David Ho (businessman)

In this Hong Kong name, the surname is Ho. In accordance with Hong Kong custom, the Western-style name is David Ho and the Chinese-style name is Ho Ting-kwok. For other people with the same name, see David Ho.
David Ho
Born1952 or 1953 (age 71–72)[a]
British Hong Kong
NationalityCanadian (1986-)
Occupationbusinessman
Known forHarmony Airways
Relatives

David Ho Ting-kwok (born 1952 or 1953)[a] is a Vancouver-based Canadian entrepreneur originally from Hong Kong.[2] He founded the now-defunct Harmony Airways,[2] and owns the University Golf Club (course land owned and leased from Musqueam Capital Corporation).[3] He has a minority interest in MCL Motors (founded 1992) since selling it to Dilawri Automotive Group in 2010.[4] In 2005 he was named the Businessman of the Year by the Vancouver Junior Board of Trade.[5] Ho is a former member of the Vancouver Police Board.[3]

In 2009 Ho was charged with unlawful confinement, cocaine possession and possession of an unregistered firearm in relation to an incident involving a prostitute. On February 2, 2012, he pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful confinement and was given a one-year suspended sentence, 45 hours of community service and a $5,000 fine.[6]

Ho and his family have been frequent donors to various charities, especially Orbis International.[6]

Ho's name was found in the Panama Papers involving his registration of Harmonyworld Investment Company by Mossack Foncesa.[7]

Background

Ho's grandfather, Ho Ying-chie, owned the Hong Kong Tobacco Co., the eighth-largest tobacco company worldwide.[8] Sing Tao News Corporation Limited chairman Charles Ho is his brother.[9]

Ho attended Woodberry Forest School in Virginia, and then studied business at the University of Richmond.[8] Ho, and his then-wife Rita Fung (sister of Fairchild Group CEO Thomas Fung and daughter of Fung King Hey, co-founder of Sun Hung Kai & Co. of Hong Kong), arrived in Canada in 1984 because she had family in the Vancouver area.[2][8] The couple divorced in 1995. Ho later married Winnie Schweitzer,[10] who along with Ho are directors in Seychelles registered Harmonyworld Investments.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Ho was 58 years old as of June 22, 2011.[1]
  1. ^ "Vancouver billionaire facing new charged while awaiting trial for unlawful confinement". Vancouver Sun. June 4, 2011. Archived from the original on August 4, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c "Billionaire Vancouver businessman David Ho faces criminal charges", Vancouver Sun, September 29, 2009.
  3. ^ a b "Vancouver businessman David Ho charged with unlawful confinement and weapons offences", Georgia Straight, September 28, 2009.
  4. ^ Dilawri.ca. Vancouver luxury dealership joins national automotive group Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine. 2010-06-02. Accessed 2015-03-25.
  5. ^ "Archives: Harmony Airways founder David Ho named business leader of the year" Archived 2012-02-17 at the Wayback Machine, Vancouver Sun, June 29, 2005.
  6. ^ a b Frances Bula, "Vancouver billionaire pleads guilty to confining prostitute after night of sex" The Globe and Mail 2 February 2012
  7. ^ "Vancouver billionaire became Mossack Fonseca client while facing criminal charges". Toronto Star. May 26, 2016.
  8. ^ a b c "David Ho: Ultra-secritive, and ultra-rich" Archived 2010-08-11 at the Wayback Machine, Maclean's, November 28, 2005.
  9. ^ "B.C. billionaire pleads guilty to unlawfully confining prostitute" Toronto Star 2012-02-03
  10. ^ "Panama Papers law firm approved Vancouver billionaire David Ho despite his criminal charges". Cbc.ca. Retrieved July 20, 2022.