Singapore, 26 September 2024 – Real estate and hotel tycoon Mr Kwek Leng Beng today launched the Chinese edition of his biography, Strictly Business: The Kwek Leng Beng Story. Titled《在商言商：郭令明》, the book follows the successful launch of the English edition last November.
Written by award-winning author Mr Peh Shing Huei and translated by Ms Suzane Quek, the book was launched this morning with 150 guests at a private event at Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel Singapore. Deputy Prime Minister Mr Heng Swee Keat was the Guest-of-Honour. 《在商言商》is published in collaboration with Focus Publishing Ltd, a subsidiary of SPH Media Holdings.
Mr Kwek, who is Executive Chairman of Hong Leong Group Singapore and leading global real estate company City Developments Limited (CDL), said, “After the launch of the English edition of my biography, it was important that we publish a Chinese edition to reach out to the Chinese-speaking community in Singapore and overseas, as this holds special significance for me. This book is a written testament of my experiences and the lessons I’ve learnt over the years that have guided my business thinking and shaped my philosophy.”
“My father, Kwek Hong Png, started Hong Leong Group by working closely with the local community and small and medium enterprises. We steadily grew the business over the years but have never forgotten our roots. Hong Leong Group is very much a part of Singapore’s corporate history, and I am proud we are flying our flag today in five continents. Through this book, I hope to connect more deeply with the local community, and to inspire other entrepreneurs and business leaders to pursue their passion and make their mark in the world of business.”
《在商言商》Strictly Business spans Mr Kwek’s six decades of breakthroughs across multiple sectors, including real estate, hospitality, and finance. It tells the story of a driven business leader who consistently overcame crises to build one of Asia’s largest conglomerates, with his companies and brands being blue-chip counters and household names.
Ms Lee Huay Leng, Editor-in-Chief, Chinese Media Group, SPH Media, said, “The story of Mr Kwek Leng Beng represents a significant chapter in our shared Singapore narrative. It is wonderful that the journey of this Singaporean Chinese entrepreneur, who has made a global impact through his family business, is being made accessible to Chinese-speaking readers at home and abroad."
CDL Group Chief Executive Officer Mr Sherman Kwek and author Mr Peh Shing Huei who were at the event, also delivered their congratulatory speeches to Mr Kwek on the successful launch of the Chinese edition of his biography.
The event also unveiled the completion of the Kwek Leng Beng University Tower at the Singapore Institute of Technology’s (SIT) new Punggol campus. Housing SIT’s academic and administrative offices, the tower is named in appreciation of the joint endowed gift of S$24 million by Mr Kwek and CDL. With a matching grant from the Government, the total endowment contribution amounts to S$60 million.
Millennium Hotels and Resorts, a subsidiary of CDL, showed its strong support for Mr Kwek’s book launch by serving well-known speciality dishes from its Singapore hotels and restaurants at the reception. These included special menu items by Hua Ting Restaurant from Orchard Hotel Singapore, Grand Shanghai Restaurant from Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel Singapore, and Princess Terrace Café from Copthorne King’s Hotel Singapore.
