Sir David Tang, founder of fashion chain Shanghai Tang, has died at the age of 63.
The Hong Kong philanthropist had battled liver cancer for years. Earlier this month, Tang announced in his Financial Times column that he would be throwing a “farewell party” in London in September after knowing that he would only live for another “a month of so”.
Tang, the grandson of another famous philanthropist, Tang Shiu-kin, was born in Hong Kong and educated in England. In addition to his successful fashion business, which was sold to Richemont in 1998, the businessman founded the China Club restaurant.
Aside from his fashion label, Tang was known for his love of cigars. He founded the Pacific Cigar Company and was the sole distributor of all Cuban cigars in the Asia-Pacific.
In 2008 he was made a Knight Commander of the British Empire for his charitable services in the UK and to British interests in Hong Kong.
Tributes have poured in for the billionaire, dubbed the “best-connected man in Britain”. Fortnum & Mason CEO Ewan Venters confirmed Tang’s death on Twitter today. “I have recently learnt earlier this evening from Lady Tang, the great man, Sir David Tang passed this evening. RIP,” he wrote.
American actor Russell Crowe offered his condolences by saying “RIP dear friend Sir David Tang, the privilege was mine. Witty, charming, intellectual, salacious, hilarious, loving and funny as f***” on his Twitter account.
On the subject of his native Hong Kong, Tang was never shy, as evidenced in this February 2016 speech on the city’s future given at the Foreign Correspondent’s Club.
When asked by the Financial Times in 2010 about how he would like to be remembered, he said: “When I am dead, I hope it may be said: His sins were scarlet, but his books were read.”
Tang leaves behind his wife Lucy and two children — a daughter and a son — from his first marriage, per SCMP.
With additional reporting by AFP.
