TNAG-2369-FCO40-3442-Future-of-Hong-Kong-international-support-regarding-national-1991 — Page 39

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15 Oct 91 14:46 No.010 P.01

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CITATION

Kuok huck Nien

PERPUSTAKAAN

BERNAMA

Fur Durues

Kuok lock Hien, better known as Robert Kuok to the international business community, is an entrepreneur par cellong. Robert Kuok is Chairman of the Kuok Group of Companies in Malaysia, Singapore and long Kong, with interests in other countries including Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Canada, Fiji, the People's Republic of China, and Australia.

The Kuok Group's diversified business and investment operations include commodity trading, the internationally known Shangri-La International chain of hotels, integrated sugar industry, flour. milling, soy bean oil and palm oil refining, feed manufacturing, tin mining, engineering, shipping, insurance and property development. A number of the companies managed by the Group are publicly listed on the Stock Exchanges of Malaysia and Singapore.

Robert Kuok's path to international business success/ has not been easy. He attributes his success to hard work, long hours, as well as excellent teamwork based on trust and faith. He is a firm admirer of the Japanese management attributes of discipline, determination and dedication to the corporate vision.

Robert Kuok was born 6th October, 1923 in Johor Bahru. He completed his secondary education at the Johor Bahru English College in 1939. He then studied at Foon Yew Chinese School, Johor Bahru. In the latter half of 1941 he was admitted to the prestigious Raffles College, Singapore but his studies was interrupted by the Pacific War.

In 1942 he joined Mitsubishi Shoji Kaisha branch in Jelior Bahru, where he worked in the Rice Department until late 1945 when he joined his father's firm, Tong Seng & Company. In 1949, Robert Kuok formed the family company known as Kuok Brothers Ltd. based in Johor Bahru. About five years later, he started doing business in Singapore. Over the years, many companies were formed to cater for the diversified business interests of the Kuok Group in the countries of Asean and the Pacific region. In early 1974, Robert Kuok founded an investment holding company named Sligo Holdings Ltd. and a trading company called Kerry Trading Co. Ltd. which today serven as the main arm of the Kuok Group in Hong Kong. The annual turnover of the Kuok Group exceeds a hefty US$2 billion.