CLP Holdings Ltd, which supplies electricity to 75% of Hong Kong, operates under the long-standing leadership of Michael Kadoorie. As a central figure in the expansion of a family business founded in 1890, he oversees a diverse portfolio of utilities and hospitality ventures, including the Peninsula Hotel Group, while maintaining a significant philanthropic presence across multiple international institutions.
Family and Early Foundations
Born in 1941 in British Hong Kong, Michael Kadoorie is the son of Lawrence Kadoorie and Muriel Gubbay. The family traces its regional business heritage to his grandfather, Elly Kadoorie, who arrived in Shanghai in 1880. Following the loss of assets in 1949, his father Lawrence and uncle Horace consolidated the family interests in Hong Kong. Kadoorie attended Kowloon Junior School and later Institut Le Rosey in Switzerland.
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Kadoorie serves as chairman of CLP Holdings Ltd, where his family maintains a 35% stake and he personally holds 18% ownership. The utility operates in Kowloon and the New Territories and holds interests in power generation across Australia, China, and Southeast Asia. Beyond utilities, he leads Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels, which owns the Peninsula Hotel Group, alongside aviation firms Metrojet Ltd and Heliservices (HK) Ltd.
Philanthropic Contributions and Honors
Serving as a trustee of the Kadoorie Charitable Foundation, Kadoorie has directed funds toward significant international projects, including a £10 million donation to St Catherine's College, Oxford, for student accommodation and library facilities. His public recognition includes a knighthood as a Knight Bachelor awarded in 2005, an honorary doctorate from the University of Hong Kong in 2004, and the Gold Bauhinia Star. He is also a Commander of the Order of Leopold II.
Personal Interests and Automobile Collection
An active helicopter pilot and photography enthusiast, Kadoorie is known for his collection of classic automobiles. His garage includes a 1932 Rolls-Royce Phantom II, a 1934 Hispano-Suiza J12 Vanvooren Cabriolet, and a 1969 Lamborghini Miura P400 S, among other rare models such as the Bugatti Type 57 and the 1924 Vauxhall 30-98 Tourer. In 1998, he sustained serious injuries during a vintage Ferrari accident, requiring two months of recovery at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
Fast facts
- Born: 1941, British Hong Kong
- Citizenship: United Kingdom
- Education: Institut Le Rosey
- CLP Holdings Ownership: 18%
- Notable Recognition: Knight Bachelor (2005)
- Philanthropic role: Trustee, Kadoorie Charitable Foundation
- Family: Married to Betty Tamayo (died 2021); three children
Questions readers ask
What is Michael Kadoorie's primary business role?
He is the chairman of CLP Holdings Ltd, Hong Kong's largest electricity producer.
What philanthropic contribution did he make to Oxford?
He donated £10 million to St Catherine's College to fund postgraduate accommodation and house the Collection of the Bodleian Library.
Achievements
- Commander of the Order of Leopold II
- Knight Bachelor
- Educated at Institut Le Rosey
