Political heavyweights, real estate executives and residents have gathered to pay tribute to late Hong Kong tycoon Lee Shau-kee, as they recalled the philanthropist’s generosity and accomplishments. The Sunday afternoon vigil was organised by Henderson Land Development, the conglomerate Lee founded in 1976. A funeral will take place on Monday for the tycoon, who died last month at the age of 97. Among those seen attending the service were: eldest son Peter Lee Ka-kit; younger son Martin Lee Ka-shing and his wife, Cathy Tsui Chi-kei; late tycoon Stanley Ho’s fourth wife, Angela Leong On-kei; nightlife tycoon Allan Zeman; Bank of East Asia executive chairman David Li Kwok-po; former chief executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen; various Hong Kong ministers; and former chief secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen and his wife. Dozens of residents paid their respects to Lee Shau-kee, with flower wreaths from prominent figures, universities, lawmakers and companies placed outside the venue. A retiree surnamed Lai, 68, said he had come to pay tribute to the late tycoon for his “good treatment to his workers”. “After the birth of his grandchild, he offered a HK$10,000 red packet to every employee from top to bottom, instead of the packets being given to him by his employees,” said Lai, whose relative worked for Lee Shau-kee. “There are a bunch of multibillionaires in Hong Kong. Are they as generous? Did they treat employees as well as him? He did not do it once, but twice.” Hongkonger Alex Ip, 69, said he attended the service as he was “curious about the occasion” and knew of “Henderson’s contribution to Hong Kong with Towngas, which it controlled, and real estate, and so on”. Funeral preparations have been overseen by a committee of 74 officials, including former chief executives Tung Chee-hwa and Leung Chun-ying, current city leader John Lee Ka-chiu, and Zheng Yanxiong, director of the central government’s liaison office in Hong Kong. Louis Loong Hon-biu, secretary general of the executive committee at the Real Estate Developers Association, said that the conglomerate founder was “a highly respected industry leader, having served as a vice-president of the Real Estate Developers Association of Hong Kong for many years”. The real estate and construction sector lawmaker also said Lee Shau-kee was “admired for his dedication to his work and his astute leadership”. “Lee made significant contributions to Hong Kong’s economy and is committed to education, healthcare and poverty alleviation. He was also a mentor to his juniors,” Loong said. “It is indeed sad to see Lee pass away. As the younger generation, we will endeavour to uphold his spirit and continue to serve Hong Kong and our country with respect and dedication.” Midland Holdings group chief executive in residential Dave Ma Tai-yeung said the community was saddened by the death. “With his extraordinary business acumen and farsighted strategic vision, Lee not only created a glorious legend in Hong Kong’s property sector, but also became a role model for a generation of Chinese businessmen with his humble, pragmatic and innovative entrepreneurial spirit, which has spread its influence far and wide at home and abroad,” Ma said. “Lee’s precise assessment of land values and keen insight into market trends have helped to blend architecture with humanistic care, injecting lasting vitality into Hong Kong’s urban development.” Ma, whose listed property agency works on most Henderson property sales, also paid tribute to Lee Shau-kee’s vision across both new projects and the redevelopment of old districts. “His legacy of business acumen, innovation and social commitment will continue to guide future generations as they carry on his legacy and contribute to the future prosperity of Hong Kong,” he said. Rickey Chan Chi-po, managing director of property agency Dorbo Realty, said: “Since I was a child, I have always admired Lee’s success in business and his spirit of philanthropy, which is worthy of our younger generation to learn from.” Chan said he could learn from the late tycoon’s “frequent donations to charity, including funding for a number of universities in Hong Kong”. Known affectionately as “Uncle Four”, Lee was succeeded by his two sons, Peter Lee Ka-kit and Martin Lee Ka-shing, who took over as joint chairmen and managing directors of the conglomerate that has interests in real estate, hotels, piped gas and a ferry operation. Henderson in 2019 published a biography that detailed the business strategies, life philosophy, accomplishments and charitable acts of the former richest man in Asia. These included ranking fourth in a Forbes list of the world’s richest people in 1996 with assets of US$12.7 billion and founding Union Hospital in Tai Wai. Lee Shau-kee also made donations to support universities, the government’s Community Care Fund, education efforts in mainland China, relief work for the 2008 Sichuan earthquake and the construction of the 2008 Beijing Olympics’ swimming venue Water Cube, as well as providing land for care homes for the elderly and youth hostels in Hong Kong.