George Wong 1952-2017    Photo: Courtesy of Hong Kong Parkview Group Ltd

THE HONG KONG PARKVIEW GROUP Ltd. (collectively, the "Group") is saddened to announce that Mr. George Wong, Chairman of THE HONG KONG PARKVIEW GROUP, passed away peacefully in his sleep at 9.15 on the 2nd of December, 2017.

Mr. George Wong, our Group Chairman, had a truly global perspective on life. He was the standard-bearer for the Group's mission of  "people-oriented innovation,"  and dedicated his career to pioneering it's growth and development. Mr. Wong upheld the Group's vision to "Create A Better Tomorrow," and its commitment to innovative, unique design and sustainable principles, and its relentless pursuit of the perfection in the detail, to create iconic, landmark buildings.

Under his leadership, the Group was not only active in Asia, but also expanded throughout continental Europe, and remains committed to excellence, characterised by its global outlook. Demonstrated throughout his business activities, Mr. Wong was committed to environmental protection and was a leader of the city in the arts and culture. In 2012, Parkview Green FangCaoDi Beijing was born and with it he created a new standard for development in China's urban complex. It was the first comprehensive commercial building in China to receive the LEED? Platinum certification.

Mr. Wong had a passion for art and art collections. He was a National Museum of China Research Fellow, the National Art Museum of China's Chief International Consultant and a China Literature and Art Foundation Director. As one of the nation's leading collectors of contemporary art, Mr. Wong has been supporting the development of Chinese contemporary art and artists for decades, and as such, the National Museum of China did Mr. Wong the honour of specially appointing him as the first Research Fellow in Contemporary Art Collections.

In recent years, Mr. Wong gave more time to philanthropic activities. He donated artwork to museums, galleries, universities and other institutions. His recipients include the China National Museum, China National Art Museum, Nanjing Arts Institute, Xiamen Jimei University and other public educational institutions. Mr. Wong believed that art of all creed and culture should be made accessible to the public, to literally touch and feel it, to drive discourse and challenge perception; that art is a vital part of a modern society's education, and he had a responsibility to enable this conversation.

This expression reflected part of Mr. Wong's deep concern about the education of the mainland. He also served as Executive Committee of Xiamen Jimei University, as Professor and Chairman of the Board of Nanjing University of Arts, and as the honorary Principal of Beijing Chenjinglun High School. He set up scholarships to fund the Children's Charity Foundation, to inspire students and support education.

Whilst Mr. Wong was a champion of the private-sector in Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Taipei he also remembered rural residents with special needs. He took on multiple roles, as the Chief Consultant of Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, the Executive Committee of the Jiangsu CPPCC, the standing committee of the city of Chaozhou Guangdong CPPCC, the Chairman of Wild Aid China, and the Culture Consultant of China Commission of Promotion of Publicity for the Undertakings of Chinese Disabled Persons to try and help address this.

Mr. Wong was committed to environmental protection, and became enthusiastically involved in activities that worked to protect wildlife. In 2014, in collaboration with Wild Aid and the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, Parkview Arts Action organised a contemporary art exhibition entitled "On Sharks & Humanity."  The aim of the exhibition was to raise awareness of the importance of shark protection and to support the "Say No to Shark Fin" Campaign, whilst also raising awareness of the consequences of over-fishing, and the importance of maintaining the ecological balance of marine life.

This large-scale international art exhibition began at the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, before moving on to the Ekaterina Cultural Foundation in Moscow for the second leg of the tour. Subsequently, it travelled to the National Museum of China, and was exhibited at the Parkview Museum Singapore. As Hong Kong celebrated its 20th anniversary as a special administrative region of China, the exhibition was also presented at the Hong Kong Maritime Museum.

It is our misfortune to lose Mr. George Wong. His accomplishments in the society he inhabited with such vigour and enthusiasm is a legacy of which we are incredibly proud. We will, however, remember our Chairman as an extraordinary individual; a leader, a mentor, a friend and a father, whose sense of purpose and social responsibility touched everyone he crossed paths with on his larger-than-life journey. We will remember the joy and generosity with which he shared his life with those fortunate enough to have been around him. We thank him, and we will never forget.

Mr. Wong was beloved by his family and leaves behind his wife Susie Wong, daughters Nancy Wong and Alice de la Fuente Saez Wong, son Alexander Wong, and grandchildren Marcus, Alister, Adrian and Clarisse Wong, and Patricio Cornellis, Isabella Betty and Celina Helena de la Fuente Saez.

A memorial for Mr. Wong will be held on 17 and 18 December 2017 at The Parkview Green FangCaoDi (Tel: 010-56628888).

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly ask for donations to be directed to either Sovereign Art Foundation in Hong Kong or Wild Aid in China in memory of Mr. George Wong and the causes that were so dear to his heart. Please visit https://give.asia/ges to donate and for more information.

Hong Kong Parkview Group Ltd.

8 December 2017