Cecil Chao’s Background
Dr. Cecil Chao Sze-Tsung, is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Cheuk Nang Group listed on the mainboard of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange as Cheuk Nang (Holdings) Limited -HKSE 0131. For more than six decades Dr Chao has been a leading figure in Hong Kong’s property and real estate industry.
A graduate of Durham University (now Newcastle University) with an honours degree in Architecture, Dr. Cecil Chao is a Registered Architect with the Hong Kong Institute of Architects in Hong Kong, a Member of the Royal Institute of British Architects, a Member of Hong Kong Institute of Architects and holds an Honorary Doctorate from Morrison University.
Beyond business, Dr. Chao believes that “Every project is a canvas for improving lives—if it cannot uplift, it is not worth building.” He has received the “World Outstanding Chinese Award” and the ASEAN “Lifetime Achievement Award,” among many others, and has long supported education, healthcare, sports and cultural initiatives.
This foundation carries forward his vision: to use resources, professional expertise and heartfelt commitment to create lasting value for society and, together with partners from all walks of life, to build a better Hong Kong and China our motherland.
Family & Early Life
Born in 1936 in Shanghai to Chao Tsong-yea and Nyi Ya-tsung — the couple that founded the monumental Wah Kwong Shipping empire— Cecil excelled in both the arts and mathematics and showed particular passion in sports. The family’s maritime legacy, coupled with wartime relocation to Hong Kong, fostered both an entrepreneurial spirit and an early fascination with structure, design and finance for young Cecil.
Education & Professional Credentials
- Durham University, England – Bachelor of Architecture (Honours)
- Hong Kong Architects Registration Board – Registered Architect
- Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) – Member
- Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA) – Member
- Morrison University, U.S.A. – Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Returning to Hong Kong after studies, he joined the Hong Kong Government Buildings Office, later serving as a Government Building Senior—experience that gave him an astute overall vision for the development of 1960s Hong Kong.