David Ho (businessman)

In this Hong Kong name, the surname is Ho. In accordance with Hong Kong custom, the Western-style name is David Ho and the Chinese-style name is Ho Ting-kwok. For other people with the same name, see David Ho.

David Ho
Born	1952 or 1953 (age 71–72)[a] British Hong Kong
Nationality	Canadian (1986-)
Occupation	businessman
Known for	Harmony Airways
Relatives	Charles Ho (brother) Ho Ying-chie (grandfather)

David Ho Ting-kwok (born 1952 or 1953)[a] is a Vancouver-based Canadian entrepreneur originally from Hong Kong.[2] He founded the now-defunct Harmony Airways,[2] and owns the University Golf Club (course land owned and leased from Musqueam Capital Corporation).[3] He has a minority interest in MCL Motors (founded 1992) since selling it to Dilawri Automotive Group in 2010.[4] In 2005 he was named the Businessman of the Year by the Vancouver Junior Board of Trade.[5] Ho is a former member of the Vancouver Police Board.[3]

In 2009, Ho was charged with unlawful confinement, cocaine possession and possession of an unregistered firearm in relation to an incident involving a prostitute. On 2 February 2012, he pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful confinement and was given a one-year suspended sentence, 45 hours of community service and a $5,000 fine.[6]

Ho and his family have been frequent donors to various charities, especially Orbis International.[6]

Ho's name was found in the Panama Papers involving his registration of Harmonyworld Investment Company by Mossack Foncesa.[7]

Background

Ho's grandfather, Ho Ying-chie, owned the Hong Kong Tobacco Co., the eighth-largest tobacco company worldwide.[8] Sing Tao News Corporation Limited chairman Charles Ho is his brother.[9]

Ho attended Woodberry Forest School in Virginia, and then studied business at the University of Richmond.[8] Ho, and his then-wife Rita Fung (sister of Fairchild Group CEO Thomas Fung and daughter of Fung King Hey, co-founder of Sun Hung Kai & Co. of Hong Kong), arrived in Canada in 1984 because she had family in the Vancouver area.[2][8] The couple divorced in 1995. Ho later married Winnie Schweitzer,[10] who along with Ho are directors in Seychelles registered Harmonyworld Investments.

See also

• Chinese Canadians in British Columbia

References

1. Ho was 58 years old as of June 22, 2011.[1]

1. "Vancouver billionaire facing new charged while awaiting trial for unlawful confinement". Vancouver Sun. June 4, 2011. Archived from the original on August 4, 2011.
2. "Billionaire Vancouver businessman David Ho faces criminal charges", Vancouver Sun, September 29, 2009.
3. "Vancouver businessman David Ho charged with unlawful confinement and weapons offences", Georgia Straight, September 28, 2009.
4. Dilawri.ca. Vancouver luxury dealership joins national automotive group Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine. 2010-06-02. Accessed 2015-03-25.
5. "Archives: Harmony Airways founder David Ho named business leader of the year" Archived 2012-02-17 at the Wayback Machine, Vancouver Sun, June 29, 2005.
6. Frances Bula, "Vancouver billionaire pleads guilty to confining prostitute after night of sex" The Globe and Mail 2 February 2012
7. "Vancouver billionaire became Mossack Fonseca client while facing criminal charges". Toronto Star. May 26, 2016.
8. "David Ho: Ultra-secritive, and ultra-rich" Archived 2010-08-11 at the Wayback Machine, Maclean's, November 28, 2005.
9. "B.C. billionaire pleads guilty to unlawfully confining prostitute" Toronto Star 2012-02-03
10. "Panama Papers law firm approved Vancouver billionaire David Ho despite his criminal charges". Cbc.ca. Retrieved July 20, 2022.