Catleigh Hung: Pass on God’s Blessing to Those Less Fortunate

Model, singer, beauty contest champion, successful businesswoman, socialite…These are some of the tags of catleigh hung. However, the defining role of her is philanthropist. “I consider myself the lucky and blessed one, and feel obliged to pass on god’s blessing to those less fortunate,” Hung told China’s Foreign Trade reporter.

Hung has been engaged in charity in the past two decades to help orphans, needy seniors, feebleminded children, people with mental illness, and earthquake victims. She sponsored over 50 charity organizations in the world and set up her own charity fund in 2008.

Young as she is, Catleigh has made great achievements in charity, business and art, winning her great respect in Hong Kong and Mainland China.

Dr. Catleigh Hung, brought up in Hong Kong, bachelor of Business Management with James Cook University in Australia, honorary doctor of International American University, and academician of World Academy of Productivity Science. Dr. Hung now serves as chairman of Hung Asset Management Limited, Jiaguo Group Holdings Limited, Noble Purple Holdings Limited, China United Financial Group Limited, the Jin Yunjia Development Co., Ltd., Jin Yunjia Group Co., Ltd., and Jin Yunjia Real Estate Fund Limited, covering such industries as real estate, finance, asset management, financing, animation and culture, environmental protection, energy, mining and oil.

Besides, Dr. Hung serves as the Chairman of Hung Chiching Charitable Fund, Chairman of Hong Kong International Association of Calligraphers and Painters, President of World Association of Painting and Calligraphy Art Exchange, Permanent Honorary President of Hong Kong Quchao Natives’ Association, Board Member of Hong Kong Federation of Overseas Quchao Natives, Executive Vice-Chairman of Jiangsu Hong Kong Exchange Promotion Council, Council Member of Federation of Hong Kong Industries, Board Member of Hong Kong Economy and Trade Association, Member of CPPCC of Shantou City, Guangdong Province, Member of CCPPC of Futian District, Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, Honorary President of Charity Fund Council of Shantou City, Guangdong Province, Honorary President of Overseas Shantou Natives Friendship Association, Council Member of Overseas Chongqing Natives Friendship Association, Council Member of Overseas Wuxi Natives Friendship Association, Council Member of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Council Member of China Development Watch Council, Vice President of Young Overseas Jiangsu Natives, Vice President of China Private Economy Development Research Center, Guest Vice President of Overseas Shenzhen Natives Aid Association, Executive Vice President of China Council for the Promotion of the Development of Private Sector Enterprises, and Executive Vice President of China Council of Overseas Chinese for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China.

Talented, beautiful and industrious woman

Born in Shantou City, Guangdong Province, Catleigh Hung moved with her parents to Hong Kong in 1976. Catleigh’s parents got divorced when she was ten years old. Her father had to take care of her and her sister and brother. Little Catleigh was a good girl, doing most of the housework and cooking. In order to relieve the financial burden of her father, Catleigh gave up school at the age of 16 and started to work.

She proved to be very talented in doing business. Back then, she cashed in 1500 yuan per day by holding parties, equivalent to the average monthly income of Hong Kong people.

After some time, the beautiful Catleigh was hunted to work as an advertisement actor and then model. She shot and modeled for famous brands, magazines, newspaper, clothes and films.

Her luck didn’t stop there. She later won the championship of 1988 Hong Kong Beauty Contest by Asia Television Corp., and was recruited as a student of Dai Sicong, one of the top singers and music teachers in Hong Kong. She signed recording contracts with Artist World Records Limited. However, Catleigh left the entertainment business at the end, not liking the complicated or sometimes corruptive environment.

Catleigh went back to the world of business, starting in real estate. Her business has grown from a small office in Tsim Sha Tsui in Hong Kong into several group companies with offices across the Mainland, Hong Kong and Singapore.

From 2001 to 2003, Catleigh studied business management in James Cook University in Austria, fulfilling her dream of going to college. After graduation, she studied jewelry evaluation and got certified in it. Besides, she volunteered a lot in the Red Cross to visit retarded children, giving them presents and company.

Catleigh started her jewelry company Noble Purple in Singapore in 2006 and it turned out to be very successful.

After she came back to Hong Kong, Catleign incorporated the Hung Asset Management Company. Her businesses range from real estate, jewelry, investment, health drink, energy, telecommunications, to mining and oil.

Last but not least, Catleigh is quite gifted in calligraphy and painting. She has hosted a great number of exhibitions in Hong Kong City Hall, Hong Kong Tsim Sha Tsui Cultural Centre, Kwang Hwa Information and Cultural Centre, and Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre. Her works were displayed and auctioned for charity at the Calligraphy and Painting by Masters Exhibition held in Hong Kong Central Library in honor of the 10th Anniversary of the return of Hong Kong to China. Her water and ink painting Plum Blossom was collected by Beijing Military Museum.

Takes pleasure in giving out

Catleign feels obliged to give out love and finance to those in need, and takes great pleasure in it. She has devoted much of time and money to charity in the past two decades, making the world a better place. It is her hope to be an example of a caring and loving person with social undertakings and responsibilities. As Catleigh said, “Together, we will make a difference.”

She sponsored over 50 charity organizations including the Red Cross, Medecins Sans Frontiere, World Vision, the Salvation Amy, Oxfam, Hong Kong CEO Charity Fund, to name only a few. She established the Hung Chiching Charitable Fund in Aug. 2008 in the aftermath of the high-magnitude earthquake that stroke Wenchuan in Sichuan province, committing to allocate 10% of her companies’ annual profit to the fund. In 2009, Catleigh released a charity music album Walk with Love.

By the end of 2011, Hung has put tens of millions yuan into the charitable fund, which is dedicated to building schools and water cellars in impoverished mountain villages, setting up medical clinics in rural areas, and helping financially-stricken families, orphans, and needy elderly. She hopes that the fund would be able to help more people in the world by mobilizing more resources, capital and volunteers.

In tribute to Hung’s great contribution to charity, tens of notable awards were conferred to her such as 2007 World Outstanding Chinese Awards, 2008 China Philanthropist Award, 2009 Outstanding Chinese Medal by Glorious China Association, 2010 China Top Ten Model Female, 2010 China Top Ten Innovative Corporate Leader, 2010 Outstanding Individual Award of Touching the Heart of China, 2010 Outstanding Entrepreneur of the World, 2010 China Top 100 Reforming and Innovative Individual of Influence, 2010 Top 100 Outstanding Female Entrepreneur on the 100 Anniversary of the International Women’s Day, 2010 Award to Private Sector Enterprise for Public Welfare Contribution, 2010 Entrepreneur with the Strongest Sense of Social Responsibilities, 2010 International Famous Philanthropist, 2010 Top Ten Females Influencing the China Economy, 2011 Top Ten Most Respected Philanthropist, 2011 Top Ten Asian Philanthropist, 2011 Award for Special Contribution on the 90th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China, 2011 China Public Service Celebrity, 2011 Top Ten Chinese Female with the Strongest Sense of Social Responsibilities, and 2011 Chinese Business People Contribution-Hong Kong Image Award.