Peter Lam

Peter Lam Kin-ngok, GBS (, born 7 August 1957) is a Hong Kong businessman and billionaire who has developed a reputation in Hong Kong's business, media, and entertainment industry, as well as in Asia's hospitality and food and beverage industries..

Lam is the son of the late industrialist tycoon Lim Por-yen and his second wife U Po-chu.

He is chairman of Lai Sun Development Company, Lai Fung Holdings, Hong Kong Tourism Board, and a director of e-Sun Holdings.

Peter Lam Kin Ngok was born in 1957 in Hong Kong to Teochew parents.

He is the son of the industrialist tycoon Lim Por-yen and his second wife, U Po-Chu.

He has two brothers, Lam Kin Ming and Lam King Hong.

At the age of thirteen, he was sent to Canada for four years of high school at St. George's School, after which he attended the University of Oregon where he graduated in 1987.

After his graduation, he returned to Hong Kong to help his father, eventually becoming the vice-chairman of Lai Sun Group.

In 1989, Lai Sun Group entered into the hospitality business with several hotel acquisitions and a partnership with the Delta Hotels Group.

The partnership expanded Lai Sun Group's access into North America.

In the early 1990s, Lai Sun Group expanded into China through the acquisition of the Chains Hotels Group.

In 1995, the company was subsequently renamed Lai Sun Hotels International Limited.

The group currently owns and operates the Ocean Park Marriott Hotel in Hong Kong, the Caravelle Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and the Fairmont St Andrews in Scotland, as well as Lai Fung Group’s hotel and serviced apartment operations in Shanghai and Hengqin in China.

Starting in 1995, Lai Sun Hotels International Limited continued investments in a number of luxury hotels across its international subsidiaries.

The hotels included The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, Four Seasons Hotel New York and the Four Seasons Hotel Milano.

In 1996, the Los Angeles Times reported that the Lai Sun Group had acquired stakes in the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles, USA for a deal estimated to be around USD$100 Million.

In 1997, Lam purchased Furama Hotel for HK$6.9 billion to rebuild it even though the idea was strongly opposed by his father Lim Por-yen.

It was during that time the Asian economic crisis struck and the property market nose-dived, forcing Lai Sun Group to borrow money from banks, putting them 100 billion Hong Kong dollars in debt.

After this experience, Lam put more focus on his entertainment business.

Lai Sun Development (LSD) acquired the Furama Kempinski Hotel's parent company, Furama Hotel Enterprises, in June 1997 for HK$7 billion.

In December 2001, Lai Sun Development, with Lam as CEO, demolished two of its five-star hotels - the Furama Kempinski Hotel, then famous for its revolving restaurant, and The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong.

The first step to him becoming an entertainment magnate came in 2002, when the movie produced by his company, Infernal Affairs, enjoyed huge success.

In 2004, Lam and Hong Kong singer Leon Lai started a music group, Amusic, which recruited famous Hong Kong singers.

In its place, Lai Sun Development built AIG Tower, a 185-metre (607 ft.), 37-storey skyscraper that was completed in 2005.

In 2008, Lam established Lai Sun Dining.

The group develops and operates high-end culinary concepts locally and abroad.

Their portfolio currently encompasses 17 brands, 24 outlets, and 9 Michelin stars, including 3 Michelin-starred 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana, Beefbar, and China Tang in London, Hong Kong Landmark, and Harbor City.

In 2008, Lam established Lai Sun Dining, a Hong-Kong based hospitality group.

In 2009, Lam supported Sharon Cheung with starting a free movie website, Goyeah.com.

This was the first time in Hong Kong that movies were shared online for free.

The website's main revenue is from ads.

It was renamed AIA Central in 2009.

In 2011, Lam was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, recognising his contribution to the music & film industries and support to the academy.

On February 22, 2013, the Hong Kong SAR government announced the appointment of Lam as the new chairman of Hong Kong Tourism Board, replacing James Tien.

In the same year, Lam was elected by members to the standing committee of the Twelfth CPPCC National Committee.

In December 2021, it was reported that Lam had a "privileged" vote in the 2021 Hong Kong legislative election, where the vote would count approximately 7,215 times more than an ordinary citizen.

Lam is the current chairman of Lai Sun Development, Media Asia Entertainment Group Holdings, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), Crocodile Garments, and deputy chairman of Lai Fung Holdings.

He received the Gold Bauhinia Star award in 2015 for his outstanding contributions.

In 2019, he became chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).

Lam also owns Media Asia Entertainment Group and Clot Media Division.