P R E S S   R E L E A S E

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Chairman of Tins'’ Chemical Industrial Company Limited and Thians' Plastic Industrial Company Limited, Dr Tin Ka Ping is a successful entrepreneur who has dedicated himself to promoting the local chemical industry for over three decades.  Dr Tin started his business in Vietnam; he then moved to Indonesia to operate the rubber business.  In 1958, Dr Tin settled in Hong Kong where he founded Tins' Chemical Industrial Company Limited.  Known as "King of Synthetic Leather", Dr Tin has contributed significantly to the manufacturing of synthetic leather and films, leading Hong Kong's chemical industry to a boom and extending overseas markets for its products.

Dr Tin has made remarkable contributions to Hong Kong through his service to many community organizations.  He has been Director of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals and Pok Oi Hospital, and is currently Member of the Advisory Board of Yan Oi Tong Limited.  Dr Tin's distinguished contributions to community service, education and charities have earned him numerous awards.  He is honorary citizen of more than 30 provinces, municipalities and counties in Mainland China.  He was also awarded honorary professorship by more than 30 tertiary institutions.  In 1993, an asteroid (2886) was named after him by the International Asteroid/Comet Naming Committee.  In recognition of his many accomplishments, Dr Tin was awarded Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 1996.

Dr Tin is a very well known philanthropist.  In 1982, he established the K.P. Tin Foundation Limited, through which generous donations have been given to more than 40 institutions each in both the tertiary and the secondary education sectors, and hundreds of hospitals and infra-structural constructions on the Mainland.  Local beneficiaries of the Foundation include the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, Po Leung Kuk, the Community Chest, the Salvation Army, Yan Oi Tong, and Chung Sing Benevolent Society.  In 1992, the "K.P. Tin Foundation Fund for Academic Research and Development" was established at The Chinese University of Hong Kong with Dr Tin's generous donation of HK$25 million.  A library cum academic building on the Chinese University campus wa