First generation
The Siu family’s modern legacy traces its origins to the late Mr. Siu Un (蕭垣) who had by the early 20th century, established himself as a respected figure within the Chinese elite of the Crown Colony of Hong Kong. Despite extensive family research and archival enquiries, little is known of Mr. Siu Un’s early life or of the family’s history prior to his generation. Nevertheless, his legacy in Hong Kong endures most notably through his substantial philanthropic contribution in the 1920s towards the construction of the Tung Wah Eastern Hospital, which officially opened in 1929. His generosity is commemorated to this day by an imposing donor wall within the hospital’s original Grade II listed building, featuring a portrait of Mr. Siu Un alongside other notable benefactors.
Second generation
Tragically, on 4 February 1947, several sons of Mr. Siu Un perished during a routine business voyage between Hong Kong and Canton aboard the vessel S.S. Sai On, which caught fire in the early morning hours prior to its arrival in Canton. Among the few survivors was the late Mr. Siu Kin who would go on to play a formative role in post-war Hong Kong’s construction sector. The late Mr. Siu Kin was among the earliest Chinese professionals in the colony to receive a Western-style education and training in Construction. Graduating with distinction, he embarked on a successful career as a leading contractor, contributing to numerous commercial and civic developments during Hong Kong’s post-war reconstruction. Archival searches and Companies Registry filings indicate that his business was headquartered on the 10th floor of the second-generation Alexandra House (1952–1976) in Central.
Third generation
By the 1950s, members of the third generation of the Siu family were amongst the first ethnic-Chinese Student Members of the Hong Kong and China Branch of The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) at a time when there were merely an aggregate of 25 Fellows and Professional Associates of RICS in Hong Kong. They received their early British professional training at the distinguished local architecture firm G.W. Grey & Co., under the mentorship of Mr. George Willis Grey FRIBA FRICS. While working at G.W. Grey & Co., members of the Siu family were involved in key projects, including the development of the State Theatre (then known as the Empire Theatre) on King’s Road, as well as other significant commercial and residential developments across the city. Following Mr. Grey’s retirement in the 1960s, the Siu family acquired G.W. Grey & Co., which continued operating under that name into the 1970s. During this period, the practice was responsible for a substantial number of architectural commissions throughout Hong Kong. Public records held by the Buildings Department confirm that the firm’s offices were located on the 10th floor of Alexandra House, the same premises previously occupied by the late Mr. Siu Kin’s construction business; symbolising a generational shift from Construction to Architecture.
Fourth generation AND BEYOND
By the 1970s through to the 1990s, the extended Siu family had grown significantly and gradually emigrated from Hong Kong, forming a global diaspora across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. While some members have maintained ties with Hong Kong, the majority now live and work abroad. Descendants of the fourth generation and beyond are professionally active and accomplished across a wide range of sectors, including Finance, Law, Healthcare, Technology, among others. Reflecting the dominance of global finance and the digital age, it is notable though with some regret that none of the descendants of the family are currently active in the fields of Architecture and the Built Environment. The Foundation therefore also aims to inspire future generations to uphold the family’s longstanding contribution to these fields.