Wai Kee-shun

Biography

Wai Kee-shun was a Hong Kong businessman, media figure and prominent sports personality, born on 8 March 1933 into a wealthy family as the sixth of ten siblings, whose father ran a pharmaceutical company. He received his education at several prestigious schools in Hong Kong and Macau, then earned a master's degree in economics from Bard College in the United States, returning to Hong Kong in 1956. In 1960, his brother Wai Kee-chak appointed him president of Tin Tin Daily News (天天日報), which was the world's first colour offset-printed newspaper. He entered acting in 1978 when he appeared in the television drama "名流情史" on Commercial Television, playing the lead role of Sun Da-sheng, though his wooden acting drew criticism from viewers. He also hosted the RTHK programme "City Forum" during the 1980s and 1990s. Wai was a major figure in Hong Kong sports, holding leadership positions in several sporting bodies including the basketball, table tennis and boxing associations, and presented numerous television sports programmes including Olympic coverage. He also served as a Hong Kong deputy to the National People's Congress and a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. In his later years, he wrote newspaper columns on Hong Kong history and compiled several books. He passed away on 8 February 2026 at the age of 92.