Charles Ho


Charles Ho Tsu-kwok, GBM is a Hong Kong businessman who is the chairman of the Sing Tao News Corporation Limited and an independent non-executive director of Shun Tak Holdings. As a member of the pro-Beijing camp, Ho maintains good relations with the Chinese government, and is appointed as a National Committee Member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference representing Fujian, serving in that post since 1998. Ho was awarded the Grand Bauhinia Medal, the highest award under the Hong Kong honours and awards system by Chief Executive CY Leung on July 1, 2014, although the decision to award Ho with such an award sparked controversy in the Hong Kong media.

Early life

Ho was born in Hong Kong with family roots in Fujian. He was the grandson of :zh:何英傑|Ho Ying Chie, the founder and owner of the Hong Kong Tobacco Cooperation Limited and thus is a cousin of David Ho, a Vancouver based entrepreneur. Ho founded the Sing Tao Newspaper Group Limited in 2001.

Awards

On 9 December 2011, Ho, an outspoken supporter of Chief Executive Election candidate Henry Tang, publicly challenged Tang's opponent CY Leung in a press conference, questioning his ability to handle the top job in Hong Kong. Ho noted that one of Leung's companies, DTZ Holdings, has the values of its shares decreased to zero and declared bankruptcy, and thus fearing that "Hong Kong's economy would become zero because of Leung's wrong decisions.
However, in an interview on 30 August 2014, Ho withdrew his accusation towards CY Leung by praising Leung's efforts in improving people's livelihood, saying that Leung's decisions "hasn't made Hong Kong's economy become zero yet".

Controversy

Awarded the Grand Bauhinia Medal

On July 1, 2014, Ho was awarded the Grand Bauhinia Medal, the highest award under the Hong Kong honours and awards system by Chief Executive CY Leung for his "distinguished service to the community, particularly his contribution to the media industry." The decision to award Ho the highest honor sparked dismay among some Hong Kong media. Ho is originally considered a stauch supporter Henry Tang, CY Leung's major opponent in the 2012 Chief Executive Election. However, he switched sides and praised Leung as a competent leader immediately after he was elected, and has since then been a staunch supporter of CY Leung's government. Some media expressed opinions that Ho does not deserve the award, as they believe only "true heroes" should be honored instead of a "Yes man" like Ho.

Objections to "Civil Nomination"

In an interview on 30 August 2014, Ho commented on the Civil nomination proposal demanded by members of the pro-democracy camp for the 2017 Hong Kong Chief Executive election, saying that there is no such thing as a "civil nomination" in any political system worldwide, and that he feared that the adoption of a "civil nomination" for Chief Executive may ultimately result in a member of the triad society nominated for the post.
USA Immigration office forbidden Mr Ho to entry
In early December 2019, there were reports Mr Ho was forbidden to entry to USA.