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'{{EngvarB|date=November 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}} {{Infobox officeholder |name=Joseph Lau |birth_name = 劉鑾雄<br />Lau Luen-hung |birth_date={{birth date and age|df=y|1951|7|21}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://webb-site.com/dbpub/natperson.asp?p=1580|title=Lau, Joseph Luen Hung 劉鑾雄|newspaper=Webb-site|publisher=Webb-site|date=13 December 2014}}</ref> |birth_place= Hong Kong |citizenship= United Kingdom<ref name="Forbes"/> <br />Hong Kong |alma_mater=[[University of Waterloo]], Kitchener, ON, CA [http://www.uwindsor.ca/about-the-university]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chineseestates.com/eng/Page/Group+Profile/Board+of+Directors/Chinese+Estates+Holdings+Limited.aspx|title=Board of Directors|publisher=Chinese Estates Group|year=2012|accessdate=29 February 2012}}</ref> |occupation=businessman |net_worth={{increase}} US$15.1&nbsp;billion<br /> (April 2017)<ref name="Forbes">[https://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/10/billionaires-2010_Joseph-Lau_VLP2.html "129 Joseph Lau"], ''Forbes''</ref> |spouse=Theresa Po Wing-kam†<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.scmp.com/article/413182/theresa-po-left-behind-life-medias-gaze |title=Theresa Po left behind a life in media's gaze| work= South China Morning Post}}</ref><br /> (1977–1992, 2 children)<br />Chan Hoi-wan<br /> (2016–present, 2 children) |partner = [[Yvonne Lui]] (2002–2014) |children= Lau Ming-wai<br />Jade Lau Sau-yung <br /> Lau Sau-ying <br /> Lau Sau-wah <br /> Lau Chi-fung <br /> Lau Chung-hok |relations=[[Thomas Lau]]<br /> (brother) |parents = Ip Sok Wun (1920–2015) | office = Chairman of the [[Chinese Estates Holdings]] | term_start = 12 December 2006 | term_end = 14 March 2014 | predecessor = [[Thomas Lau]] | successor = Lau Ming Wai | deputy = Lau Ming Wai | term_start1 = 1992 | term_end1 = 18 November 1999 | predecessor1 = [[Thomas Lau]] | successor1 = [[Thomas Lau]] | office2 = CEO of the [[Chinese Estates Holdings]] | term_start2 = 11 April 2006 | term_end2 = 14 March 2014 | successor2 = Lau Ming Wai | office3 = Chairman of the Kwong Sang Hong International Limited | term_start3 = 24 February 1998 | term_end3 = 18 November 1999 | predecessor3 = Philip Leigh Tose | successor3 = [[Thomas Lau]] | office4 = Chairman of Evergo China Holdings Limited | term_start4 = 1994 | term_end4 = 18 November 1999 | successor4 = [[Thomas Lau]] }} '''Joseph Lau Luen Hung''' ({{zh|c=劉鑾雄}}; born 21 July 1951) is a Hong Kong billionaire. He owns a 61% stake in [[Chinese Estates Holdings]] and his fortune is estimated by ''[[Forbes]]'' at $15.1&nbsp;billion as of April 2017.<ref name="forbes">{{cite news| url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/10/billionaires08_Joseph-Lau_VLP2.html | work=Forbes | title=#247 Joseph Lau | date=5 March 2008}}</ref> He is a convicted felon and fugitive in Macau. ==Early life== Joseph Lau was born on 21 July 1951 in Hong Kong. He has a younger brother [[Thomas Lau|Thomas]] and two younger sisters. He had his university education in Canada. ==Career== {{Expand section|date=January 2016}} Lau owns a 61% stake in [[Chinese Estates Holdings]]. ===Lawsuits=== On 31 May 2012, the [[Court of Final Appeal (Macau)|Macau Court of Final Appeal]] confirmed that Lau and [[Steven Lo]] were involved in the case of offering Macau's former public works chief [[Ao Man-long]] HK$20&nbsp;million over the bid for five plots of land opposite [[Macau International Airport]]. Lau and Lo were charged with bribery and money laundering. They both denied the charges and Lo earlier told the court that the HK$20&nbsp;million was a preliminary payment to construction company San Meng Fai. On 14 March 2014 Lau and Lo were found guilty of the charges against them in Macau's [[Legal system of Macau#High Court|Court of First Instance]]. Lau was sentenced to five years and three months in prison, but he appealed.<ref>{{cite news|title=Billionaire Lau Guilty of Bribery, Corruption in Macau|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-03-14/billionaire-lau-guilty-of-bribery-corruption-in-macau|accessdate=12 November 2015|agency=Bloomberg News|date=14 March 2014}}</ref> However, the [[Legal system of Macau#High Court|Court of Second Instance]] rejected his and Lo's appeals on 19 July 2015 and let the length of their prison terms stand.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lai|first1=Stephanie|title=Court of Second Instance rejects appeal lodged by Joseph Lau, Steven Lo|url=http://macaubusinessdaily.com/Politics/Court-Second-Instance-rejects-appeal-lodged-Joseph-Lau-Steven-Lo|accessdate=12 November 2015|work=Macau Business Daily|date=19 July 2015}}</ref> Lau has so far escaped extradition and remains at large as a fugitive as Macau and Hong Kong do not have an [[extradition]] treaty.<ref name=Diamond /> ==Personal== Lau married Bo Wing-kam (1954–2003) in 1977 and they were divorced in 1992. They had two children: a son, [[Lau Ming-wai]] (born 1979 Dec) and daughter Jade Lau Sau-yung (born 1983). In 2008, Lau Ming-wai's wife gave birth to mix twins, they are Lau's eldest grandchildren. Lau Ming-wai, a British citizen, is vice-chairman of [[Chinese Estates Group]] and is both chairman of the government's [[Commission on Youth]]<ref>[https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/04/20/panama-papers-future-political-star-and-heung-yee-kuk-lawmaker-have-british-nationality/ Panama Papers: Future political star and Heung Yee Kuk lawmaker have British nationality], Hong Kong Free Press, 20 April 2016</ref> and on the steering committee of the HK$10&nbsp;billion [[Community Care Fund]], established in 2010. He was formerly a member of the [[Commission on Poverty]]. In 2011, he was part of [[Henry Tang]]'s election team for the [[2012 Hong Kong Chief Executive election|2012 chief executive election]].<ref>Lo, Alex (28 Nov 2011). [http://www.scmp.com/article/986189/man-henry-tangs-coat-tails "The man on Henry Tang's coat-tails"], ''South China Morning Post''.</ref> Lau had two children with former assistant Kimbie Chan (aka Chan Hoi-wan) – a daughter, Josephine (born 2008) and a son (born 2012).<ref name=20101028forbes>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertolsen/2010/10/28/tycoons-two-girlfriends-seek-1-4-billion-of-aia-shares/|title=Tycoon's Two Girlfriends Seek $1.4 Billion of AIA Shares|first=Robert|last=Olsen|work=Forbes|date=28 October 2010|accessdate=21 June 2013}}</ref> In 2008, Lau became the grandfather of twins. Lau junior acceded to the chairmanship of Chinese Estates following his father's conviction in the court of Macau on bribery charges in 2014; Sue Chan, the elder sister of Lau's girlfriend Kimbie, became the chief executive of the company Lau founded.<ref name=20151112ejinsight>http://www.ejinsight.com/20151112-joseph-lau-the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving/</ref> In May 2007, Lau was revealed to be among the first seven purchasers of a [[Boeing 787]] Dreamliner jet for private use.<ref name="abcnews">[http://www.abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=3200271 ABC News: ABC News<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> According to the ''[[Sunday Times]]'', Lau owns a collection of 10,000 bottles of red wine, and is an avid art collector.<ref name="Forbes" /><ref>Stephen Jones [http://money.uk.msn.com/news/rich-lists/photos.aspx?cp-documentid=157329311&page=11 "Article 15. Joseph Lau: £3.937b"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110808164346/http://money.uk.msn.com/news/rich-lists/photos.aspx?cp-documentid=157329311&page=11 |date=8 August 2011 }}, ''Sunday Times Rich List 2011'', 9 May 2011</ref> On 7 November 2007, he made the top purchase of the evening at a [[Sotheby's]] auction by paying $39.2&nbsp;million for [[Paul Gauguin]]'s ''Te Poipoi'', a painting of a [[Tahiti]]an scene.<ref name="portfolio">{{in lang|de}} [http://www.portfolio.com/culture-lifestyle/culture-inc/arts/2007/11/08/Sothebys-Auction Sothebys Auction – Portfolio.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> In 2009, Lau bought a 7.03 carat blue diamond for his daughter Josephine, that he named the "Star of Josephine" at [[Sotheby's]] for $9.5&nbsp;million.<ref name=GuardNov15>{{cite news |url=http://www.luxuo.com/most-expensive/1-million-coupon-palm-beach.html |title=Billionaire buys 7-year-old daughter Blue Moon diamond for record $48m |date=12 November 2015 |work=The Guardian |accessdate=12 November 2015}}</ref> In November 2014, Lau bought a 9.75 carat blue diamond for his daughter Zoe, at Sotheby's for $32.6&nbsp;million, that he named "Zoe Diamond".<ref>{{cite web|last1=DeMarco|first1=Anthony|title=Bunny Mellon's Blue Diamond Sells For More Than $32.6 Million, Sets Two World Auction Records|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonydemarco/2014/11/21/9-75-carat-blue-diamond-sets-two-world-auction-records/|website=Forbes|accessdate=12 November 2015}}</ref> He also bought her a Cartier brooch featuring a 10.1 carat ruby,<ref>{{cite web|title=AN EXTREMELY RARE RUBY AND DIAMOND BROOCH, BY CARTIER|url=http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/jewelry/an-extremely-rare-ruby-and-diamond-brooch-5853020-details.aspx?from=salesummary&intObjectID=5853020&sid=19d06f6d-7640-4d28-b3d6-8773d0e61b58|website=Chistie's|accessdate=12 November 2015}}</ref> that he named "Zoe Red" at [[Christie's]] for $8.4&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web|title=Crooked tycoon buys daughter $77M in diamonds at auctions|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/blue-moon-pink-diamond-hong-kong-billionaire-joseph-lau-auctions/|publisher=CBS News|accessdate=12 November 2015}}</ref> In November 2015, Lau bought another two expensive diamonds.<ref name=Diamond>{{cite news|title=What a gem: Hong Kong tycoon buys daughter $48 mn diamond|url=https://news.yahoo.com/gem-hong-kong-tycoon-buys-daughter-48-mn-043248101.html|accessdate=12 November 2015|agency=Agence France-Presse|publisher=Yahoo News|date=12 November 2015}}</ref> On 10 November, he bought a 16.08 carat pink diamond at Christie's for $28.5&nbsp;million.<ref name=Diamond /> The next day, Lau bought a 12.03 carat blue diamond at Sotheby's for $48.4&nbsp;million, setting new records for the most expensive jewel sold at auction and the most expensive diamond ever.<ref name=Diamond /> He subsequently renamed them the "[[Sweet Josephine Diamond|Sweet Josephine]]" and the "[[Blue Moon of Josephine Diamond|Blue Moon of Josephine]]" respectively.<ref name=Diamond /> On 7 December 2016, Lau married Chan Hoi-wan (Kimbee) at Hong Kong, they have two children.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/realtime/finance/20161214/56047751|script-title=zh:【承認身份】大劉娶甘比 共同持有200億元華置股份|website=Apple Daily |language=zh|access-date=21 December 2016}}</ref> In 2017, citing serious health issues, the business tycoon has transferred his 75% shares in Chinese Estates to his new wife and his son.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/joseph-lau/?list=billionaires|title=Joseph Lau|website=Forbes|access-date=7 May 2017}}</ref> ==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Lau, Joseph}} [[Category:1951 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Fugitives]] [[Category:Hong Kong billionaires]] [[Category:Hong Kong chief executives]] [[Category:Hong Kong businesspeople]] [[Category:Hong Kong financial businesspeople]] [[Category:Hong Kong people of Chaoshanese descent]] [[Category:Hong Kong philanthropists]] [[Category:Hong Kong real estate businesspeople]] [[Category:University of Waterloo alumni]] [[Category:Hong Kong criminals]]'