:Hari Harilela

{{Infobox person

| honorific_prefix = The Honourable

| name = Hari Harilela

| image = Hari Naroomal Harilela.jpeg

| image_size = 180px

| caption = Hari Naroomal Harilela in 1980

| honorific_suffix = GBM, GBS, OBE, JP

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1922|8|10}}

| birth_place = Hyderabad, Sindh, British India (now Pakistan)

| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2014|12|29|1922|8|10}}

| death_place = Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China

| death_cause =

| occupation = Hotelier, investor

| boards =

| years_active =

| spouse = {{marriage|Padma Harilela|1951|2014}}

| children = Maya Harilela
Anita Hariela
Aron Hari Harilela
Nina Harilela
Shakun Harilela
Sheila Harilela

| parents = Naroomal Lilaram Harilela (deceased)
Devibai Harilela (deceased)

| relatives = Siblings: George Harilela (d. 2006)
Bob Harilela
Peter Harilela
Gary Harilela
Mohan "Mike" Harilela (d.2008)
Rani Harilela Hiranand (d.2001)

}}

Hari Naroomal Harilela, {{post-nominals|country = HKG|GBM|GBS|OBE|JP}} (10 August 1922 – 29 December 2014) was a Hong Kong Indian businessman, hotelier and philanthropist and the founder and chairman of the Harilela Group. The group runs businesses ranging from hotel and real estate investment to import and export trading. He was often dubbed the richest Indian in Hong Kong.{{cite news|title=Tributes flow in after hotelier and philanthropist Hari Harilela dies, aged 92|first=Thomas|last=Chan|date=30 December 2014|newspaper=South China Morning Post|url=http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1670640/hari-harilela-was-great-voice-hong-kongs-indian-community}}

Background

Hari Harilela was born in Hyderabad, British India in 1922.{{cite news|url=http://www.rthk.org.hk/press/eng/20020823_67_38948.html|title=Dr Hari Harilela, Chairman of Harilela Group, in RTHK's "View from the Top"|date=23 August 2002|work=RTHK|access-date=9 July 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031223050044/http://www.rthk.org.hk/press/eng/20020823_67_38948.html|archive-date=23 December 2003|df=dmy-all}}{{cite book|title=Kuensel – Volume 17|year=1982|publisher=Department of Information, Ministry of Development at the Royal Government of Bhutan Pres|location=Bhutan}} His father Naroomal Lilaram Mirchandani (later renamed Naraindas Harilela){{cite web|url=https://webb-site.com/dbpub/natperson.asp?p=26807|title=Harilela, Naroomal Lilaram|publisher=Webb-site Who's Who}} was the first of the family to venture to Hong Kong and Canton in search of his fortune and opened an antique shop there.{{cite web|url=https://www.cityu.edu.hk/sites/g/files/asqsls3821/files/2019-06/e_Harilela.pdf|title=Mr David HARILELA|publisher=City University of Hong Kong}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cityu.edu.hk/sites/g/files/asqsls3821/files/2019-06/c_Harilela.pdf|title=Mr David HARILELA|publisher=City University of Hong Kong}} Later, on receiving the news that his mother was very ill in Sindh, he rushed to India and was devastated to learn that his mother had just died upon his return. His family, without waiting for him, had already cremated her. Deeply hurt, he renounced the family name of Mirchandani and created his own surname by joining the names of his parents, Haribai and Lelaram. Thus was born the name Harilela.

Harilela moved to Canton with his mother and two brothers in 1930 to join his father, at the time his father owned various buildings and homes throughout China until repercussions of the Great Depression greatly damaged his business. The family once again found financial success selling fair-priced and high quality textile products to British soldiers during the Second World War.{{cite web|title=The Harilela Family|work=David Hariela|url=http://www.dharilela.com/family/family_main.html}}

Business career

Harilela began a tailoring business in Hong Kong, opening a clothing and tailoring shop and then pioneered the idea of supplying custom-made suits by mail order. During his early life, he would act as mediator to settle disputes between Indian families.{{cite news|title=Harilela patriarch, 92, mourned|url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=11&art_id=152741&sid=43613211&con_type=3&d_str=20141230&fc=2|first=Kevin|last=Cheng|date=30 December 2014|newspaper=The Standard|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230180804/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=11&art_id=152741&sid=43613211&con_type=3&d_str=20141230&fc=2|archive-date=30 December 2014|df=dmy-all}} In 1959, Harilela realised the mail order boom is a temporary phase. So he diversified into real estate and moved into the hotel business, starting the Harilela Group with his brothers George and Peter in 1959.

By 2014, the group owns 19 major hotels in Hong Kong, including the Holiday Inn Golden Mile and the Intercontinental Grand Stanford, both in Kowloon, as well as various others across Asia, two in Canada and one in London. The Harilela Group of hotels in the Asia-Pacific region includes properties in Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Penang, Bangkok and Sydney.{{cite news|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070708/spectrum/society1.htm|title=Richest Indian in Hong Kong|last=Mehta|first=Ramkiran|date=8 July 2007|work=Spectrum|publisher=The Tribune of India|accessdate=9 July 2010}}

In 2012, Harilela stepped down as chairman but remained the honorary chairman until his death. Harilela's son Aron replaced him as the group's chairman.

Public services

Harilela was highly regarded in the local Indian community. He had a great voice in the government on numerous ethnic minority issues and colonial governors and chief executives consulted Harilela. Harilela was also close friends with two former Chief Executives, Tung Chee-hwa and Donald Tsang Yam-kuen.

He was appointed member of the Hong Kong Basic Law Consultative Committee in 1985 and later appointed Hong Kong Affairs Advisor to the Government of the People's Republic of China in the 1990s. He was the Honorary Consul of Niger in Hong Kong until 2012.{{cite web|url=https://webb-site.com/dbpub/positions.asp?p=16241|title=Harilela, Hari Naroomal|work=Webb-site Who's Who}}

He was member of the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce, the most influential business chamber in the territory, Through the chamber he was elected the Hong Kong SAR Election Committee from 1996 to 2006 for the Commercial (First) sector, which was responsible for electing the Chief Executive of Hong Kong. He was also adviser of the Business and Professionals Federation of Hong Kong.

Harilela was also a Life Regent at Pepperdine University in the United States,{{cite web|url=http://www.pepperdine.edu/about/pepperdine/administration/board.htm|title=Board of Regents|work=Pepperdine University|accessdate=9 July 2010|archive-date=30 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230181024/http://www.pepperdine.edu/about/pepperdine/administration/board.htm|url-status=dead}} and was an Honorary Court Member of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Philanthropy

The Padma & Hari Harilela Lecture Theatres, with seating capacities of 250 and 150 respectively, were named in honour of the Harilelas in recognition of a HK$5 million donation to the Hong Kong Baptist University.{{cite web|url=http://www.hkbu.edu.hk/~cpro/pr_04/pe20051006.htm|title=HKBU names Padma & Hari Harilela Lecture Theatres|date=6 October 2005|work=Hong Kong Baptist University|access-date=6 April 2009|archive-date=20 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220140803/http://www.hkbu.edu.hk/~cpro/pr_04/pe20051006.htm|url-status=dead}}

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology receives HK$5M donation from Dr Hari N Harilela to Enhance Teaching & Research Excellence.{{cite web|url=http://www.ust.hk/about-hkust/media-relations/press-releases/hkust-receives-hk5m-donation-dr-hari-n-harilela-enhance-teaching-research-excellence/|title=HKUST Receives HK$5M Donation from Dr Hari N Harilela to Enhance Teaching & Research Excellence|date=6 November 2012|work=Hong Kong University of Science and Technology}} The lecture hall C (LT-C) was named "The Padma & Hari Harilela Lecture Theatres" in honour of the donation.

Family and personal life

Harilela was the patriarch of the Harilela family with about 80 members. The family lives in a 40-bedroom mansion in Kowloon Tong, with the next generation living in a connecting house.

He was member of the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

Harilela died early morning on 29 December 2014 at his Kowloon Tong home surrounded by family at the age of 92.{{cite news|url=http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201412/30/P201412300427.htm|title=Chief Executive saddened by death of Dr Hari Harilela|date=30 December 2014|work=Hong Kong Government |accessdate=30 December 2014}} He is surrounded by his wife Padma, son Aron, daughters Nina, Anita and Shakun. More than 100 members of his extended family, including his two surviving brothers and one sister live in the Kowloon Tong mansion.

Honours

He was made Justice of the Peace in 1963 and was awarded the Officer of the Order of the British Empire. He received the Gold Bauhinia Star in 2000 and the Grand Bauhinia Medal in 2009.

He was also a recipient of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman from the Government of India.{{cite news|url=http://www.asiaone.com/Business/SME+Central/Prime+Movers/Story/A1Story20090814-161075.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302213458/http://www.asiaone.com/Business/SME+Central/Prime+Movers/Story/A1Story20090814-161075.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 March 2011|title=The family man|last=Paul|first=Pradeep|date=14 August 2009|work=AsiaOne|accessdate=9 July 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://pmindia.nic.in/awardsbody.htm#dhnh|title=Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award – List of Recipients|date=9 January 2003|work=Prime Minister's Office|accessdate=9 July 2010|location=New Delhi}} Harilela won a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 4th Annual Asia Pacific Hotel Industry Investment Conference on 27 March 2001.{{cite web|url=http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/4007449.search?query=hari+harilela|title=Dr. Hari N. Harilela Wins Lifetime Achievement Award at 4th Annual Asia Pacific Hotel Industry Investment Conference Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels and Arthur Andersen Jointly Sponsor Event|date=27 March 2001|work=Hospitalitynet.org|accessdate=9 July 2010|archive-date=1 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160601191809/http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/4007449.search?query=hari+harilela|url-status=dead}}