Charlie's life

Shali Lai is an Indian businessman. When he was seven years old, he came to Hong Kong with his parents to make a living, selling food outside the British military camp. Later, he won a food supply and laundry service contract for the British troops stationed in Hong Kong, and later opened a clothing store. and tailor shop, and the business was going smoothly. In 1959, he and his brothers founded the Shalilila Group. Later, he ran hotels and real estate, with family hotels in Macau, Singapore, Penang, Europe and the United States. Xia Lilai loves Hong Kong. He once said: "When asked where you are from, don't care about your blood or your skin color. It depends on where your home is. My home is in Hong Kong and I am a Hong Konger.

Xia Lilai said that he was a witness of Hong Kong's journey. In my memory, the two changes in Hong Kong impressed me most. The first was the improvement of the social status of Hong Kong people. "Before the war, the Hong Kong police, Civil servants are all foreigners, and the Chinese are in the managed class. After the war, Chinese people gradually entered the civil service team and even entered the core institutions that govern Hong Kong. Xia Lilai believes that the most significant historical event he has experienced is the return of Hong Kong. He recalled that when the handover was approaching, fear and confidence crisis filled Hong Kong, and many financial groups fled Hong Kong with their money. However, "Hong Kong is a unique city. What will happen to Hong Kong if everyone leaves?" He discovered at that time that the Chinese government was actually full of sincerity. China's promise to maintain Hong Kong's system and way of life unchanged for 50 years strengthened him. Maintaining confidence in investing in Hong Kong, he said with a smile that if you stay in a city when it needs your investment, it will be like helping a friend in need and "you will get good returns."

On December 29, 2014, Xialilai passed away at the age of 92. Leung Chun-ying issued a statement expressing deep condolences for Xialilai's death and extending deep condolences to his family on behalf of the SAR government. He went to the Shalilila family mansion in person at about 4 p.m., stayed for about 20 minutes and then left.

There was an endless stream of people from the community who came to the mansion to mourn Xia Lilai, including many people of South Asian descent. There were also many workers who delivered wreaths to the mansion, and a large number of media went to interview him. However, according to Xialilai's relatives and friends, the memorial ceremony was private, so reporters could only wait outside the mansion. Financial Secretary John Tsang, Secretary for Education Ng Hak-kim, Executive Council Member and Economic and Democratic League Legislative Council Member Lam Kin-fung, British Consul General in Hong Kong Josephine Ng, Chairman of Sino Land Wong Chee-cheung, Wharf Vice Chairman and Managing Director Ng Tian Hai, Executive Vice-President of Baptist University Li Zhaoquan, Vice President Lu Dazhang and others also went to the Xia Lilai family mansion to mourn Xia Lilai. Although the President of the Chinese University, Joseph Sung, was not present, he also sent a wreath to pay tribute.