TNAG-2088-FCO40-2973-Diplomatic-representation-of-third-countries-in-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 111

RESUME OF MR. K.P. CHAO

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SUMMIT TEXTILES

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He

Mr. Kuang Pui Chao was born on 24 November 1917 in Shanghai China, was educated at Minjiang Academy in Shanghai, a school run by American Baptists. In 1937, he left the school without having completed secondary. education in order to help his father run a worsted piece-goods shop named Hong Ziang Woollen Goods in Shanghai.

He expanded the business of Hong Ziang during the period 1937-1949,

which grew from 4 shopkeepers to a staff of some 300 office employees,

shopkeepers and workers in Shanghai, with branches in Nanjing, Chongqing, Taipei and Hong Kong. By the time the People's Republic of China was

established in 1949, Mr. Chao had been involved in the business of

production, wholesaling and retailing of woollen piece goods.

In 1949, Mr. Chao arrived in Hong Kong.

Trading Company with 5 staff members.

There he started New Century

In 1954, Mr. Chao set up the first worsted spinning factory in Hong

Kong, namely the Pacific Worsted Mills. He was also an active member of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong.

In 1960, Pacific Worsted Mills merged with Oriental Corporation to

establish Oriental Pacific Mills, of which Mr. Chao was the joint Managing Director until 1965. During this period, he was a committee

member of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries.

In 1964, Mr. Chao became the first investor to set up woollen spinning and knitting Factories in Macau. In April, he established Novel

Enterprises Ltd in Hong Kong.

In the early 1970's, Mr. Chao began to look into the possibilities of establishing textile operations in Mauritius and eventually set up spinning and weaving facilities there. He was one of the pioneers who contributed to the establishment of the textile industry in Mauritius.