Cecil Chao 趙世曾

Career

In government, from 1962

Newly qualified in 1961, he worked first for the architect Eric Cumine, then joined the Public Works Department in May 1962 and went to work in the Buildings Office, today's Buildings Department, where every private building in Hong Kong had to pass before it could rise. As a building surveyor he inspected many a prominent building, among them the Mandarin Hotel, now the Mandarin Oriental, which opened in 1963. He remembers fondly signing its Occupation Permit. He left government service in 1964, knowing the Buildings Ordinance from the inside, and that knowledge served him for the rest of his career.

Source: Hong Kong Civil Service Staff Lists, 1963 (Assistant Building Surveyors, Public Works Department) and 1965.

His own practice, 1964

In 1964 he left government and opened his own architectural practice, later incorporated as Cecil Chao & Associates Limited. It has completed more than 300 projects, from private houses to government buildings. He also founded Wah Kwong Properties, the family's property company, which was listed in 1973. In 1987, when the family's Wah Kwong Shipping ran into debt, he sold 60% of Wah Kwong Properties to Asia Securities to help reduce the family's debts.

Source: 忽然一週, October 2001.

A young Dr. Cecil Chao working in his former office.
A young Dr. Cecil Chao working in his former office.

Developer

He founded Cheuk Nang (Holdings) Limited (HKEX: 0131) in 1988 and is its chairman. He designed the whole of the Group's 21st Century Plaza in Wan Chai himself. The Group's history, projects and announcements are at cheuknang.asia. The photographs here are of the man at work: on site, with models and plans, and at the ceremonies that marked each stage.

Cecil Chao on a construction site with leading figures of Hong Kong property and old friends, among them Li Ka-shing and Deacon Chiu.
Cecil Chao on a construction site with leading figures of Hong Kong property and old friends, among them Li Ka-shing and Deacon Chiu.
Fashion models with the architectural model of One Kowloon Peak.
Fashion models with the architectural model of One Kowloon Peak.
Renderings for Cheuk Nang's Macau project.
Renderings for Cheuk Nang's Macau project.
Site model of Cheuk Nang's Shenzhen project.
Site model of Cheuk Nang's Shenzhen project.
Cecil Chao at the topping-out ceremony for Villa Cecil 趙苑.
Cecil Chao at the topping-out ceremony for Villa Cecil 趙苑.
Dr. Cecil Chao attending the groundbreaking and ribbon-cutting ceremony for Shenzhen Zhuoneng Yayuan.
Dr. Cecil Chao attending the groundbreaking and ribbon-cutting ceremony for Shenzhen Zhuoneng Yayuan.
Cecil Chao at the naming ceremony of Cecil Chao Centre and the launch of Parkview 2-11 Luxury Suites.
Cecil Chao at the naming ceremony of Cecil Chao Centre and the launch of Parkview 2-11 Luxury Suites.

Other companies

He is chairman and beneficial owner of Yan Yin Company Limited (investment holding), Cecil Chao & Associates Limited (architecture) and Szehope Securities Company Limited (securities brokerage).

Public service

He served as a director of the Real Estate Developers Association of Hong Kong for more than 20 years and on advisory panels to the Town Planning Board. He also attended sessions of the Beihai Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (photograph).

Cecil Chao at the Third Session of the Eighth Beihai Municipal Committee of the CPPCC (Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference).
Cecil Chao at the Third Session of the Eighth Beihai Municipal Committee of the CPPCC (Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference).
Cecil Chao at the Third Session of the Eighth Beihai Municipal Committee of the CPPCC (Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference).
Cecil Chao at the Third Session of the Eighth Beihai Municipal Committee of the CPPCC (Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference).

His honours are listed on the Timeline. More photographs are in the Work collection.