Peter Lam

Peter Lam Kin-ngok, GBS (Chinese: 林建岳, born 7 August 1957) is a Hong Kong businessman and billionaire.

Peter Lam
Born	林建岳 Lam Kin-ngok 7 August 1957 Hong Kong
Alma mater	University of Oregon
Occupation	Businessman
Spouse(s)	Hsieh Ling-Ling (1980－1995)
Children	Lester Lam Emily Lam Ho Evelyn Lam Lucas Lam (twins) Eleanor Lam (twins) Lyann Lam
Parent(s)	Lim Por-yen U Po-chu
Relatives	Pearl Lam (sister) Lam Kin Ming Lam Kin Hong

Peter Lam is the son of the late industrialist tycoon Lim Por-yen and his second wife U Po-chu. Peter is Chairman of Lai Sun Development Company, Lai Fung Holdings,[1] Hong Kong Tourism Board, and a director of e-Sun Holdings. In 2019, Peter became Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).

Peter also owns Media Asia Entertainment Group and Clot Media Division.

Peter has gained notoriety in Hong Kong's business, media and entertainment industry, as well as in Asia's Hospitality and Food and Beverage industries.

In 2008, Peter established Lai Sun Dining.[2] The group develops and operates high-end culinary concepts locally and abroad. Their portfolio currently encompasses 17 brands, 24 outlets, and 9 Michelin stars, including 3 Michelin-starred 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana, Beefbar, and China Tang in London, Hong Kong Landmark, and Harbor City.[3]

Before founding Lai Sun Dining in 2008, Peter was a key investor in several restaurant businesses, including Cipriani Hong Kong and the China Club.

Biography

Peter Lam Kin Ngok[4] was born in 1957 in Hong Kong to Teochew parents. He is the son of the industrialist tycoon Lim Por-yen and his second wife, U Po-Chu. He has two brothers, Lam Kin Ming and Lam King Hong. At the age of thirteen, he was sent to Canada for four years of high school, after which he attended the University of Oregon where he graduated in 1987. After his graduation, he returned to Hong Kong to help his father, eventually becoming the vice-chairman of Lai Sun Group.

In 1997, Lam purchased Furama Hotel for HK$6.9 billion to rebuild it even though the idea was strongly opposed by his father Lim Por-yen. Unfortunately it is during the time Asian economic crisis struck and the property market nose-dived, forcing Lai-Sun Group to borrow money from banks, and this led them to be in debt of a hundred billion Hong Kong dollars[5]

After this bad experience, Lam put more focus on his entertainment business. The first step to him becoming an entertainment magnate came in 2002, when the movie produced by his company, Infernal Affairs, enjoyed huge success. In 2004, Lam and Hong Kong singer Leon Lai started a music group- Amusic which recruited famous Hong Kong singers.

In 2009, Peter supported Sharon Cheung to start a free movie website "Goyeah.com". This is the first time in Hong Kong movies were shared online for free. The website's main revenue is from commercials[6]

In 2011, Peter was awarded Honorary Doctorate by the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, recognising his contribution to music & film industries and support to the academy.[7]

On February 22, 2013, Hong Kong SAR government announced the appointment of Peter Lam Kin Ngok as the new chairman of Hong Kong Tourism Board replacing James Tien.[8] In the same year, Lam was elected by members to the standing committee of the twelfth CPPCC national committee.

Business

Peter Lam is the current chairman of Lai Sun Development, Media Asia Entertainment Group Holdings, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), Crocodile Garments, and deputy chairman of Lai Fung Holdings. He received the Gold Bauhinia Star award in 2015 for his outstanding contributions.[9]

Lai Sun Group & Hospitality

In 1989, Lai Sun Group entered into the hospitality business with several hotel acquisitions and a partnership with the Delta Hotels Group.[10] The partnership expanded Lai Sun Group's access into North America. In the early 1990s, Lai Sun Group expanded into China through the acquisition of the Chains Hotels Group. In 1995, the company was subsequently renamed Lai Sun Hotels International Limited.[11]

The Group currently owns and operates the Ocean Park Marriott Hotel in Hong Kong, the Caravelle Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and the Fairmont St Andrews in Scotland, as well as Lai Fung Group’s hotel and serviced apartment operations in Shanghai and Hengqin in Mainland China.

Four Seasons Hotel & The Beverly Wilshire Hotel

Starting from 1995, Lai Sun Hotels International Limited continued investments in a number of luxury hotels across its international subsidiaries.[12][13] The hotels included The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, Four Seasons Hotel New York [14] and the Four Seasons Hotel Milano.[15][16]

In 1996, the Los Angeles Times reported that the Lai Sun Group had acquired stakes in the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles, USA for a deal estimated to be around USD$100 Million.[17]

Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Hong Kong

Lai Sun Development (LSD) acquired the Furama Kempinski Hotel's parent company, Furama Hotel Enterprises, in June 1997 for HK$7 billion.

In December 2001, Lai Sun Development, with Peter Lam as CEO, demolished two of its five-star hotels - the Furama Kempinski Hotel, then famous for its revolving restaurant, and The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong. In its place, Lai Sun Development built AIG Tower, a 185-metre (607 ft.), 37-storey skyscraper that was completed in 2005. It was renamed AIA Central in 2009.

Lai Sun Dining & Restaurants

In 2008, Peter Lam established Lai Sun Dining, a Hong-Kong based hospitality group.[18] The group owns and operates high-end culinary concepts locally and abroad. Their portfolio currently encompasses 9 Michelin Stars across 17 brands and 24 outlets, including 3 Michelin Starred 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana,[19] China Tang,[20] the China Club, Beefbar, and Cipriani Hong Kong.

Personal life

Peter's father, Lim Por-yen, died in 2005 at the age of 90. He had 8 children, including Peter Lam Kin-ngok, Pearl Lam, Lam Kin-hong 林建康, and Lam Kin-ming 林建名 who passed away on January 8th, 2021 due to lymphoma.

Peter married Taiwanese actress Hsieh Ling-Ling 謝玲玲 in 1980, the couple had five children- Lester, Emily, Evelyn, Eleanor and Lucas, where Eleanor (林心兒) and Lucas are mixed twins. However, due to Lam's dissolute, the couple had filed for divorce in 1993, after two years the couple officially divorced.[21]

Hsieh Ling-Ling and Peter's eldest son, Lester Lam 林孝賢 who graduated from Northeastern University in the United States is currently the executive director and CEO of Lai Sun Group. In one interview, Lester stated that he admired his father and spoke about how to manage a family business so that he can be considered as the successor of the future Lai Sun Group.[22]

Their eldest daughter, Emily Lam-Ho 林恬兒, graduated with a double degree from the University of Southern California in 2006 and a double masters from Columbia University in New York City in 2016. Emily is the CEO and founder of Empact28, director of business development at Sing Tao Daily News Corporation, and the CEO and co-founder of EcoDrive.[23] She married Kent Ho, son of Charles Ho, in 2014.[24]

In 2000, Lam's then-girlfriend Monica Chen Yi-ping 陳浥萍, a model, socialite, and businesswoman from Taiwan, gave birth to their baby daughter Lyann Lam 林利兒. Lyann Angelique Lam is his youngest child. When news of their split broke, Peter and Monica issued a joint public statement pleading with the public to offer space and privacy out of respect for their daughter's young age.[25] She has maintained a relatively private lifestyle despite media interest.[26]

Politics & public positions

Hong Kong Tourism Board

Peter was appointed as the Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) for three years from April 1, 2013, to March 31, 2016, succeeding James Tien Pei-chun.[27] He was further re-appointed as the Chairman for three years from April 1, 2016, to March 31, 2019.[28]

Our Hong Kong Foundation

Peter is a counsellor of Our Hong Kong Foundation. This Foundation is a Hong Kong non-profit organization registered in September 2014, with an aim to promote the long-term interests of Hong Kong through policy research, analysis and recommendation. Pooling together local, mainland and international talent, it studies Hong Kong's development needs, offering multidisciplinary public policy recommendations and proposing solutions to foster social cohesion, economic prosperity and sustainable development.[29]

Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong

Peter is the council chairman of the Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong, a political party formed in October 2012. [30] The goal of this alliance is to drive forward Hong Kong's economy through commercial and industrial development and to help improve people's livelihood through its professionalism and dedication. The alliance offers suggestions for the long-term strategic development of Hong Kong and for the well-being of the public.

Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC)

In 2019, Peter was appointed as Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).[31]

Hobbies

Peter, who loves cigars, owns a cigar shop in Hong Kong. He reportedly enjoys "Buttman" Batman-based humour T-shirts. He also loves horse racing. He and both of his brothers are members of the Hong Kong Jockey Club where he owns two horses, Go Baby Go and Million Darling. In Million Darling's six appearances, he has been in the top four every single time. Sadly due to a leg injury, Million Darling was forced to retire in 2011, earning a total stake of HK$939,475.[32]

Yachts

In 2001, Lai Sun Development Chairman Peter Lam Kin-ngok was the owner of a 30.5-metre vessel made by San Lorenzo called Sun Princess. The yacht has an estimated cost of US$9 million.[33]

In 2016, Dr. Peter Lam was appointed as the Chairman of Camper and Nicholson International, a renowned European yacht brokerage and management firm.[34] Peter's eldest son, Lester Lam 林孝賢, currently serves on Camper & Nicholson's Board of Directors.[35]

Peter's passion for yachting developed over decades, as the owner of several yachts in both the Mediterranean and Hong Kong, for which he obtained related licenses and certifications.[36]

Sun Princess and SunPrince

In 2010, Peter's eldest son Lester hosted a massive birthday party aboard his father's yachts, The Sun Princess and The SunPrince. The party itself is estimated to have cost Lam over HKD $500 million (US$894000) to host.[37] Despite many attempts to avoid the paparazzi and the media, photographs of the party became front-page news.[38]

2008 Speeding offence

In early 2008, Lam avoided a speeding offence when he successfully challenged the correct use and validity of laser speed detectors by the police. Lam was allegedly clocked at 114 km/h in a 50 km/h zone. He eventually pleaded guilty to driving at 79 km/h, and was fined HK$450.[39]

References

1. Peter Lam Archived 2014-12-22 at the Wayback Machine, "https://hk.asiatatler.com/tatler-list/500list/peter-lam",
2. "LAI SUN DINING".
3. "Lai Sun Group". www.laisun.com.
4. https://hk.asiatatler.com/tatler-list/500list/peter-lam
5. A little less debt for ailing Lai Sun Archived 2007-11-02 at the Wayback Machine "The Standard", November, 2012
6. Entertainment people are slow in reaction "Apple Daily", April, 2009
7. Citation of Peter Lam, HKAPA. Retrieved 2018-06-06
8. Entertainment king Peter Lam named Tourism Board chief "South China Morning Post",
9. In full: the Hong Kong honours list, SCMP 2015-07-01
10. http://www.laisun.com/lai-sun-garment/en-US/Businesses/index/hotel_operations_management
11. http://www.laisun.com/lai-sun-garment/en-US/Businesses/index/hotel_operations_management
12. http://www.laisun.com/lai-sun-garment/en-US/Businesses/index/hotel_operations_management
13. https://www.scmp.com/article/187253/lai-sun-streamlines-hotels-business-25b-reshuffle
14. https://www.nytimes.com/1996/08/02/nyregion/asian-group-buys-four-seasons-hotel.html
15. https://www.grandluxuryhotels.com/hotel/four-seasons-hotel-milan?
16. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB835560447816202000
17. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-02-17-mn-36925-story.html
18. "LAI SUN DINING".
19. https://guide.michelin.com/hk/en/hong-kong-region/hong-kong/restaurant/8%C2%BD-otto-e-mezzo-bombana
20. https://guide.michelin.com/hk/en/hong-kong-region/hong-kong/restaurant/china-tang-central
21. Peter Lam Archived 2014-12-22 at the Wayback Machine, "Hong Kong Tatler. com",
22. Lam in Season, "Gafencu Men",
23. Tatler, Hong Kong (6 January 2015). "Emily Lam-Ho". Hong Kong Tatler. Tatler Hong Kong.
24. "Kent Ho". Stanford Graduate School of Business.
25. "林建岳焗認2年前分手 - 東方日報". orientaldaily.on.cc.
26. "林建岳20岁私生女曝光". sohu.com.
27. Appointment of Chairman and members of Hong Kong Tourism Board, February 22, 2013. Retrieved 2018-06-04
28. Government announces appointments to Hong Kong Tourism Board , February 26, 2016. Retrieved 2018-06-04
29. Introduction to Our Hong Kong Foundation. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
30. People Profile of Peter Lam, official website of Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong. Retrieved 2018-06-06
31. "New Chairman of Hong Kong Trade Development Council Peter K N Lam Meets with Management Team". HKTDC Media Room.
32. Go baby Go, Million darling profile, "The Hong Kong Jockey Club",
33. "Super-yacht syndrome". South China Morning Post. 26 May 2001.
34. "New Asian board members announced for Camper & Nicholsons International". www.superyachttimes.com.
35. "Burgess Yachts Editorial".
36. "Top 100 Yachting Personalities in Asia-Pacific (Hong Kong)". LUXUO. 14 March 2018.
37. https://yule.sohu.com/20090416/n263417142.shtml
38. "香港富豪". 3g.china.com.
39. "Top gun triggers a police rethink". The Standard. 21 January 2008. Archived from the original on 22 May 2011.

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