Charles Ho

Charles Ho was a titan of Hong Kong’s business and media landscape, having transformed the city’s media industry when he acquired Sing Tao Holdings in 2001. He served as chairman of Sing Tao News Corporation for over two decades, selling his stake in 2021. Ho died in 2025, and was an outspoken and influential political figure over the years.

A grandson of tycoon Ho Ying-chie, who first established the family fortune, Charles Ho started his career working as an investment banker in the US during the 1970s and 80s. He then returned to Hong Kong in the 1990s and took over Perfect Treasure Holdings Ltd in 2000, renaming it Global China Technology Group Ltd. A few months later, in January 2001, Perfect Treasure acquired a majority of Sing Tao Holdings, fully acquiring it—and its media stable—in 2002. In February 2021, Ho sold a 28 per cent stake in Sing Tao to Kwok Hiu-ting, vice chairwoman of Kaisa Property, instantly making her the largest shareholder of Sing Tao.

Charles Ho was also an independent non-executive director of Shun Tak Holdings. A member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference National Committee, serving from 1998 until his death. His other roles include member of the Standing Committee of All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, honorary General Committee member of The Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong, honorary trustee of Peking University, and protector of think tank the Bauhinia Foundation Research Centre.

He received the Grand Bauhinia Medal in 2014.