Comprehensive Hong Kong media reports, Hong Kong Maxim's Group founder Ng Chim Tak has passed away on October 29 at the age of 98 years old. Ng Chim-tak's nephew, Ng Wai-kwok, issued a statement of condolence, describing Ng Chim-tak as a visionary leader who drove the Maxim's Group to grow and develop, while also sparing no effort to contribute to society.

The announcement was posted on Nov. 19 on Maxim's official website. Ng Wai Kwok said in the announcement that Ng Chim Tak and his elder brother Ng Shun Tak founded Maxim's in 1956 and after years of struggle, Maxim's has now become one of the largest restaurant groups in Asia, with operations in mainland China and Southeast Asia. Mr. Ng is passionate about the food and beverage industry, and has spared no effort in serving and contributing to the community by donating and promoting education while driving the Group's growth and development.

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Biography of Ng Chim Teik

Ng Chim Teik's grandfather and father were both overseas Chinese in the U.S. He was born in the U.S. and returned to his hometown at the age of 2 with his mother, and was educated in Guangzhou in primary and secondary school, graduating from Lingnan University in Guangzhou in 1947. Ng Chim-tak and his brother Ng Shun-tak (died in 2003) dined at the famous French restaurant "Nouvelle Paris" in Hong Kong many times, but the owner of the restaurant arranged for them to be seated in the corner near the restroom every time, they expressed their dissatisfaction, but the owner refused to change their seats because he thought that the spending power of Chinese people was not as high as that of foreigners. The two men then decided to start a Chinese-run restaurant.

The first Maxim's restaurant opened in 1956 in Lane Crawford House in Central, and it grew into the Maxim's Group, which represented Hong Kong at the Osaka World's Fair in 1970, and then became a shareholder of Jardine Matheson's Landmark in 1972. In 1980, Maxim's founded the Beijing Airline Food Company Limited, the first Sino-foreign joint venture in Mainland China since 1954, as an airline catering company at the Beijing Capital International Airport.

Ng Chim Teik was awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star (awarded to long-time leaders in public ****affairs and voluntary work) in 2001 and the Gold Bauhinia Star (awarded to those who have made significant contributions to the community or have been actively involved in public ****affairs or voluntary work and who have received very high ratings) in 2009. He retired in 2008.

Global Times - Maxim's founder Ng Chim Tak dies at 98; awarded Hong Kong's Gold Bauhinia Star