Tin Ka Ping

Early Life and career

In 1935, when Dr. Tin was 16 years old, his father died, he had to quit school and take charge of his father's business and support his family. Two years later, he headed to Vietnam where he established a porcelain clay business by importing porcelain clay from his home village in China. At that time, his company was the largest clay supplier in Vietnam.

In 1939, Japanese invaded and occupied Shantou, Dr. Tin's clay business was disrupted as the Japanese Occupant Government prohibited export of porcelain clay, leading to an abrupt end of his business in Vietnam. In the same year, he started his business in rubber industry in Bandung, Indonesia, and was extremely successfully in setting up two rubber factories, namely "Chaolun" and "Nanyang", in his early 30s. He had proved his acumen as a prominent industrialist.

In 1958, at the threat of increasing anti-Chinese sentiment in Indonesia, Dr. Tin moved to Hong Kong, a developed metropolis at that time, and a good place for his children to receive education in Chinese culture. With his adventurous and entrepreneurial spirit, he purchased 300,000 square feet of reclaimed land to build a factory manufacturing plastic film and synthetic leather. Dr. Tin was the founder of Thians' Plastics Industrial Company Ltd. His business empire grew stably and received many international accolades for the consistent quality of his products and services. He supported the development of plastic processing industry and played a vital role in presenting Hong Kong's plastic products to the international market.

In 1968, Tins Chemical Corporation Ltd was founded by Dr. Tin. He switched the use of the land in Tuen Mun to developing industrial buildings, and had the production lines in Tuen Mun transferred to Yuen Long.

In August 1982, Tin Ka Ping Foundation was established with the motto "Taking care of the elderly and the young, promoting education and cultural studies, educate and benefit all mankind, contributing to our society and nation".

In the 1990s, Dr. Tin set up factories in Dongguan and Guangzhou of Guangdong Province. Dongguan Tin Chemical Company and Guangzhou Tin Plastic Company were established in 1992 and 2000 respectively. Dr. Tin sold off his PVC and synthetic leather production lines and used the resources to support the business in Guangdong Province.

Philanthropy (Charities)

Dr. Tin is a philanthropist and founder of Tin Ka Ping Foundation which is mainly for educational purposes. He is now the Foundation's Honorary chairman. He is an advocate of education who believes that the future of China lies in education. The projects of Tin Ka Ping Foundation aim at improving the quality of education and promoting development of the nation, which build up the vision of Dr. Tin and his family. Hong Kong, Mainland China and Taiwan have been his primary beneficiaries. Over 20 primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong, as well as 80 universities and teacher training institutions, more than 160 secondary and vocational schools, 50 primary schools and kindergartens, over 1, 300 rural libraries, 30 hospitals, and countless other educational facilities in China have been benefited by his philanthropy. Out of these 39 colleges of education in different universities and 165 secondary schools named after him.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Dr. Tin served as a director of Pok Oi Hospital and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, and provided financial aids for the construction of the Yan Oi Tong headquarters. He actively supported the charity affairs, and promoted social welfare. Following the vision of "from society, for society" and "it's crucial to benefit the future generations", he set up Tin Ka Ping Foundation in 1982 for the betterment of his compatriots.

Dr. Tin has donated over two hundred charity projects in Meizhou, constructed six roads and 128 bridges in Dabu County, which benefited over one hundred units.

In Hong Kong, Dr. Tin has set up more than 20 organisations for elderly, youth, and child care services, and donated a total of about 80 million dollars to local universities. In addition, he has subscribed for an annual donation to a number of charitable organisations. Moreover, Dr. Tin has funded the University of Macao for the establishment of the Tin Ka Ping Institute of Education for educational research and academic exchanges among universities in Hong Kong, Macao, China and Taiwan.

In Taiwan, Tin Ka Ping Foundation was set up in 1984 for actively promoting cultural and educational enterprises. In 2004, Tin Ka Ping Foundation funded the construction of the Tin Ka Ping Optical Center of National Chiao Tung University. Dr. Tin also generously funded the American-Chinese Moral Education Association of Los Angeles, USA, as well as World Institute of Language Education, Institute of Confucism, Chang Lao Shi Association, Dabu County Fellow Villagers Association and other organisations in Taipei. In 2007, Tin Ka Ping Foundation funded the establishment of the Tin Ka Ping College of National Taiwan Normal University.

Personal life

Dr. Tin is a low-key philanthropist, he lives a simple life. He is always concerned about the society and pays special attention to the development in Mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. In all these regions, he has built up his charity career covering the fields of education, medical services, health, transport, cultural recreation, social welfare, and so on. Hundreds of units and buildings were named after him. For every project, Dr. Tin will follow up with all the application procedures, and will pay attention to the construction design blueprints. Every year when the weather is warm, Dr. Tin will personally participate in the opening and completion ceremonies of various projects. To cut down the expenses, he requested the particular units not to host lavish celebrations, he also declined gifts, and refrained from stay in luxurious hotels. He encourages everyone to do good things.

Dr. Tin always holds conversations with young people so as to encourage them with reference his life experience. In Hong Kong, he will attend the annual graduation ceremony of two secondary schools to share his thoughts. While attending celebrations, seminars and invitations in universities and schools in Mainland China, Dr. Tin will meet the recipients of Tin Ka Ping Foundation Scholarship and encourage them to study hard and cherish the opportunity to become a successful person in future.

"Charity work is my second career"

In 1984 when Dr. Tin was 65 years old, he passed his company to his children, and allocated more than 80% of other property income and personal property to Tin Ka Ping Foundation for charitable purposes. He announced that he will take up the responsibility of Tin Ka Ping Foundation and regarded the work in the Foundation as his second career.

In April 2001, Dr. Tin sold his house in Kowloon Tong, in which he had stayed for almost 37 years, and hired an apartment of about 130 square meters as his home. His house was sold at a price of HK$56 millions. He donated the entire sum for educational purposes. When allocating funds to the projects, Dr. Tin gives priority to those on education and in the poor and remote areas. He strongly emphasises that "the future of China lies in education". He believes that education contributes to the strength and prosperity of the nation, as well as improving the quality of the people. Hence, he always exerts his effort in implementing educational projects in various areas of China regardless of any return.

Tin Ka Ping Foundation

In 1982, Dr. Tin founded Tin Ka Ping Foundation, which is a registered non-profit making charitable organisation emphasising on education. The funds are mainly provided by Dr. Tin and his companies. Tin Ka Ping Foundation is managed by a family management system.

In 2009, Dr. Tin donated four industrial buildings to the Foundation and invited the heads of the nine local universities together with community leaders to participate in the governance of the Foundation. Tin's family members do not retain control, enabling the Foundation to become a public non-profit making charitable organisation. After deducting operating expenses, the rental incomes of the four industrial buildings are to be donated to the Foundation for charity purposes.

Awards and honours

Dr. Tin was awarded MBE in 1996 and Grand Bauhinia Medal (GBM) in 2010. He has received honorary degrees from higher education institutions in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Mainland China, and he has been made an honorary citizen of over 80 Chinese cities.

List of awards to Dr. Tin