Lo Man wai

Biography

He was the son of the wealthy Hong Kong merchant and compradore of the Jardine, Matheson & Co., Lo Cheung-shiu. His brother, Lo Man-kam was also a prominent lawyer and member of the Executive and Legislative Councils of Hong Kong before Lo Man-wai. He had three sons and one daughters. His second son, Kenneth Lo Tak-cheung, was also member of the Urban Council.

Lo was born in 1895 and educated in Hong Kong before he studied law in England. After he returned to Hong Kong in 1916, he practiced law at his family's law firm.

He was made Justice of the Peace in 1926 and became member of the Urban Council in 1940. After the war, he succeeded his brother, Lo Man-kam to become member of the Legislative Council in 1950 and of the Executive Council in 1959. For his service in the Legislative Council, he was awarded the Officer and the Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1950 and 1955 respectively.

He was also director of many major public companies, including the Hongkong Tramways, Star Ferry, China Light and Power Company, Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Company, and Commercial Radio Hong Kong.

Lo was also a good tennis player and was regarded as the "Grand Old Man of Hong Kong Tennis." He won win the Men's Doubles with his brother Lo Man-kam at the 1920 Hong Kong National Grass Court Championships, as well as the singles title in 1929. In addition, he finished as runner-up to Ng Sze-kwong three years in a row in the Men's Singles at the Hong Kong National Grass Court Championships from 1920 to 1922. With his sister Enid Lo, he also won the Mixed Doubles of the Hong Kong Hardcourt Championships in 1928, 1930 and 1932, thus elevating him to the status as the only Hong Kong player to have won a local major doubles title with both his brother and his sister.

Lo died on 5 April 1985. His funeral took place at the Hong Kong Funeral Home and his body was cremated at the Cape Collinson Crematorium on 11 April.