Gordon Wu
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Sir Gordon Ying Sheung Wu (胡應湘; pinyin: hu2 ying4 xiang1; Cantonese:wu4 jing3 soeng1) (born December 1935) is the chairman of the board of Hong Kong-listed Asian infrastructure firm Hopewell Holdings Ltd.
Wu has for 20 years advocated 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 a world-class 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).
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Educational background
Wu graduated from Princeton University with a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering in 1958. 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. However, the fund is now worth less than US$1 million due to the sharp fall of the share price of his company.
He is also the chairman of Hopewell Highway Infrastructure Limited, subsidiary of Hopewell listed on August 2003, and an idependent non-executive director of i-Cable Communications Limited.
He received Honorary Doctorate degrees from Hong Kong Polytechnic University, University of Strathclyde UK and University of Edinburgh UK.
He is Chairman of the Council of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
Political stance
Wu used to be against accelerating the development of democracy in Hong Kong. But after the massive protest on July 1, 2003 in Hong Kong, he openly spoke about the possibility of electing the SAR Chief Executive by direct election.
Wu joined more than 80 of Hong Kong's richest business tycoon and their heirs apparent headed for Beijing on 26 September, 2003 on an annual pilgrimage.
Hopewell Holdings
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 Delta region of Guangdong Province in mainland China. Four toll road projects are in operation while construction of the 15km 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 ventures 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 Center
- Hong Kong International Trade and Exhibition Center
- Nova Taipa Gardens
- Huanggang Service Area
Hospitality
Hopewell owns hotels in Hong Kong and Guangzhou.
- Panda Hotel
- China Hotel
Management
Gordon Wu's son, Thomas Wu, is the deputy managing director of Hopewell.
Civic duties
Wu was knighted in 1997.
Wu's civic duties include:
In Hong Kong
- Chairman of the Council of Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- 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 Council
- Vice President of Hong Kong Real Estate Developer's Association
In mainland China
- Member of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
- Advisor of Xiamen Special Economic Zone, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Qinhuangdao
International
- Member of Business Advisory Council to the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank Group
- Member of APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC)
- Member of International Advisory Board of the Institue for International Business Communication, Japan
Honorary citizenships
- The City of New Orleans, USA
- The City of Guangzhou, PRC
- The City of Shunde, PRC
- The City of Nanhai, PRC
- The City of Shenzhen, PRC
- The City of Hua Du, PRC
- The Province of Quezon, the Republic of the Philippines
External links
- Hopewell Holdings (http://www.hopewellholdings.com/)