The Chinese philosopher Mencius once observed, "If a shoemaker
wants to make sandals and sell them, he will make them to fit the
feet of his customers, and he will not make baskets." Dr. M.T.
Geoffrey Yeh's success in the construction industry establishes him
as a true Mencius disciple, for he builds well. Born in Shanghai in
1931, he received his secondary education there and in Hong Kong
before earning his bachelor's degree with honors from The
University of Illinois and a master's degree from Harvard
University. He is a valued member of several professional
organizations including the Chartered Institute of Building, UK,
The Hong Kong Institute of Directors, the Institute of Construction
Managers and the Asian Institute of Intelligent Building
(AIIB).
In 19955, at the age of 24, he joined Hsin Chong and Co., a
company founded by his late father, Mr. K. N. Godfrey Yeh.
Currently, he is Chairman of Hsin Chong International Holdings,
Ltd., which have expanded to include real estate development and
investment. He holds directorships in numerous companies including
Hysan Development Co. Ltd. and China Travel International
Investment HK Ltd. Dr. Yeh pioneered the introduction of the
hand-dug caisson foundation, slip-form construction for high-rise
buildings and semi-mechanized construction of public housing in
Hong Kong. These cost- and time-saving innovations have been
adopted by many other construction companies throughout the
region.
In 1991, he was named Independent Director of Hong Kong Futures
Exchange (HKFE) Ltd. Before becoming Vice Chairman in 1993 and
Chairman in 1998. He was also a director of HKFE Clearing Corp Ltd.
from 1998 to 2000, and served as a Director of Hong Kong Exchange
and Clearing Ltd. from 1999 to 2000.
Realizing his great expertise in the construction industry, the
former Governor of Hong Kong appointed Dr. Yeh as Chairman of the
Construction Industry Training Authority in 1975. He has also
served as a Member of the Town Planning Board, Vocational Training
Council, Special Committee on Land Supply and the Consultative
Committee on the New Airport and Related Projects.
An active member of his community, Dr. Yeh was a Founding Court
Member for The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and
presently serves as an Honorary Court Member there, as well as at
Hong Kong Baptist University. A Member of the President’s Council
of The University of Illinois Foundation, he is also Chairman of
the Board for Kiangsu-Chekiang (Shatin) College and a Board Member
for Kiangsu-Chekiang College in Hong Kong.
Appointed Justice of the Peace in 1976, Dr. Yeh received the
Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1981 and an
honorary Doctor of Commercial Science degree from St. John’s
University the following year. In 2000, he received the Silver
Bauhinia Star (S.B.S.) from The Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region Government of the People’s Republic of China. He served with
distinction as Honorary Consul pf Jamaica in Hong Kong from 1984 to
2002. He was awarded the Badge of Honour for Meritorious Services –
BH(M) – by His Excellency the Governor-General of Jamaica in
2003.
Married to Madam Zung-Sing Helen Wang for 47 years, they have a
son, V-Nee, and a daughter, Yvette. Today, with admiration and
friendship, St. John’s University proudly dedicates the Dr. M.T.
Geoffrey Yeh Art Gallery in honor of a deserving Christian business
executive who has always used his great success to improve the
lives of others.