The Hong Kong real estate tycoon, dubbed "Fourth Uncle", Li Ka-shing, the founder of Cheung Kong Holdings, has passed away.

On March 17, according to a news release from Hengda Holdings, Hengda Real Estate Co., Ltd. sadly announces that the group's founder, Li Zhaoqi, honored with the Grand Bauhinia Medal, peacefully passed away today at dusk (March 17, 2025), surrounded by family, at the age of ninety-seven.

The date of Li Ka-shing's funeral will be announced separately after the family arrangements are completed.

Li Ka-shing was named the richest Chinese and the richest in Asia on the Forbes rich list for three consecutive years in 1995, 1996, and 1997, and maintained the fourth position on the global rich list for two consecutive years. In 1995, he received the "Asia Entrepreneur Achievement Award". That same year, he was awarded the "Grand Bauhinia Medal" by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

In 2018, he became the richest person in Hong Kong with a wealth of 215 billion yuan. In 2020, he became the richest person in Hong Kong according to Forbes with a wealth of 30.4 billion US dollars. He was the founding figure of the four major families in Hong Kong and was referred to as the "real estate mogul", the "Asian stock god", and the "Warren Buffett of Hong Kong".

According to the official website of Cheung Kong Holdings, Dr. Li is passionate about education and cares for the youth. He has received numerous honorary degrees from domestic and foreign educational Institutions, including honorary board member positions at Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Fudan University, honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Hong Kong, honorary fellow of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, honorary Doctor of Business Administration from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, City University of Hong Kong, Metropolitan University of Hong Kong, East Asia University of Macau, honorary fellow of the Wharton School of the University of Oxford, and the Knight of Arts and Letters from the French government.

In 1982, Dr. Li founded the Peihua Education Fund, dedicated to training domestic leadership talent for national rejuvenation. Its influence is far-reaching, with alumni playing important roles in leadership positions. Dr. Li also donated to impactful large-scale training projects, such as the "Overseas Training Program for Thousands of University Presidents from Central and Western Regions" and the "Warm Project for One Million Farmers and Ten Thousand Rural Doctors Training Plan", and over the years has received recognition from the state and local governments, including honorary citizenship titles from cities like Beijing, Guangzhou, and Foshan, and was appointed by the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office as an advisor on Hong Kong affairs, as well as elected as a member of the Trustee Committee of the Hong Kong Tomorrow Better Fund.

Through the "Li Ka-shing Fund", Dr. Li has provided assistance to those in need for decades, with a strong emphasis on education. He has made significant contributions to universities and secondary schools in the mainland, Hong Kong, and overseas, improving teaching facilities and establishing scholarships, resulting in a multiplier effect of passing knowledge from one to ten, and from ten to hundreds, with donations amounting to billions over the years.

Under Dr. Li's strong promotion, all member companies of the group value a "people-oriented" culture while committing to sustainable development. The group's focus on public welfare and the care for the Earth has received widespread praise from all sectors of society, and in recent years it has received numerous awards. The group's volunteer service hours have long ranked first in Hong Kong, and it provides comprehensive support to ethnic minorities and impoverished individuals.

Dr. Li was born in Shunde City, Guangdong Province, and was exceptionally intelligent from a young age. He came to Hong Kong in his youth, started from scratch, and founded the Hang Lung Group. Dr. Li is kind-hearted and philanthropic, tirelessly dedicated to charitable causes, earning great respect from all sectors of society. Dr. Li treats others with fairness, often leads by example, and is beloved by employees. Today, the philosopher has withered, leaving colleagues deeply saddened, but Dr. Li's exemplary character will forever leave a lasting legacy and continue to dwell in our hearts.

Editor/rice