Galaxy Entertainment Group (GEG) Chairman Dr Lui Che-woo said in a statement yesterday he was mourning the passing of his “close friend” Dr Stanley Ho Hung-sun.
In the statement Dr Lui extended his “deepest condolences” to the bereaved family of Dr. Ho, who passed away in Hong Kong on Tuesday, aged 98.
“Dr Stanley Ho Hung Sun and I knew each other for many years and collaborated on numerous endeavours,” the statement said.
“As a close friend of mine, I found his generosity and openness always inspiring. On the occasion of his passing, I would like to express my deepest sympathies to his entire family,” Dr Lui, who also chairs Hong Kong-based multinational property, hospitality and construction materials conglomerate K. Wah Group, said.
“Dr Ho was a successful entrepreneur who held prominent positions in both politics and business. Offering sage counsel to the nation from time to time, he played a pivotal role in the development of Hong Kong and Macau. As the patriarch of the Macau entertainment industry, Dr Ho’s leadership and foresight earned my utmost respect,” Dr Lui said.
Dr Ho’s ‘characteristic benevolence’
“Following the return of Macau to the motherland, the Macau Special Administrative Region Government began liberalising the gambling industry. Understanding that the opening-up policy would massively benefit Macau, with his characteristic benevolence, Dr Ho not only shared insights into his success, but also encouraged the introduction of the modern management model, which subsequently led to the internationalisation and global prominence of the Macau entertainment industry,” the nonagenarian Hong Kong business magnate and philanthropist said.
“The contributions of Dr Ho are among the reasons why Macau has been able to surpass Las Vegas as the [world’s] top Casino City. His way of life has also been a great inspiration to me. We treasured each other’s friendship and often empathised with each other,” Dr Lui, who set up the “Lui Che Woo Prize – Prize for World Civilisation” in 2015, pointed out.
“On behalf of K. Wah Group and Galaxy Entertainment Group, I would like to express my deepest condolences to Dr Ho’s family,” Dr Lui said.
Galaxy Entertainment Group owns six of Macau’s 41 casinos, according to the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) website, among them the flagship Galaxy Macao megaresort in Cotai and the 5-star StarWorld casino-hotel in Nape.
Dr Lui was awarded the Grand Bauhinia Medal by the Hong Kong government for his significant contributions to Hong Kong in 2012.
