Charles Ho

Ho was born in Hong Kong on 23 June 1949.{{cite web|url=http://news.sohu.com/20060218/n241896885.shtml|script-title=zh:简历：全国政协委员何柱国(特邀香港人士)|author=戴金胜|date=18 February 2002|publisher=Sohu.com|language=Chinese|accessdate=17 August 2014}} He had family roots in Fujian.[http://www.fjqw.gov.cn/qbcmsapp/view/zh-cn/news.jsp?cateunid=489CA54746BBEF46B93299CB1299E65A&unid=6846A8947754ED8526B32705E630BC66　福建省政府福建僑網政協常委名單] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819095623/http://www.fjqw.gov.cn/qbcmsapp/view/zh-cn/news.jsp?cateunid=489CA54746BBEF46B93299CB1299E65A&unid=6846A8947754ED8526B32705E630BC66 |date=19 August 2014 }} (in Chinese). Retrieved 17 August 2014. He was the grandson of Ho Ying-chie, the founder and owner of the Hong Kong Tobacco Company Limited,[http://www.go.asia/ho-ying-chie-2/ Ho Ying Chie] Retrieved 17 August 2014 and the brother of David Ho, a Vancouver-based entrepreneur.[https://www.scmp.com/article/991654/sex-shame-hk-tycoon-court-row Sex-shame HK tycoon in court row]; South China Morning Post.[https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2012/02/03/bc_billionaire_pleads_guilty_to_unlawfully_confining_prostitute.html "B.C. billionaire pleads guilty to unlawfully confining prostitute"] Toronto Star 3 February 2012 Ho founded the Sing Tao Newspaper Group Limited in 2001.

On 9 December 2011, Ho, an outspoken supporter of Chief Executive Election candidate Henry Tang, publicly challenged Tang's opponent CY Leung in a press conference, questioning his ability to handle the top job in Hong Kong.{{cite news|last=Deng|first=Andrea|date=9 December 2011|title=War of words flares over 'Leung bankruptcy' report|publisher=China Daily Asia|location=China|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/hkedition/2011-12/09/content_14235910.htm|accessdate=19 August 2014}} Ho noted that one of Leung's companies, DTZ Holdings, had the values of its shares decreased to zero and declared bankruptcy, and thus fearing that "Hong Kong's economy would become zero because of Leung's wrong decisions".

However, in an interview on 30 August 2014, Ho withdrew his accusation towards CY Leung by praising Leung's efforts in improving people's livelihood, saying that Leung's decisions "hasn't made Hong Kong's economy become zero yet".{{cite web|date=30 August 2014|script-title=zh:何柱國：梁振英冇令香港一鋪清袋|url=http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/realtime/news/20140830/52848372|publisher=Apple Daily|location=Hong Kong|language=Chinese|accessdate=30 August 2014}}

On 1 July 2014, Ho was awarded the Grand Bauhinia Medal, the highest award under the Hong Kong honours and awards system by Chief Executive CY Leung for his "distinguished service to the community, particularly his contribution to the media industry."[http://gia.info.gov.hk/general/201407/01/P201406300919_0919_130758.pdf 2014 Honors List] Retrieved 17 August 2014 The decision to award Ho the highest honour sparked dismay among some Hong Kong media. Ho is originally considered a staunch supporter Henry Tang, CY Leung's major opponent in the 2012 Chief Executive Election. However, he switched sides and praised Leung as a competent leader immediately after he was elected, and thereafter was a staunch supporter of CY Leung's government.{{cite news|url=http://rthk.hk/rthk/news/englishnews/news.htm?all&20140701&56&1017983|title=Supporter of CY's rival gets top award|date=1 July 2014|publisher=RTHK|accessdate=17 August 2014|location=Hong Kong}} Some media expressed opinions that Ho did not deserve the award, as they believed only "true heroes" should be honoured instead of a "yes man" like Ho.

In an interview on 30 August 2014, Ho commented on the civil nomination proposal demanded by members of the pro-democracy camp for the 2017 Chief Executive election, saying that there is no such thing as a "civil nomination" in any political system worldwide, and that he feared that the adoption of a "civil nomination" for Chief Executive may ultimately result in triads nominated for the post.{{cite news|url=http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/realtime/news/20140830/52848394?top=4h|script-title=zh:何柱國評公民提名：如推舉黑社會選特首點算？|date=30 August 2014|publisher=Apple Daily|language=Chinese|accessdate=30 August 2014|location=Hong Kong}}{{cite web|url=http://www2.hkej.com/instantnews/current/article/891033/%E4%BD%95%E6%9F%B1%E5%9C%8B%3A%E4%B8%AD%E5%A4%AE%E8%AA%8D%E5%90%8C%E6%B3%9B%E6%B0%91%E6%9C%89%E6%84%9B%E5%9C%8B%E4%BA%BA%E5%A3%AB+%E6%9C%AA%E9%99%90%E5%87%BA%E9%96%98|script-title=zh:何柱國:中央認同泛民有愛國人士 未限出閘|date=30 August 2014|publisher=信報|language=Chinese|accessdate=30 August 2014|location=Hong Kong}}

In early December 2019, there were unconfirmed reports that Ho was denied entry to the United States after the passing of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act. Ho denied the rumour and sued an online media for libel.{{Cite web|last=李慧娜|date=16 December 2019|title=何柱國入稟告網台誹謗 並要求披露參與發布人士資料|url=https://www.hk01.com/社會新聞/410455/何柱國入稟告網台誹謗-並要求披露參與發布人士資料|url-status=live|access-date=13 October 2021|website=HK01|language=zh-HK|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210807024227/https://www.hk01.com/%E7%A4%BE%E6%9C%83%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E/410455/%E4%BD%95%E6%9F%B1%E5%9C%8B%E5%85%A5%E7%A8%9F%E5%91%8A%E7%B6%B2%E5%8F%B0%E8%AA%B9%E8%AC%97-%E4%B8%A6%E8%A6%81%E6%B1%82%E6%8A%AB%E9%9C%B2%E5%8F%83%E8%88%87%E7%99%BC%E5%B8%83%E4%BA%BA%E5%A3%AB%E8%B3%87%E6%96%99 |archive-date=7 August 2021 }}

In December 2021, it was reported that Ho was eligible to vote four times in the 2021 Hong Kong legislative election, yielding 0.0334058% of the total voting value (elected seats), which is 6721 times more than the value of an average voter's total voting value.{{Cite web|last=FactWire|date=15 December 2021|title=Factwire: 41 privileged voters have 7,200 times greater power than a regular Hong Kong voter following election revamp|url=https://hongkongfp.com/2021/12/16/factwire-41-privileged-voters-have-7200-times-greater-power-than-a-regular-hong-kong-voter-following-election-revamp/|access-date=16 December 2021|website=Hong Kong Free Press HKFP|language=en-GB}}

Ho studied at Diocesan Boy's School in the early parts of his life before moving to the USA to pursue higher studies. He returned to Hong Kong to assume the leadership of his father's company.

Ho disclosed information on his lung cancer diagnosis in February 2025. After receiving treatment in Hong Kong, he made a successful recovery and voiced his conviction about the right to smoke freely.

Ho died on 12 June 2025, at the age of 75, believed to be due to complications from influenza.https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/article/304603/Business-tycoon-Charles-Ho-passes-away-at-75

• 2014: Grand Bauhinia Medal

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Category:1949 births

Category:2025 deaths

Category:Hong Kong businesspeople

Category:Recipients of the Grand Bauhinia Medal

Category:Members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference

Category:Members of the Selection Committee of Hong Kong

Category:Members of the Election Committee of Hong Kong, 1998–2000

Category:Members of the Election Committee of Hong Kong, 2000–2005

Category:Members of the Election Committee of Hong Kong, 2007–2012

Category:Members of the Election Committee of Hong Kong, 2012–2017

Category:Members of the Election Committee of Hong Kong, 2017–2021

Category:Members of the 13th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference

Category:Sing Tao News Corporation

Category:Deaths from influenza