui. 16 September 2011.
  3. ↑ "Thomas and Raymond Kwok", Forbes. Accessed 21 January 2016.
  4. ↑ Thomas Kwok - Forbes, Forbes.com. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
  5. ↑ Profile of Thomas Kwok
  6. ↑ "Kwok brothers arrested in Hong Kong on bribery charges". BBC News. 29 March 2012.
  7. ↑ "Tycoon brothers arrested in Hong Kong corruption probe". CNN. 29 March 2012.
  8. 1 2 Lee, Yimou; Ko, Lizzie (19 December 2014). "Hong Kong former official, property tycoon guilty in graft case". Reuters.
  9. ↑ Law, Stuart (23 December 2014). "Rafael Hui jailed for seven-and-a-half years; Thomas Kwok locked up for five years". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  10. ↑ Hong Kong Christens an Ark of Biblical Proportions The A-HED. By JONATHAN CHENG. Wall Street Journal. APRIL 14, 2009.


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