Allan Zeman
Encyclopedia
Allan Zeman GBM
, GBS
, JP
(Chinese name
: 盛智文; born 1949) is a Hong Kong billionaire businessman. He was born in Germany
, raised in Canada
and is of Jewish
descent. He is known in Hong Kong
as the Father of Lan Kwai Fong
(蘭桂坊之父).
, Germany
; and was raised in Montreal
, Canada
, where his mother worked in a hospital. Allan Zeman's father died when he was eight years old, and he started working at the age of ten. He dropped out of college, and by the age of nineteen, while working for a lingerie company, he had earned his first C$1 million. He made this first fortune by importing clothes from Hong Kong. As he frequently travelled to Hong Kong for work in the 1970s, he eventually moved to the territory in 1975. Zeman is married and has two grown children.
He speaks English, French and some Cantonese
, and he is a teetotaler.
In the early 1980s, Zeman felt that Hong Kong had no western restaurant that suited his needs, so in 1983 he opened California Restaurant in Lan Kwai Fong
, a narrow street in Central
. He bought the entire block in 1984 and thus launched his career as both an entertainment operator and property developer. Through Lan Kwai Fong Holdings Ltd, of which he is chairman, he drove the development of Lan Kwai Fong to be one of the most important bar
and night life districts in Hong Kong. He is now said to own 65 percent of the district's properties.
Meanwhile, as chairman of Lan Kwai Fong Concepts Holdings Ltd., he controls a number of restaurants in Lan Kwai Fong including California, California Coffee, China Lan Kwai Fong, Indochine, Tokio Joe, Cafe des Artistes, Tutta Luna, Jazz Club, Thai Lemongrass, BACI, BACI Pizza and Luna Di Notte.
In 2004, Zeman was invited by the then-Chief Executive of Hong Kong
, Tung Chee-hwa, to become the chairman of Ocean Park
. He managed to raise visitor numbers despite the opening of rival Hong Kong Disneyland
, making the park more attractive and, remarkably, the park generated record profits.
A 2007 Forbes
article, refers to Zeman as "Hong Kong's Mouse Killer" because of the success that Ocean Park
is having while Hong Kong Disneyland struggles.
In 2001, he was appointed a Justice of the Peace
in Hong Kong, in 2004, he was awarded the Gold Bauhinia Star
and in 2011 he was awarded the Grand Bauhinia Star
.
, and is also involved with After Dark Films, a movie company.
).
.
. He is a non-executive director of Pacific Century Premium Developments Ltd.
camp, believing that "the government is very misunderstood."
He supported Regina Ip
, the controversial former Secretary for Security
in the 2007 Legco by-election in the Hong Kong Island constituency
. However, she was defeated by Anson Chan
He is a long-standing member of the Board of Governors of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the Economic and Employment Council in Hong Kong. He is a board member of the Tourism Strategy Group for the Hong Kong Tourism Commission, the Cultural and Heritage Commission and the Urban Renewal Authority
.
He is also a member of the International Events Fund Steering Committee for the Hong Kong Tourism Board
, and of the Cultural and Heritage Commission. Also he has been appointed as a member of the Services Promotion Strategy Group, chaired by the Financial Secretary
. Zeman is also on the Board of Hong Kong Arts Festival
and Hong Kong Community Chest
.
and became a naturalised citizen of the People's Republic of China
, as he said he has lived and worked in Hong Kong for 38 years and has always considered it to be his home. The Chinese citizenship, combined with his right of abode in Hong Kong, enables him to hold a Home Return Permit
for entering mainland China
, and a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport for international travel. He is now also eligible for taking up political office in Hong Kong. Internet users encouraged him to participate in the 2012 Hong Kong Chief Executive election. However Zeman does not have this kind of interest.
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...
, 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...
(Chinese name
Chinese name
Personal names in Chinese culture follow a number of conventions different from those of personal names in Western cultures. Most noticeably, a Chinese name is written with the family name first and the given name next, therefore "John-Paul Smith" as a Chinese name would be "Smith John-Paul"...
: 盛智文; born 1949) is a Hong Kong billionaire businessman. He was born in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, raised in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and is of Jewish
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
descent. He is known 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...
as the Father of Lan Kwai Fong
Lan Kwai Fong
Lan Kwai Fong is a small square of streets in Central, Hong Kong. The area was dedicated to hawkers before the Second World War, but underwent a renaissance in the mid 1980s. It is now a popular expatriate haunt in Hong Kong for drinking, clubbing and dining...
(蘭桂坊之父).
Background and personal life
Allan Zeman was born in RegensburgRegensburg
Regensburg is a city in Bavaria, Germany, located at the confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers, at the northernmost bend in the Danube. To the east lies the Bavarian Forest. Regensburg is the capital of the Bavarian administrative region Upper Palatinate...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
; and was raised in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, where his mother worked in a hospital. Allan Zeman's father died when he was eight years old, and he started working at the age of ten. He dropped out of college, and by the age of nineteen, while working for a lingerie company, he had earned his first C$1 million. He made this first fortune by importing clothes from Hong Kong. As he frequently travelled to Hong Kong for work in the 1970s, he eventually moved to the territory in 1975. Zeman is married and has two grown children.
He speaks English, French and some Cantonese
Cantonese
Cantonese is a dialect spoken primarily in south China.Cantonese may also refer to:* Yue Chinese, the Chinese language that includes Cantonese* Cantonese cuisine, the cuisine of Guangdong province...
, and he is a teetotaler.
Career
In 1975, Zeman founded Colby International Group to source clothing in China and export it to Canada. In late 2000, by now a much larger and diversified company, Colby was sold to Li & Fung Ltd., a major competitor.In the early 1980s, Zeman felt that Hong Kong had no western restaurant that suited his needs, so in 1983 he opened California Restaurant in Lan Kwai Fong
Lan Kwai Fong
Lan Kwai Fong is a small square of streets in Central, Hong Kong. The area was dedicated to hawkers before the Second World War, but underwent a renaissance in the mid 1980s. It is now a popular expatriate haunt in Hong Kong for drinking, clubbing and dining...
, a narrow street in Central
Central, Hong Kong
Central is the central business district of Hong Kong. It is located in Central and Western District, on the north shore of Hong Kong Island, across Victoria Harbour from Tsim Sha Tsui, the southernmost point of Kowloon Peninsula...
. He bought the entire block in 1984 and thus launched his career as both an entertainment operator and property developer. Through Lan Kwai Fong Holdings Ltd, of which he is chairman, he drove the development of Lan Kwai Fong to be one of the most important bar
Bar (establishment)
A bar is a business establishment that serves alcoholic drinks — beer, wine, liquor, and cocktails — for consumption on the premises.Bars provide stools or chairs that are placed at tables or counters for their patrons. Some bars have entertainment on a stage, such as a live band, comedians, go-go...
and night life districts in Hong Kong. He is now said to own 65 percent of the district's properties.
Meanwhile, as chairman of Lan Kwai Fong Concepts Holdings Ltd., he controls a number of restaurants in Lan Kwai Fong including California, California Coffee, China Lan Kwai Fong, Indochine, Tokio Joe, Cafe des Artistes, Tutta Luna, Jazz Club, Thai Lemongrass, BACI, BACI Pizza and Luna Di Notte.
In 2004, Zeman was invited by the then-Chief Executive of Hong Kong
Chief Executive of Hong Kong
The Chief Executive of Hong Kong is the President of the Executive Council of Hong Kong and head of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The position was created to replace the Governor of Hong Kong, who was the head of the Hong Kong government during British rule...
, Tung Chee-hwa, to become the chairman of Ocean Park
Ocean Park Hong Kong
Ocean Park Hong Kong , commonly known as Ocean Park, is a marine mammal park, oceanarium, animal theme park and amusement park, situated in Wong Chuk Hang and Nam Long Shan in the Southern District of Hong Kong. Founded in 1977 by the then Governor of Hong Kong Sir Murray MacLehose, Ocean Park has...
. He managed to raise visitor numbers despite the opening of rival Hong Kong Disneyland
Hong Kong Disneyland
Hong Kong Disneyland is located on reclaimed land in Penny's Bay, Lantau Island. It is the first theme park located inside the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and is owned and managed by the Hong Kong International Theme Parks. The park opened to visitors on 12 September 2005...
, making the park more attractive and, remarkably, the park generated record profits.
A 2007 Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
article, refers to Zeman as "Hong Kong's Mouse Killer" because of the success that Ocean Park
Ocean Park Hong Kong
Ocean Park Hong Kong , commonly known as Ocean Park, is a marine mammal park, oceanarium, animal theme park and amusement park, situated in Wong Chuk Hang and Nam Long Shan in the Southern District of Hong Kong. Founded in 1977 by the then Governor of Hong Kong Sir Murray MacLehose, Ocean Park has...
is having while Hong Kong Disneyland struggles.
In 2001, he was appointed a Justice of the Peace
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...
in Hong Kong, in 2004, he was awarded the Gold Bauhinia Star
Hong Kong honours system
The existing Hong Kong honours system was created after transfer of government of Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China as a special administrative region in 1997...
and in 2011 he was awarded the Grand Bauhinia Star
Hong Kong honours system
The existing Hong Kong honours system was created after transfer of government of Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China as a special administrative region in 1997...
.
Film and TV
A noted film producer, Zeman is chairman of Sweetpea Entertainment Inc. a film production company based in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, and is also involved with After Dark Films, a movie company.
Fashion
As well as having built and sold off the successful Colby group, Zeman is also a director of Algo Group, another fashion business. In February 2007, he was named Stylemaker of the Year by Style Magazine (published by the South China Morning PostSouth China Morning Post
The South China Morning Post , together with its Sunday edition, the Sunday Morning Post, is an English-language Hong Kong newspaper, published by the SCMP Group with a circulation of 104,000....
).
Property Development
Zeman is a property developer and built the Andara Resort in Phuket, ThailandThailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
.
Other
Zeman is chairman of Mesco Shipyard Ltd (shipbuilding) and DKA Ltd (public relations), and a director of Wynn ResortsWynn Resorts
Wynn Resorts Limited is a publicly traded corporation based in Paradise, Nevada that is a developer and operator of high end hotels and casinos. It was formed on October 25, 2002 by former Mirage Resorts Chairman and CEO Stephen A...
. He is a non-executive director of Pacific Century Premium Developments Ltd.
Political activity
Zeman is actively pro-Government, and while that means he is often viewed as pro-Beijing, he himself says that he is "pro-Hong Kong". He is cautious about universal suffrage, suggesting that "It's not possible for it to happen overnight." He is also disappointed by the high levels of support for the democraticLiberal democracy
Liberal democracy, also known as constitutional democracy, is a common form of representative democracy. According to the principles of liberal democracy, elections should be free and fair, and the political process should be competitive...
camp, believing that "the government is very misunderstood."
He supported Regina Ip
Regina Ip
Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, GBS JP is a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong , as well as the co-founder and current chairwoman of the New People's Party and Savantas Policy Institute....
, the controversial former Secretary for Security
Secretary for Security
The Secretary for Security is the member of the Hong Kong Government in charge of the Security Bureau, which is responsible for public safety, security, and immigration matters....
in the 2007 Legco by-election in the Hong Kong Island constituency
Hong Kong Island by-election, 2007
The Hong Kong Island by-election, 2007 was precipitated by the death of the then chairman of the Pro-Beijing DAB, Ma Lik on 8 August 2007.It was the second by-election in a geographical constituency to be held since the transfer of sovereignty in 1997 and the largest remainder proportional...
. However, she was defeated by Anson Chan
Anson Chan
Anson Maria Elizabeth Chan Fang On-sang GBM GCMG CBE JP was a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong for Hong Kong Island, succeeding the late legislator Ma Lik....
Official positions
Zeman is prominent in government circles, sitting on various committees, boards and advisory bodies.He is a long-standing member of the Board of Governors of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the Economic and Employment Council in Hong Kong. He is a board member of the Tourism Strategy Group for the Hong Kong Tourism Commission, the Cultural and Heritage Commission and the Urban Renewal Authority
Urban Renewal Authority
The Urban Renewal Authority is a statutory body in Hong Kong responsible for accelerating redevelopment to provide a better living environment and neighbourhood.-History:...
.
He is also a member of the International Events Fund Steering Committee for the Hong Kong Tourism Board
Hong Kong Tourism Board
The Hong Kong Tourism Board is a Government-subvented body founded in 2001. The Board replaced the Hong Kong Tourist Association established in 1957...
, and of the Cultural and Heritage Commission. Also he has been appointed as a member of the Services Promotion Strategy Group, chaired by the Financial Secretary
Financial Secretary (Hong Kong)
Financial Secretary , often abbreviated as FS, is a position of the Government of Hong Kong. The FS assists the Chief Executive in supervising the policy bureaux as directed by the CE, mostly finance and economy-related, and plays a key role in ensuring harmonisation in policy formulation and...
. Zeman is also on the Board of Hong Kong Arts Festival
Hong Kong Arts Festival
Hong Kong Arts Festival , founded in 1973, is a focus programmes for the Culture of Hong Kong, in order to provides a wide range of art programmes from all over the world....
and Hong Kong Community Chest
The Community Chest of Hong Kong
The Community Chest of Hong Kong is an independent, non-profit organisation. It was established on 8 November 1968 in Hong Kong. As one of the most important charities in Hong Kong, The Community Chest serves as an umbrella organisation to provide grants to a wide range of community projects...
.
Citizenship
Zeman has long held the right of abode in Hong Kong, a status which citizens of any country has been able to obtain since 1997 (under British rule, only ethnic Chinese were allowed to hold Right of Abode under rules that were never clearly defined, but this changed after control of Hong Kong was given to Beijing in 1997); this entitled him to a Hong Kong permanent identity card. In addition, in September 2008, Zeman renounced his Canadian citizenshipCanadian nationality law
Canadian citizenship is typically obtained by birth in Canada, birth abroad when at least one parent is a Canadian citizen and was born or naturalized in Canada, or by adoption abroad by at least one Canadian citizen. It can also be granted to a permanent resident who lives in Canada for three out...
and became a naturalised citizen of the People's Republic of China
Nationality Law of the People's Republic of China
The Nationality Law of the People's Republic of China regulates citizenship in the People's Republic of China . Such citizenship is obtained by birth when at least one parent is of Chinese nationality or by naturalization....
, as he said he has lived and worked in Hong Kong for 38 years and has always considered it to be his home. The Chinese citizenship, combined with his right of abode in Hong Kong, enables him to hold a Home Return Permit
Home Return Permit
A ‘Home Return Permit’ , also referred to as a ‘Home Visit Permit’ or ‘China Back Home Pass’ , is the colloquial name for the national identity document officially known as the Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents issued to PRC citizens who are permanent residents of Hong Kong...
for entering mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
, and a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport for international travel. He is now also eligible for taking up political office in Hong Kong. Internet users encouraged him to participate in the 2012 Hong Kong Chief Executive election. However Zeman does not have this kind of interest.
External links
- Serving with Passion: Lan Kwai Fong A South China Morning Post vidcast featuring an interview with Allan Zeman, dated May 29, 2007, where he tells the creation story of Hong Kong's famous entertainment district.
- Ying Ying and Le Le come to Hong Kong A South China Morning Post vidcast showing the arrival of Hong Kong's new pandas. Ocean ParkOcean Park Hong KongOcean Park Hong Kong , commonly known as Ocean Park, is a marine mammal park, oceanarium, animal theme park and amusement park, situated in Wong Chuk Hang and Nam Long Shan in the Southern District of Hong Kong. Founded in 1977 by the then Governor of Hong Kong Sir Murray MacLehose, Ocean Park has...
chairman Allan Zeman explains their significance. Dated April 28, 2007. - Hong Kong shows its style A South China Morning Post vidcast, dated January 20, 1997, showed Allan Zeman's reaction at being named Stylemaker of the Year.