The family of Dr Stanley Ho expressed their grief at the passing of their father, Dr Stanley Ho, at a press conference in Hong Kong on Tuesday.
Dr Ho, the father of modern Macau, passed away at the age of 98 at Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital following a long battle with illness, with his daughter, Pansy Ho Chiu King, addressing the media shortly afterwards.
“Father passed away around 1pm in his sleep peacefully today at the age of 98,” said Ho, the Co-Chairperson and Executive Director of MGM China Holdings Ltd, Group Executive Chairman and Managing Director of Shun Tak Holdings, and Director of STDM.
“Although we knew this day would come, it did not release any of our unspeakable sadness. Dr Ho, my father, will always stay in our hearts.”
Dr Ho’s fourth wife and SJM Holdings Co-Chairman and Executive Director, Angela Leong On Kei, and his son, Melco Resorts & Entertainment Chairman and CEO Lawrence Ho, also stood with the family. Details of Dr Ho’s funeral are set to be announced in the coming days.
STDM, Shun Tak Holdings Ltd, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau S.A. (SJM) and SJM Holdings Ltd released a joint obituary to commemorate the loss, while Hotel Lisboa and Grand Lisboa lowered their flags to half-mast.
“Over the past 50 years, Dr Ho had steered the revolutionary development of Macau’s gaming and entertainment industry, with the objective of diversifying its growth to drive parallel advancements in social, infrastructural and cultural developments and injected Macau with the necessary vitality to transform into a world class international tourism destination as it is known today,” the obituary stated.
Vice Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the former Macau SAR Chief Executive, Edmund Ho Hau Wah, and current Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng sent condolence letters to the Ho family, commending Dr Ho’s lifelong commitment to charity and his significant contribution to the economic prosperity and stability of Macau. Dr Ho had been a member of the 9th to 11th CPPCC Standing Committees.
The Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Macau also issued a statement to Dr Ho’s relatives, expressing its deep condolences for his passing. The statement noted that Dr Ho had been loyal to the country, actively promoting the implementation of the “One country, Two systems” principle and making important contributions to Macau’s handover in 1999.
Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam also expressed her deep sorrow over the passing of Dr Ho.
