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James Wu Man-hon

1920 – 2006

Hong Kong businessman

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About James Wu Man-hon

Lived 1920 – 2006 (aged 85). James Wu Man-hon was a justice of the peace and businessperson.

James Wu Man-hon OBE, JP (; 18 November 1920 – 23 February 2006) was a Hong Kong businessman and an unofficial member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong.

Biography Wu was born in 1920 in Pokfulam to Wu Chung, a leading merchant in Hong Kong and founder of the Weatherite Industries, often nicknamed "King of Taxi". His brother, Gordon Wu, was also a prominent real estate developer. Wu was educated at the Dunmei School, a famous Chinese school in Hong Kong, and subsequently at the King's College, Hong Kong. He studied at the University of Hong Kong before the Japanese invasion. He went on to finish his study at the National Sun Yat-sen University with a degree in engineering.

He helped his father to reestablish the family business after the war, opening hotels, studios, theatres, real estates and air conditioners. He was the chairman of the Hopewell Holdings and the Saiweite Industrial Company. Under his Hopewell chairmanship, the company expanded its infrastructural business in South China, Thailand and the Philippines.

He had been president of the Rotary Club of Hong Kong Island East and the chancellor of the Po Leung Kuk. He was also the vice-president of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong and the chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries. He had led of the Hong Kong delegation to the conferences of the UN Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East on five occasions. He was also the chairman of the Industrial Development Committee of the Hong Kong-Japan Business Co-operation Committee, in which he attracted massive Japanese participation in technology transfer in the field of high-precision tooling for electronics components. He was recognised by receiving permanent membership of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) in 1987.

He had been appointed to many public positions, including the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the Vocational Training Council and the Hong Kong Productivity Council. He was first appointed to the Urban Council in 1968 and then the Legislative Council in 1972. He was vocal on providing the requisite infrastructural support for the development of vast industrial estates. He was awarded Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his public services in 1974.

He was also deputy chairman of the Hong Kong Polytechnic before it was promoted to university. For his contributions, the Hong Kong Polytechnic conferred on him an honorary doctorate in Engineering in 1991. in 1992, he was awarded degree of Doctor of Laws by the University of Hong Kong. He also became honorary citizen of Guangzhou in 1991.

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Important facts

Birth century
Education
University of Hong Kong, Sun Yat-sen University
Positions held
Justice of the peace
Awards
Honorary doctor of the University of Hong Kong; Honorary doctor of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Also known as
Wu Man-hon, James Wu, Hu Wenhan

People in James Wu Man-hon's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped James Wu Man-hon's

Frequently asked questions

Who was James Wu Man-hon?

Hong Kong businessman (1920-2006)

When was James Wu Man-hon born?

James Wu Man-hon was born on 18 November 1920 in Guangzhou.

When did James Wu Man-hon die?

James Wu Man-hon died on 23 February 2006.

What was James Wu Man-hon's occupation?

James Wu Man-hon was a justice of the peace and businessperson.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: James Wu Man-hon

· Wikidata: Q15956692

· DBpedia: James Wu Man-hon

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). James Wu Man-hon. https://biography.guide/james-wu-man-hon/

MLA: "James Wu Man-hon." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/james-wu-man-hon/.

Chicago: "James Wu Man-hon." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/james-wu-man-hon/.

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