Gordon Wu
Encyclopedia
Sir Gordon Ying Sheung Wu, GBS
, KCMG
, FICE
is the chairman of the board of Hong Kong
-listed Asian infrastructure firm Hopewell Holdings Ltd.
Born in Hong Kong
in 1935, Wu has been an advocate for more than two decades for the construction of Asia's largest bridge project linking Hong Kong, Macau
and China's Zhuhai
city. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge
project was given support by the PRC
government in August 2003.
Since the 1980s, Wu has steered Hopewell Holdings towards developing his vision of creating an advanced transport system for China's manufacturing powerhouse in the Pearl River Delta
, which includes much of Guangdong
province and makes use of its proximity to Hong Kong to access professional services and logistics.
The bridge will span two man-made islands, allowing it to go through an undersea tunnel and let shipping pass. The concept is based on the existing Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel
in Virginia
, United States
.
Wu has predicted that commercial development in Hong Kong will focus upon the growth of four major pillar industries including retailing, tourism and logistics. He predicts a diminishing role for the property and textiles industries (source: October 2001, Logistics, Hong Kong Productivity Council).
, where he currently serves as a Trustee, with a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering in 1958. Before that, he attended Wah Yan College, Hong Kong
, an eminent Jesuit school in Hong Kong
.
As one of the founders of Hopewell, he was the managing director from 1972 to 2002. In January 2002, he retired as the managing director of the company but remains as the chairman of the board. He was responsible for Hopewell's infrastructure projects in mainland China
and Southeast Asia
and has been involved in the design and construction of many buildings and development projects in Hong Kong and mainland China.
In 1984, Wu donated a worth of US$5 million of his company shares to Princeton University
and formed a charity fund. Wu also pledged US$100 million to the university, a sum he planned to make available for university use in 2008, on the occasion of his 50th reunion. In a talk given in October 2006, however, Wu revealed intentions of making the contribution available to the university sooner. He completed this pledge, with the last payment in 2006/2007. He is also the chairman of Hopewell Highway Infrastructure Limited, subsidiary of Hopewell listed on August 2003, and an independent non-executive director
of i-Cable Communications Limited.
, University of Strathclyde
and University of Edinburgh
.
He is Chairman of the Council of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University
.
by direct election.
region of Guangdong
Province in mainland China
. Four toll road projects are in operation while construction of the 15 km Phase I of the Guangzhou
-Zhuhai
West Superhighway (Guangzhou to Shunde
section) commenced in December 2001. All of the projects are in the form of co-operative joint venture
s between Hopewell and China partners.
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...
, KCMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, FICE
Institution of Civil Engineers
Founded on 2 January 1818, the Institution of Civil Engineers is an independent professional association, based in central London, representing civil engineering. Like its early membership, the majority of its current members are British engineers, but it also has members in more than 150...
is the chairman of the board of 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...
-listed Asian infrastructure firm Hopewell Holdings Ltd.
Born 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...
in 1935, Wu has been an advocate for more than two decades for the construction of Asia's largest bridge project linking Hong Kong, Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
and China's Zhuhai
Zhuhai
Zhuhai is a prefecture-level city on the southern coast of Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in the Pearl River Delta, Zhuhai borders Jiangmen to the northwest, Zhongshan to the north, and Macau to the south. Zhuhai was one of the original Special Economic Zones...
city. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge
Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge
The in-construction Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge is a series of bridges and tunnels that will connect the west side of Hong Kong to Macau and the Guangdong province city of Zhuhai, which are situated on the west side of the Pearl River Delta. The proposed link is expected to cost US$10.7 billion....
project was given support by the PRC
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
government in August 2003.
Since the 1980s, Wu has steered Hopewell Holdings towards developing his vision of creating an advanced transport system for China's manufacturing powerhouse in the Pearl River Delta
Pearl River Delta
The Pearl River Delta , Zhujiang Delta or Zhusanjiao in Guangdong province, People's Republic of China is the low-lying area surrounding the Pearl River estuary where the Pearl River flows into the South China Sea...
, which includes much of 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...
province and makes use of its proximity to Hong Kong to access professional services and logistics.
The bridge will span two man-made islands, allowing it to go through an undersea tunnel and let shipping pass. The concept is based on the existing Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel is a long fixed link crossing the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and connecting the Delmarva Peninsula's Eastern Shore of Virginia with Virginia Beach and the metropolitan area of Hampton Roads, Virginia...
in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Wu has predicted that commercial development in Hong Kong will focus upon the growth of four major pillar industries including retailing, tourism and logistics. He predicts a diminishing role for the property and textiles industries (source: October 2001, Logistics, Hong Kong Productivity Council).
Educational background
Wu graduated from Princeton UniversityPrinceton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, where he currently serves as a Trustee, with a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering in 1958. Before that, he attended Wah Yan College, Hong Kong
Wah Yan College, Hong Kong
Wah Yan College, Hong Kong is an eminent grant-in-aid secondary school in Hong Kong. It was founded on 16 December 1919, by Tsui Yan Sau Peter . It is a Roman Catholic secondary school for boys run by the Chinese Province of the Society of Jesus...
, an eminent Jesuit school 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 one of the founders of Hopewell, he was the managing director from 1972 to 2002. In January 2002, he retired as the managing director of the company but remains as the chairman of the board. He was responsible for Hopewell's infrastructure projects in 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 Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
and has been involved in the design and construction of many buildings and development projects in Hong Kong and mainland China.
In 1984, Wu donated a worth of US$5 million of his company shares to Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
and formed a charity fund. Wu also pledged US$100 million to the university, a sum he planned to make available for university use in 2008, on the occasion of his 50th reunion. In a talk given in October 2006, however, Wu revealed intentions of making the contribution available to the university sooner. He completed this pledge, with the last payment in 2006/2007. He is also the chairman of Hopewell Highway Infrastructure Limited, subsidiary of Hopewell listed on August 2003, and an independent non-executive director
Non-executive director
A non-executive director or outside director is a member of the board of directors of a company who does not form part of the executive management team. He or she is not an employee of the company or affiliated with it in any other way...
of i-Cable Communications Limited.
Honours
He received Honorary Doctorate degrees from Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityHong Kong Polytechnic University
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University specialises in professional education in Hong Kong. The University’s teaching units are grouped under six faculties and two schools; the Faculty of Applied Science and Textiles, Faculty of Business, Faculty of Construction and Environment, Faculty of...
, University of Strathclyde
University of Strathclyde
The University of Strathclyde , Glasgow, Scotland, is Glasgow's second university by age, founded in 1796, and receiving its Royal Charter in 1964 as the UK's first technological university...
and University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
.
He is Chairman of the Council of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Hong Kong Polytechnic University
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University specialises in professional education in Hong Kong. The University’s teaching units are grouped under six faculties and two schools; the Faculty of Applied Science and Textiles, Faculty of Business, Faculty of Construction and Environment, Faculty of...
.
Political stance
Gordon Wu formerly opposed accelerating the development of democracy in Hong Kong. But following the massive protest on 1 July 2003 in Hong Kong, he openly spoke about the possibility of electing the SAR Chief ExecutiveChief 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...
by direct election.
"A small number of people ... are against everything the SAR government wants to do and against everything that's from the central government. "They are also using such slogans as 'uprising' and 'liberation.' These show they have hidden purposes." (Gordon Wu, 4 March 2010)
Infrastructure
Hopewell is participating in the investment of five toll road projects with a total length of 360 km, all of which are located in the Pearl River DeltaPearl River Delta
The Pearl River Delta , Zhujiang Delta or Zhusanjiao in Guangdong province, People's Republic of China is the low-lying area surrounding the Pearl River estuary where the Pearl River flows into the South China Sea...
region of 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...
Province in 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...
. Four toll road projects are in operation while construction of the 15 km Phase I of the Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
-Zhuhai
Zhuhai
Zhuhai is a prefecture-level city on the southern coast of Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in the Pearl River Delta, Zhuhai borders Jiangmen to the northwest, Zhongshan to the north, and Macau to the south. Zhuhai was one of the original Special Economic Zones...
West Superhighway (Guangzhou to Shunde
Shunde
Shunde District is a district of Foshan prefecture-level city in the Pearl River Delta, Guangdong Province, southeast China.-Administration:Shunde was a county-level city until December 8, 2002, when it became a district of Foshan prefecture-level city...
section) commenced in December 2001. All of the projects are in the form of co-operative joint venture
Joint venture
A joint venture is a business agreement in which parties agree to develop, for a finite time, a new entity and new assets by contributing equity. They exercise control over the enterprise and consequently share revenues, expenses and assets...
s between Hopewell and China partners.
- Guangzhou-Shenzhen Superhighway
- Guangzhou East-South-West Ring Road
- Shunde Roads
- Shunde 105 Roads
- Guangzhou-Zhuhai West Superhighway
Property
Hopewell's property portfolio is mainly composed of commercial and residential premises in Hong Kong. These consist of more than 3.14 million square feet (292,000 m²) of gross area.- Hopewell CenterHopewell Centre, Hong KongHopewell Centre is a skyscraper in Hong Kong. It is located at 183 Queen's Road East, in Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island. It is the first circular skyscraper in Hong Kong. It is named after Hong Kong-listed property firm Hopewell Holdings Limited, which constructed the building...
- Hong Kong International Trade and Exhibition Center
- Nova Taipa GardensNova Taipa GardensNova Taipa Gardens is a properly development project in Taipa, Macau.The landford is Hopewell Holdings Ltd and Shun Tak Holdings Ltd. Nova Taipa Gardens includes Nova City....
--though this was sold in June 2008 to Hopewell's joint venture partner, Shun Tak Co, HK - Huanggang Service Area
Management
Sir Gordon's son, Thomas Jefferson Wu, is the managing director of Hopewell Holdings.Gordon Wu's affiliations in Hong Kong
- Chairman of the Council of Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityHong Kong Polytechnic UniversityThe Hong Kong Polytechnic University specialises in professional education in Hong Kong. The University’s teaching units are grouped under six faculties and two schools; the Faculty of Applied Science and Textiles, Faculty of Business, Faculty of Construction and Environment, Faculty of...
- Member of Commission on Strategic Development of the Hong Kong SAR
- Member of Hong Kong Logistic Development Council
- Advisor of Urban Renewal Authority
- Member of Hong Kong Trade Development CouncilHong Kong Trade Development CouncilThe Hong Kong Trade Development Council is the international marketing arm for Hong Kong-based manufacturers, traders and service providers. Established in 1966, it has more than 40 offices around the world, including 11 in the Chinese mainland, promoting Hong Kong as a platform for doing business...
- Vice President of Hong Kong Real Estate Developer's Association
Gordon Wu's affiliations in mainland China
- Member of Chinese People's Political Consultative ConferenceChinese People's Political Consultative ConferenceThe Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference [], shortened as 人民政协, Rénmín Zhèngxié, i.e. "People's PCC"; or just 政协, Zhèngxié, i.e. "The PCC"), abbreviated CPPCC, is a political advisory body in the People's Republic of China...
- Advisor of Xiamen Special Economic ZoneXiamen Special Economic ZoneXiamen Special Economic Zone , established in October 1980, is one of the five special economic zones in the People's Republic of China. Originally comprising a territory of 2.5 km² in Xiamen City, it was expanded to 131 km² in 1984, covering the entire Xiamen Island, which comprises Huli District...
, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and QinhuangdaoQinhuangdaoQinhuangdao is a port city in northeastern Hebei province of North China. It is about 300 km east of Beijing, on the Bohai Sea, the innermost gulf of the Yellow Sea....
Gordon Wu's international affiliations
- Member of Business Advisory Council to the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank GroupWorld Bank GroupThe World Bank Group is a family of five international organizations that makes leveraged loans, generally to poor countries.The Bank came into formal existence on 27 December 1945 following international ratification of the Bretton Woods agreements, which emerged from the United Nations Monetary...
- Member of APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC)
- Member of International Advisory Board of the Institute for International Business Communication, JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
Honorary citizenship
- The City of New Orleans, United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
- The City of GuangzhouGuangzhouGuangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
, PRC - The City of ShundeShundeShunde District is a district of Foshan prefecture-level city in the Pearl River Delta, Guangdong Province, southeast China.-Administration:Shunde was a county-level city until December 8, 2002, when it became a district of Foshan prefecture-level city...
, PRC - The City of Nanhai, PRC
- The City of ShenzhenShenzhenShenzhen is a major city in the south of Southern China's Guangdong Province, situated immediately north of Hong Kong. The area became China's first—and one of the most successful—Special Economic Zones...
, PRC - The City of Hua Du, PRC
- The Province of QuezonQuezon-History:Originally, what now forms Quezon was divided among the provinces of Batangas, Laguna, and Nueva Ecija. The area was first explored by Juan de Salcedo in 1571-1572, during his expedition from Laguna to Camarines provinces....
, the Republic of the Philippines
Trivia
- The world's most expensive truffle, a 1.51 kilogram rare White Alba truffle, was sold for 125,000 Euros (Hong Kong Dollar $1,250,000; US $160,000) on 13 November 2006 to Gordon Wu, who planned a charity dinner party at Toscana Restaurant at Ritz Carlton in Hong Kong. This price beats the previous world record of 95,000 Euros for a 1.21 kilogram White Alba truffle in 2005.
- The dining hall of Princeton UniversityPrinceton UniversityPrinceton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
's Butler residential collegeButler CollegeButler College is one of the six residential colleges of Princeton University, founded in 1983. It houses about 500 freshmen and sophomores, 100 juniors and seniors, 10 Resident Graduate Students, a faculty member in residence, as well as a small number of upperclass Residential College Advisors. ...
, built in 1983, is named for Wu. In 1995, Wu pledged a gift of $100 million to Princeton. http://www.princeton.edu/pr/news/97/q3/0701-wufellows.html http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9802E1DA1439F933A25752C1A963958260 - The Science and Mathematics Center at The Taft SchoolThe Taft SchoolThe Taft School is a private, coeducational prep school located in Watertown, Connecticut, USA. The school was founded by Horace Dutton Taft in 1890. It has 570 students, about 470 of whom live on the campus. Taft is a member of the Ten Schools Admissions Organization...
in Watertown, ConnecticutWatertown, ConnecticutWatertown is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 21,661 at the 2000 census. The zip code for Watertown is 06795. It is a suburb of Waterbury. It borders the towns of Woodbury, Middlebury, Litchfield, Plymouth, Bethlehem, and Thomaston.-Founding History:More...
is named for Sir Gordon Wu's wife, Lady Ivy Kwok Wu. - The Wah Yan College CatsWah Yan College CatsWah Yan College Cats is a non-profit organization in Wah Yan College, Hong Kong which aims at looking after homeless cats which appeared in the campus of the college. It is the first to adopt the concept of college cats in Hong Kong. The teacher adviser is Ivy Ip Li Lan-Hing...
rescue project is located in an animal shelter on the roof of Gordon Wu Hall, Wah Yan CollegeWah Yan College, Hong KongWah Yan College, Hong Kong is an eminent grant-in-aid secondary school in Hong Kong. It was founded on 16 December 1919, by Tsui Yan Sau Peter . It is a Roman Catholic secondary school for boys run by the Chinese Province of the Society of Jesus...
, Hong Kong.