Dr. Man Wai William Mong - Down the Memory Lane – Lasallians Remembered

Dr. Mong, Man Wai William

Date of Birth: 7th November 1927 Date of Death: 21st July 2010

Biography

Message from Charles Chan, President of LSCOBA 2009-10

Dr. William MONG, Man-wai RIP
Posted by: CHAN Kit Ying, Charles (77)
Date: July 22, 2010 05:07PM

It is with a heavy heart that I relay this piece of very sad news: Dr. William Mong Man-wai, loyal old boy, stern supporter and benefactor of La Salle passed away peacefully yesterday, 21st July 2010, with his family by his side. Known to many of us as William Si-hing or Uncle Mong, he studied in La Salle College from late thirties to mid-forties. He was a successful entrepreneur and benevolent philanthropist in every meaning of the words, having founded the thriving Shun Hing Group in the fifties as the sole agent of Panasonic (aka National) products in the territory and the charitable Shun Hing Foundation in 1984 which counts many educational establishments as recipients of his good deeds, with La Salle a special beneficiary, in Hong Kong and China. His keen business senses were legendary and in particular, his involvement in popularizing the electric rice cookers amongst the Chinese population is now folklore in the industry. I have met him on numerous occasions and he was always unfailingly humble, sincere and approachable, a true role model for all La Salle boys.

Uncle Mong was the first of three generations of Lasallian. One of his sons, David Mong Tak-yeung, is an OBA Past President and David’s son, is now studying in La Salle Primary. David is continuing his father’s good work, both in business and charities, and is actively contributing to the Lasallian community, financial or otherwise.

With Uncle Mong’s passing, we have lost a great Lasallian. May his soul rest in peace and may we offer our heartfelt condolences to his family.

Sincerely,
Charles K. Chan
President 2009-10
LSCOBA

蒙民偉以電飯煲起家獲頒鄉發金紫荊星章
21.07.2010

有”電器大王”稱號的信興集團創辦人及主席蒙民偉在養和醫院逝世,終年82歲;信興集團發出新聞稿指,蒙民偉因病在養和醫院留醫多月,各大名醫協力診治,辭世時甚為安祥,家人子女均在身旁。 蒙民偉在1953年成立信興行,銷售樂聲牌產品,他當時要逐家戶推銷電飯煲,亦因此被稱為”電飯煲大王”,信興經歷半個世紀發展,由一間原本祗有三人的小公司,發展成為目前有超過一千七百名員工的集團,他熱心支持內地及本港的教育等公益事業,多年來捐款逾超過5億元,北京清華大學、本地多所大學和中學都有大樓及設施以他名字命名,零六年獲特區政府頒發金紫荊星章。

The following report from Wen Wei Po (文匯報) offers some background to Mong’s life and philanthropy deeds.
熱心教育行善 捐款逾5億

【本報訊】除了被外界稱為「電器大王」外,蒙民偉亦積極參與公益事業。早在1981年,蒙民偉已出任「香港明愛基金」籌款委員會主席,1984至87年期間,擔任「香港公益金」理事。及後他在1984年成立「信興教育及慈善基金」,熱心支持內地及本港的教育、醫療、康樂、體育及環保等公益事業,多年來捐款逾5億元。

在各項公益事業上,他特別支持教育事業,這與蒙在求學階段正值日軍侵華,令其完成學業飽經辛酸有關。在第二次世界大戰爆發前,蒙民偉曾就讀於香港喇沙書院,日治時期他到廣州繼續了一年學業。1945年舉家遷返香港,蒙民偉於1946年重返喇沙完成最後一年高中課程,並參加清華大學入學試,獲取錄到北京選修航空工程,其後卻因戰爭而被迫中斷學業,並返港加入叔父的公司工作。

留學日本奠定貿易根基
1949年下半年蒙民偉被父親送往日本留學,雖然父母均能操流利日語,但由於日本侵華,中國人痛恨日本人,為怕被人誤會,兩人出外絕不會說日語,在家中大部分時間亦說粵語,而孩子們則全部使用粵語,故此蒙民偉剛到日本時連一個日本字母亦不會,寄居於父親三菱舊同事原清(Hara Kiyoshi)在東銀座的家中,年已22歲的他獲安排入讀千代田小學,被校內的小朋友稱為「大阿哥」(Oniichaman),僅用了1個月便唸完一年級,花了6個月便唸完小學課程,練得一口流利日語,並奠定了他與日本人做生意的根基。

對港高等教育貢獻重大
多年以來,信興教育及慈善基金對香港高等教育作出很大貢獻,在香港城市大學、香港理工大學、嶺南大學及香港中文大學校園內都有以「蒙民偉」為命名的大樓。

同時,基金亦向上海交通大學、北京大學、清華大學、南京大學、浙江大學、大連大學及英國劍橋大學等作出資助。他生前接受訪問時曾表示,「我很重視教育,所以用自己的名去命名,並非為名,而是希望鼓勵更多人對教育作出捐獻。」

蒙民偉是「喇沙仔」,但很少人知道蒙家三代均與名校喇沙書院有關。除了蒙民偉是喇沙舊生,其子蒙德揚及蒙德揚的兒子也入讀喇沙,故多年來蒙家上下對喇沙均十分支持,蒙德揚更曾於1997至98年擔任喇沙舊生會會長。

Contributed by: Peter T Cheung (81)         2010-07-23 11:51:33
Description: May Mr. Mong’s soul rest in peace. He is a legend. His name “Mong” and “National” & “Panasonic” will always be remembered in our minds. Deepest condolences and sympathy to the Mong’s family, especially to David who is so active in La Salle community. With sympathy, Peter Cheung (81)
Categories: Deceased, Old Boys