Allan Zeman
| The Honourable Dr. Allan Zeman GBM, GBS, JP | |
|---|---|
 Zeman in 2009 at Ocean Park Hong Kong | |
| Born |
18 July 1949 Regensburg, West Germany |
| Nationality |
Canadian (1949-2008) Chinese (Hong Kong) (2008–present) |
| Alma mater | LL.D. (Hon) (UWO) |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Known for | Developing Lan Kwai Fong and running Ocean Park in Hong Kong |
| Political party | New People's Party (Hong Kong) |
| Awards |
2001: Justice of the Peace 2004: Gold Bauhinia Star 2011: Grand Bauhinia Medal |
Allan Zeman GBM, GBS, JP (Chinese name: 盛智文; born 1949) is a Hong Kong business magnate. He was born in Germany, raised in Canada and is of Jewish descent. He is known in Hong Kong as the "Father of Lan Kwai Fong" (蘭桂坊之父).
Background and personal life
Allan Zeman was born in Regensburg, Germany; and was raised in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where his mother worked in a hospital. When Zeman was seven years old, his father died.[1] He started working at the age of ten. He dropped out of college, and by the age of nineteen, while working for a lingerie company, he had earned his first US$1 million.[2]
He made his first fortune by importing clothes from Hong Kong. He frequently travelled to Hong Kong for work in the 1970s, and eventually moved there in 1975.[3] Zeman is married and has two grown children. He speaks English, French and some Cantonese, and is a teetotaler.[4]
Career
In 1975, Zeman founded Colby International Group to source clothing in China and export it to Canada. In late 2000, by now a much larger and diversified company, Colby was sold to Li & Fung Ltd., a major competitor. In the early 1980s, Zeman felt that Hong Kong had no western restaurant that suited his needs, so in 1983 he opened California Restaurant in Lan Kwai Fong, a narrow street in Central, Hong Kong. He bought the entire block in 1984 and thus launched his career as both an entertainment operator and property developer.
Through Lan Kwai Fong Holdings Ltd, of which he is chairman, he drove the development of Lan Kwai Fong to be one of the most important bar and night life districts in Hong Kong. He is said to own 65 percent of the district's properties.[3]
Meanwhile, as chairman of Lan Kwai Fong Concepts Holdings Ltd., he controls a number of restaurants in Lan Kwai Fong including California, California Coffee, China Lan Kwai Fong, Indochine, Tokio Joe, Cafe des Artistes, Tutta Luna, Jazz Club, Thai Lemongrass, BACI, BACI Pizza and Luna Di Notte.
In July 2003,[5] Zeman was invited by the then-Chief Executive of Hong Kong, Tung Chee-hwa, to become the chairman of Ocean Park. He managed to raise visitor numbers despite the opening of rival Hong Kong Disneyland, making the park more attractive and, remarkably, the park generated record profits.
A 2007 article in Forbes magazine[6] referred to Zeman as "Hong Kong's Mouse Killer" because of the success that Ocean Park enjoys.
Honours
In 2001, he was appointed a Justice of the Peace in Hong Kong, in 2004, he was awarded the Gold Bauhinia Star and in 2011 he was awarded the Grand Bauhinia Medal.
Other business interests
Film and TV
A noted film producer, Zeman is chairman of Sweetpea Entertainment Inc., a film production company based in Los Angeles. He is also involved with After Dark Films, a movie company.
Fashion
As well as having built and sold off the successful Colby group, Zeman is a director of Algo Group, another fashion business. In February 2007, he was named "Stylemaker of the Year" by Style Magazine (published by the South China Morning Post).
Property development
Zeman is a property developer and built the Andara Resort in Phuket, Thailand.
Other
Zeman is chairman of Mesco Shipyard Ltd (shipbuilding) and DKA Ltd (public relations), and a director of Wynn Resorts.[7] He is a non-executive director of Pacific Century Premium Developments Ltd.[8][9]
Political activity
He supported Regina Ip, the controversial former Secretary for Security in the 2007 Legco by-election in the Hong Kong Island constituency. However, she was defeated by Anson Chan.[10]
Official positions
Zeman is prominent in government circles, sitting on various committees, boards and advisory bodies. He is a long-standing member of the Board of Governors of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the Economic and Employment Council in Hong Kong. He is a board member of the Tourism Strategy Group for the Hong Kong Tourism Commission, the Cultural and Heritage Commission and the Urban Renewal Authority.[9] He is a member of the International Events Fund Steering Committee for the Hong Kong Tourism Board. He was appointed as a member of the Services Promotion Strategy Group, chaired by the Financial Secretary. He is on the Board of the Hong Kong Arts Festival and Hong Kong Community Chest.[9]
Citizenship
Zeman has long held the right of abode in Hong Kong; this entitled him to a Hong Kong permanent identity card. In addition, in September 2008, Zeman renounced his Canadian citizenship and became a naturalised citizen of the People's Republic of China, as he said he has lived and worked in Hong Kong for 38 years and has always considered it to be his home. The Chinese citizenship, combined with his right of abode in Hong Kong, enables him to hold a Home Return Permit for entering mainland China, and a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport for international travel.
References
- ↑ "Meet 'n' Greet with Allan Zeman: full interview". Retrieved 26 July 2012.
- ↑ "A Conversation With Allan Zeman: The Father Of Lan Kwai Fong". Retrieved 2 Nov 2016.
- 1 2 King of the hill looks to Hollywood's heights SCMP, 27 March 2006.
- ↑ Chris Oliver.China’s King of ‘the Fong’ looks westward, 25 November 2010; accessed 17 June 2014.
- ↑ "法定機構「唐人」勢叮走". Oriental Daily News. 5 April 2012.(traditional Chinese)
- ↑ Allan Zeman: Hong Kong's Mouse Killer, Forbes.com, 13 February 2007; accessed 17 June 2014.
- ↑ Profile at Wynn Resorts, phx.corporate-ir.net; accessed 17 June 2014.
- ↑ Pacific Century Premium Developments Ltd, pcpd.com; accessed 17 June 2014.
- 1 2 3 Allan Zeman profile, World Services Congress, chamber.org.hk; accessed 17 June 2014.
- ↑ Father figure boosts Regina, The Standard, 2 October 2007.
External links
- Serving with Passion: Lan Kwai Fong A South China Morning Post vidcast featuring an interview with Allan Zeman, dated 29 May 2007, where he tells the creation story of Hong Kong's famous entertainment district
- Ying Ying and Le Le come to Hong Kong A South China Morning Post vidcast showing the arrival of Hong Kong's new pandas. Ocean Park chairman Allan Zeman explains their significance. Dated 28 April 2007.
- Hong Kong shows its style A South China Morning Post vidcast, dated 20 January 1997, showed Allan Zeman's reaction at being named "Stylemaker of the Year".
- Official website of Lan Kwai Fong Group
| Order of precedence | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Charles Kao Recipient of the Grand Bauhinia Medal |
Hong Kong order of precedence Recipient of the Grand Bauhinia Medal |
Succeeded by Stephen Lam Recipient of the Grand Bauhinia Medal |