Li Ka-shing, a Hong Kong entrepreneur and philanthropist, is one of the wealthiest persons in Asia. A very powerful figure in his own country, he is also one of the most influential businessmen in the entire Asian subcontinent. He was the Chairman of the Board of the now defunct Hutchison Whampoa Limited (HWL) and currently serves as the Chairman of Cheung Kong Holdings, one of Hong Kong's leading multi-national conglomerates. He has businesses involved in diverse fields such as real estate, ports, electricity, telecommunication and internet. The story of his phenomenal success is truly an inspiring one. Born to poor parents in mainland China, he fled to Hong Kong as a refugee after Japanese invasions in 1940. He also lost his father at a young age and was forced to take up a job at the age of 15. An intelligent, hard working and determined boy, he went on to form his own businesses in the ensuing years and rose to become one of Hong Kong’s leading industrialists. Respected all over the world as a man truly committed to ethics and moral values, Ka-shing is also a noted philanthropist and has donated over a billion dollars to charity. Despite being one of the richest individuals in the world, he is known for being an unassuming person who leads a frugal lifestyle.